Location: Spain

  • Cleaner contracts in Spain: do you need one?

    This is one of those questions that most people in expat WhatsApp groups answer incorrectly. The short version: if you hire an individual to clean your property regularly and you’re the primary or only client, Spanish law may classify that as an employment relationship — which comes with obligations.

    The employment relationship question

    Under Spanish law, a domestic employee (empleado del hogar) who works for you more than 60 hours per month must be registered with the Social Security system and receive a formal contract. Even for fewer hours, there are grey areas. The key factors are: regularity of work, exclusivity, and who controls how and when the work is done.

    The autónomo route

    The simplest way to avoid the employment complexity is to hire a cleaner who is registered as autónomo (self-employed) in Spain. An autónomo cleaner operates as an independent contractor — they invoice you for their services, handle their own taxes and social security contributions, and you have no employer obligations. This is how most professional cleaning services on the Costa del Sol operate.

    Ask for proof of autónomo status and request a proper invoice. This protects both parties.

    Using a cleaning company or platform

    Hiring through a company or platform like SAM removes the employment question entirely. The cleaner is contracted to the company, which handles all employment obligations. You pay for a service and receive an invoice — no employer relationship, no social security complications.

  • Why photo reports matter for remote property owners

    You’re in London or Dublin and your apartment in Marbella has just been cleaned. How do you know the job was done properly? How do you know the oven wasn’t left dirty, the bathrooms are genuinely clean, or that the last guests didn’t leave any damage? The answer, if you’re relying on trust alone, is that you don’t.

    What a photo report is

    A photo report is a set of photos taken by your cleaner after each clean, showing the property in its cleaned state. Typically: each bedroom (bed made, surfaces clear), bathrooms, the kitchen, living areas, and the terrace. Sent via WhatsApp or email immediately after the clean is finished.

    What it gives you

    • Confirmation that the clean happened and was completed properly.
    • Early damage detection — if something is broken or missing, you know before the next guests arrive, not after.
    • A record for insurance or deposit disputes — timestamped photos showing property condition at a specific point in time.
    • Peace of mind — you can see your property is ready without making a phone call or sending a chasing message.

    How to request it

    When posting a job on SAM, specify that you require a photo report after each clean. Most professional cleaners who work with remote property owners already do this — it’s worth confirming it’s part of the arrangement before the first visit.

  • Summer preparation checklist for your Spanish villa

    If your villa has been closed up since January, it needs more than a quick hoover before you or your guests arrive in June. Here’s a practical checklist for getting a Costa del Sol property fully ready for the summer season.

    Cleaning and deep clean

    • Full deep clean — all rooms, oven, fridge, bathrooms, terrace
    • Clean exterior shutters and window tracks
    • Wipe down all outdoor furniture
    • Clear terrace drain covers of accumulated debris
    • Check for any mould or damp in bathrooms or north-facing rooms

    Systems and appliances

    • Test all air conditioning units — service if they haven’t been run since last year
    • Check all ceiling fans are working and clean
    • Run all taps and flush all toilets — P-traps dry out over winter
    • Test the boiler and hot water
    • Check garden irrigation system

    Pool and outdoor

    • Pool service: balance chemicals, check pump and filter, clean waterline
    • Check pool safety — covers, handrails, non-slip surfaces
    • Check outdoor shower
    • Garden tidy — prune, clear winter deadfall, edge lawns

    Stock and supplies

    • Replace any expired food items left from last year
    • Restock: bin bags, toilet paper, washing-up liquid, dishwasher tablets, batteries
    • Check linen inventory — replace any worn or stained items before guests arrive

    Arrange the deep clean first — everything else is easier once the property is clean and aired. Post a job on SAM to get quotes from local villa cleaning services.

  • Post-summer deep clean: what holiday rental owners need to do in September

    August is over. Your last guests have checked out. And your property has been turned around 15 times since June. Now is the time to do a proper reset — not just another turnaround, but a thorough deep clean and property check that sets things up properly for the quieter months ahead.

    Why September matters

    After a heavy summer of short lets, properties accumulate wear that a standard turnaround doesn’t address. Grout gets stained. Ovens get caked. Mattresses get compressed. Sun cream gets on soft furnishings. Taps and shower screens get scaled. A post-season deep clean sorts all of this before it becomes a permanent problem — or a reason for a bad review from an autumn guest.

    What a post-summer deep clean covers

    • Full kitchen deep clean including inside oven, extractor, and all cupboards
    • Bathroom deep clean: descale shower screens, re-grout if needed, replace worn sealant
    • Wash all soft furnishings: sofa cushion covers, curtains, throws
    • Clean all exterior shutters and window tracks
    • Deep clean terrace and outdoor furniture
    • Check and clean AC filters before switching to heating mode

    Other September tasks

    Check your inventory — note anything broken, missing, or worn that needs replacing before next summer. Review your listing photos — if you took better photos this summer when the property was full of light, update them. And if you’re closing the property for winter, arrange a monthly check visit to keep on top of any issues before they compound.