How important is air con in a finca? Long term rental fell through

[Dan Ashton]

We had agreed a long term rental on a finca, only to be told a few days ago that they couldn't rent it to us as they also had a contract with a villa rental company.

We are moving to Mallorca around 1st Feb, and now don't have anywhere to live, so we're flying out tomorrow to look at another finca.

Looks great in the pictures, but one thing that is a concern is that whilst it has central heating, it doesn't have air con.

It's an old style finca building, so I imagine it is designed to be cool, but wondered if July/August times it may be an issue.

Any feedback gratefully received.

 

[Sparky]

I personally am not a fan of aircon, we have lived without it in our rented apartment for 7 years, we rely on fans, open windows and closed shutters .

 

[Nick]

Old fincas were designed without air con in mind so they have thick walls and small minimal windows to keep the heat out. It's only Brits and other Northern Europeans who want the light and sun coming in!
I'd have thought that windows open, shutters closed and fans would keep them cool?
Have you thought about portable air con units? Probably the only place you'd really need them is in the bedrooms and maybe then only in mid summer.

We certainly couldn't survive in our modern bright/light apartment that is pretty much south facing without air con.

Hope that helps.

 

[Molt de Renou]

Central heating, especially if gasoil (diesel) based, is far more important.

I do though find it unusual for a finca to have central heating and not air-conditioning units.

Maybe the "central heating" is basically a few electrical heaters screwed onto the walls.

Good luck.

 

[copper]

We used to rent an apartment which had huge picture windows and was like an oven and we had to use the fans all night

We now rent another apartment which is much more on a Spanish design with shutters everywhere and by leaving the windows open it has a lovely draught through it We might miis the sea views all the time but much better to be cool !

So I think it is the design which is important

 

[sws97sdg]

I would agree, we rented 6 or 7 fincas and villas around Pollensa over the years, in July and August, and I think most didn't have aircon, if they did we never used it, I would say it would be more important to have heating over aircon through the winter.
Please keep us informed of your progress, we too are looking to rent a finca when we finally get to move over, I have been looking for ages at options and I understand that most people do not want to rent out all year as they can make so much more money in the summer months, but hope you are successful in finding something else.

 

[alcanadakid]

Heating is much more important. It is freezing today!

We have a large modern house with a lot of glass, and just have air conditioning in the bedrooms. We use this mid June to early September and then not at all the rest of the year. The only time it is essential for us would be mid July to the end of August.

 

[Gommar Goffer]

Air con is not good for your health. We only ever use fans in the height of the summer and windows open with shutters closed (we are on the ground floor)

 

[CathB]

We also prefer to use fans rather than air con and as others have said keeping shutters closed or blinds closed in the day is far better for you . I hope everything works out ok for you

 

[Dan Ashton]

Thanks everyone for your feedback, it's really helped.

When we saw the finca yesterday afternoon, it was very cold inside, so it confirmed that the heating is the most important thing.

Signed on the dotted line there and then, got the keys, and move in one month!

I'm sure we'll have more questions, very much appreciate the support from this forum.

 

[Dan Ashton]

I would agree, we rented 6 or 7 fincas and villas around Pollensa over the years, in July and August, and I think most didn't have aircon, if they did we never used it, I would say it would be more important to have heating over aircon through the winter.
Please keep us informed of your progress, we too are looking to rent a finca when we finally get to move over, I have been looking for ages at options and I understand that most people do not want to rent out all year as they can make so much more money in the summer months, but hope you are successful in finding something else.

I agree that there is limited choice, and it is also budget dependant. Around Pollensa and the Port the type of finca we wanted (and have got!) can be found a lot cheaper in other locations, from what I have seen.

Despite our first choice falling through, we are really happy with what we have signed up for - beautiful quiet location near the mountains and woods, and only five minutes from Pollenca.

 

[Molt de Renou]

That's good news. What sort of central heating does it have ?

 

[Dan Ashton]

It's got radiators in each room, with a thermostat. It uses gas oil, as does the gas cooker.

Water from it's own well.

 

[Molt de Renou]

The gas cooker uses diesel ?

 

[Dan Ashton]

The gas cooker uses diesel ?

Ha, it's a good question! It has a gas cooker, isn't hooked up to the mains, the landlord said that the only bills were for the electric, and to purchase "gas oil", so I've made the assumption (although I hadn't really thought about it) that must be where the cooker gets it's gas from.

Guess I'll find out in four weeks!

 

[Molt de Renou]

Gasoil is spanish for Diesel, so there must be a tank and a burner, which in theory heats the water for the central heating.

There won´t be any mains gas there so the cooker most probably uses gas from a butane bottle, which should be provided ( at least two ) by the owner of the property.

If you ask me ( which you haven´t ) he should also have made sure that there was diesel in the tank and given you a contact number when needing to order more.

I would strongly recommend that you show the rental agreement to a solicitor so that he or she can sort all this out before your arrival.

Last but not least, never assume anything when living in Spain. Don´t ask me why I know.

 

[Dan Ashton]

Yes, there is a separate building with the tank and burner. There is a decent supply of diesel already there.

We have had the agreement translated, and we're also sending a copy to a solicitor in the Port.

The landlord seems great, we've also met his mum and dad. He's going to take us to the shop to get the internet set up, and has offered us help to move in.

I'm sure you are quite right about never assuming anything, and I have a feeling we are going to be learning our own lessons about that!

 

[Molt de Renou]

Great, glad to hear it.

Whatever happens, let's hope it starts getting warmer soon !