One of the biggest differences between a community that spends only what's needed and one that faces surprises every year lies in planning. If you wait until the pool opens to inspect it, or until leaves pile up to prune, you'll pay more, worse and in a hurry.
This guide summarises what maintenance tasks should be done each month in a residential community in Málaga and the Costa del Sol. It is aimed at committee chairs, board members and property managers who want a clear view of what's coming during the year.
Dates are indicative — the Costa del Sol climate is mild and many tasks can be brought forward or pushed back depending on the year. But the principle is always the same: planning ahead is cheaper than reacting.
January — Audit and yearly planning
Start the year with a complete review of common areas: state of paintwork, plumbing, lighting, lifts, garages. It's a good moment to identify which small renovations should be scheduled and to review supplier contracts. Before the next ordinary committee meeting, the plan should be clear.
- Inventory of pending incidents from the previous year.
- Inspection of gardens during dormant phase — ideal moment for heavy pruning.
- Approximate maintenance budget plan for the year.
February — Gardening: pruning, trimming and planting
On the Costa del Sol, February is the ideal month for major pruning before plants enter budding. It's also the time to plant trees, shrubs and low-maintenance species so they're ready when the heat arrives.
- Shrub pruning and trimming.
- Planting species resistant to summer.
- Review of the automatic irrigation system before the season.
March — Pool preparation + installation review
March is the key month to prepare the pool for opening. Communities that wait until April or May pay more because demand drives prices up and, if repairs are needed, they arrive late.
- Draining, cleaning and inspection of the community pool.
- Pump, filter and electrical equipment check.
- Repair of loose tiles, joints, submerged lights.
- Review of outdoor showers and surrounding areas.
April — Pool opening + intensified gardening
The pool should be operational between Easter and mid-April depending on the community. Gardens enter full growth — the frequency of grass cutting rises and irrigation is adjusted.
- Official pool opening with initial chemical treatment.
- Increase in gardening frequency (from fortnightly to weekly in many communities).
- Adjustment of the irrigation programmer to spring schedules.
- Review of plumbing joints in common areas before summer.
May — Paintwork, waterproofing and summer preparation
May is a good moment for small renovations that show in summer: painting lobbies, repainting garage signage, waterproofing roofs before autumn storms.
- Painting of lobbies and common areas.
- Waterproofing of flat roofs (before extreme heat).
- Review of awnings, parasols and community furniture.
- Reinforcement of cleaning if the community has holiday apartments.
June, July and August — Intensive summer maintenance
These three months carry the heaviest operational load. Saturated pools, demanding gardens, lobbies with constant traffic of holiday guests. If the community isn't well planned, this is when problems appear.
- Pool chemical treatment twice a week (minimum).
- Daily or alternate cleaning in communities with high tenant turnover.
- Automatic irrigation: check for leaks or blocked emitters.
- Fast response to electrical incidents (air conditioning in common areas, outdoor lighting).
- Reinforced handyman service for minor incidents that can't wait.
September — End of peak season
Tourist traffic drops, but it's no time to relax: you need to assess summer damage, review consumption and plan the pool closure if the community closes it.
- Audit of summer incidents (what failed and why).
- Consumption review: water, electricity, chemical products.
- Adjustment of irrigation schedules to autumn.
- Decision on pool closure (some Costa del Sol communities keep the pool open until October).
October — Pool closure + pre-autumn cleaning
In October the pool is closed if not kept operational year-round. It's also a good moment for deep cleaning before leaves and humidity complicate the work.
- Winter treatment and closure of pool (minimum pump operation, cover if applicable).
- Deep cleaning of garages and storage rooms.
- Review of gutters, drains and downpipes before the rains.
- Last heavy pruning of the year in gardens.
November — Drain review and rain prevention
The first heavy rains usually arrive on the Costa del Sol between October and December. If gutters, drains and downpipes are blocked, problems appear in leaks, garage puddles and façade damage.
- Preventive cleaning of gutters and drains.
- Review of waterproofing joints on terraces and roofs.
- Review of garage drain pumps (if the community has them).
- Reduction of gardening frequency (monthly).
December — Year-end, reports and next meeting
December is a month of administrative closures. Annual reports, maintenance expense balance, planning for the next general meeting. If the community works with an integrated maintenance company, this is the month when the company should deliver an annual summary with services provided, incidents resolved and recommendations for the following year.
- Annual maintenance report (services, incidents, costs).
- Preliminary plan for the following year.
- Review of supplier contracts: renew, renegotiate or change.
Summary: the principle that saves the most money
The principle is simple: everything done ahead of time costs less. Pools prepared in March cost less than pools prepared in May. Gutters cleaned in November prevent leaks in January. Pruning in February saves work in summer.
Working with an integrated maintenance company that knows this schedule and applies it to you without having to ask is the biggest difference between a community that faces surprises every year and one that doesn't.
If your community doesn't have a clear schedule and you want one tailored to your installations: contact us. We prepare it on the first visit alongside the quote, with no obligation.