From October to May it is quiet in the Axarquia. Many owners shut their property during that period, yet winter is precisely the season when most problems arise and when letting to long-stay guests can make sense.
Why winter is risky
Summer is dry and hot; winter is damp and brings fierce showers. Properties that close in October and reopen in April face temperature swings, condensation and rain. That is when damp patches, mould and leaks appear, and at that moment nobody is there to see them.
Option 1: shut it up
If you shut the property, a fixed winter inspection frequency matters more than in summer. Have the main tap closed but do not drain the entire system, leave the boiler at a frost-free setting and make sure someone visits after every heavy rain. Leave cupboards ajar and use dehumidifiers where possible.
Option 2: let to winter guests
In winter the Axarquia attracts European long-stay guests who remain a month or longer. They are often quiet guests who treat the property carefully, but it requires different preparation than summer letting: good heating, a workable internet connection and a property that is comfortable at 15 degrees. The nightly rate is lower, but occupancy can be stable.
Option 3: winter there yourself
Many owners come themselves in winter. In that case management is mainly about preparing the property for your arrival and making sure everything works. Have us turn on the heating well before arrival, check the boiler and air the property, so you do not arrive in a cold, damp house.
Either way, someone must look
Whichever option you choose, the core stays the same: in winter someone must walk through the property at reasonable intervals. That is exactly the work we do, and it is why owners who let without problems for years almost always have a fixed local partner.
