Most owners think of property maintenance as an optional extra. Something to consider after the renovation is finished, or when something visibly breaks down.
This is an expensive way to think about a €400,000 asset.
What Happens to an Unattended Villa
Lanzarote’s climate is one of its great attractions. It’s also, from a property perspective, one of its more demanding. The combination of salt air, volcanic dust, intense UV exposure, and the occasional storm creates conditions that age a property faster than you’d expect.
Here’s what we see regularly in villas that have been left without maintenance:
Pool systems. Algae blooms, pump failures, and chemical imbalances are common when pools aren’t monitored weekly. Fixing a neglected pool system costs significantly more than maintaining it.
Air conditioning. Units that aren’t regularly serviced accumulate mould in the ducting — a health issue, not just a mechanical one. A full HVAC clean costs several times a routine service.
Exterior surfaces. The volcanic environment is hard on painted surfaces, tile grout, and sealants. Catching small cracks and resealing before water ingress occurs is cheap. Dealing with the water damage that results from not catching them is not.
Garden and irrigation. In the dry season, unmaintained irrigation systems fail silently. You arrive to find your garden — and potentially your terracing — in a state that takes months and significant cost to restore.
Security and locks. Locks seize. Shutters rust. Small security vulnerabilities develop and go unnoticed.
None of these are dramatic events. They’re the slow accumulation of small neglect that compounds into significant expense.
The Moment of Discovery
Most owners who don’t have a care plan discover these issues at the same moment: when they arrive at the property. Often with family. Often at the start of a holiday they’ve been looking forward to.
A pool that needs emergency treatment. An air conditioning unit that won’t start. A garden that looks nothing like it did when they left.
The cost isn’t just financial. It’s the disruption, the calls to local contractors who may not be immediately available, and the holiday that starts under a cloud.
What a Care Plan Actually Covers
Our care plans start at €149 per month and are designed around one principle: your property is in better condition when you arrive than when you left it.
A standard plan includes:
- Weekly pool check, chemical balancing, and cleaning
- Monthly property inspection with photo report
- Garden and irrigation monitoring
- Air conditioning filter checks
- Exterior visual inspection (roof, drainage, sealants)
- Minor repairs handled immediately (under agreed threshold, no call required)
- Key holding and coordination for utility visits
Anything beyond the scope of the plan — a repair above the agreed threshold, a project you want to undertake — comes to you for approval before we proceed. You’re never faced with an unexpected bill.
The Photo Report
Every month, you receive a photo report from the inspection: what we checked, what we found, what we did. If we notice something developing — a section of pointing that’s starting to open, a shutter mechanism that’s stiffening — we document it and advise.
This gives you a clear picture of your property’s condition over time, which is genuinely valuable both for your own planning and for insurance purposes.
For Owners Who Rent Their Villa
If your villa generates rental income, a care plan isn’t optional — it’s part of the business. Guests expect to arrive at a property in excellent condition. One negative review citing a maintenance issue can cost significantly more than a year’s care plan fees.
We coordinate with property managers and rental platforms to ensure the property is guest-ready between bookings, handling the kind of detailed preparation — pool presentation, exterior cleaning, minor touch-ups — that makes the difference between a three-star and five-star experience.
Starting a Care Plan
The best time to start a care plan is before a problem occurs. The second best time is now.
We’re happy to do an initial inspection of your property — free of charge — and give you an honest assessment of its current condition and what a care plan would cover. There’s no obligation to proceed.