Electricity and internet in a shared flat as a student in Spain (2026): who signs up, how to split the bills and what to do when you leave

The cold arrives and so does the first real bill. With electricity and internet in a shared flat, what matters is not only how much you pay but whose name each contract is in: a bad arrangement can leave a debt in your name after you have already gone home.

In short: check your rental contract to see whether utilities are included. If not, someone who lives in the flat should hold each contract and the split should be in writing. When the account holder leaves, transfer the contract instead of cancelling it. The law strictly limits penalties on household electricity, and an internet contract cannot run for more than 24 months.

Are utilities included in your rent?

There are three common set-ups:

• Bills included: you pay a fixed amount with the rent and the landlord keeps the contracts. Ask whether there is a cap and what happens if you go over it.

• Bills extra, landlord's contracts: the landlord charges you each bill. Always ask for a copy of the bill, not just the amount.

• Bills extra, your own contracts: one of you signs up for electricity and internet. It is the most flexible option, but it needs organising.

Under Spain's Urban Leases Act (LAU) (art. 20.4), services measured with an individual meter (electricity, water, gas) are paid by the tenant. Other general costs, such as building fees, can only be charged if agreed in writing with their annual amount (art. 20.1). Royal Decree-law 29/2026, in force since 8 October, brings room rentals and temporary lets under this law. The vote to ratify it is on 12 November 2026: check whether it is still in force.

Who should hold the electricity contract?

Under the new electricity supply regulation (Royal Decree 88/2026, art. 28.2), the contract is personal and its holder must be the person who uses the energy. In a shared flat, it makes sense for the person staying longest to sign it.

What to know if that is you:

• The debt is yours. If someone does not pay their share, the company comes after you.

• You will need some details: usually an ID document (many companies ask for a DNI or NIE; some accept a passport), a bank account for direct debit and the CUPS, the supply point code shown on any previous bill.

• You can change the holder without cutting the power. On the regulated price (PVPC), the person living in the home with valid title, such as a rental contract, can put it in their name at no cost from the supplier (art. 31). On the free market, sign a new contract stating that it is a change of holder.

No NIE or Spanish bank account yet? See your first 30 days in Spain.

Which electricity tariff suits a student flat?

There is no single answer, but there are useful rules:

• Compare before signing with the CNMC comparison tool, which is public and free.

• Watch the time slots. On the 2.0TD household tariff, Monday to Friday, peak is 10:00 to 14:00 and 18:00 to 22:00, standard is 8:00 to 10:00, 14:00 to 18:00 and 22:00 to 24:00, and off-peak is 0:00 to 8:00. Weekends and fixed-date national holidays are off-peak all day: run the washing machine then.

• Watch the electric heaters: in winter they are what pushes the bill up most.

• Do not accept extras you did not ask for, such as maintenance insurance.

Can I switch company if I change my mind?

Yes. If you sign up by phone or online, you have 14 calendar days to withdraw (consumer protection law, arts. 102 and 104). And as an individual on the 2.0TD tariff you can end your electricity contract at any time without a penalty, except for fixed-price contracts before their first annual renewal. Even then, the penalty cannot exceed 5% of the estimated energy still to be supplied and the company must prove the loss (RD 88/2026, art. 28.3). The Ministry for the Ecological Transition sums this up.

Internet: what to check before signing up for fibre

• Length: the contract cannot run for more than 24 months (General Telecommunications Act, art. 67.7). If you are here for one academic year, look for offers with no lock-in or a short one.

• Router: ask whether you must return it when you cancel. If you do not, they may charge you for it.

• Price changes: if the operator changes the terms for the worse, you can cancel at no cost (art. 67.8), with exceptions such as changes imposed by law.

How do you split the bills without arguing?

What matters is agreeing before the first bill arrives. Common options:

• Equal shares: the simplest if everyone spends a similar amount of time at home.

• By days at home: useful in flats with Erasmus students who leave at Christmas or in summer.

• Fixed amount plus adjustment: everyone pays a fixed amount into a shared pot and you settle up with each bill.

Share the full bill, use an expense-splitting app or a shared sheet, set a payment day and put the agreement in writing, even if it is just a pinned message. If someone uses a heater every day, agree on an adjustment.

To fit this into your budget, see how much it costs to study in Spain. And if you are still deciding between a residence or a flat, remember that many residences include utilities.

What happens if a bill is not paid?

For electricity, if the holder is an individual in their main home with 10 kW or less, the company can only request a cut-off two months after a formal demand for payment, according to the Ministry and Royal Decree 897/2017. In other cases the contract terms apply, with at least one month's notice if it is your main home (RD 88/2026, art. 47). Either way, the debt stays in the holder's name.

How do I complain about a bill?

Complain to the company first and keep the reference number. Law 10/2025 sets a maximum of 15 working days to resolve complaints, and 5 days for billing or wrongful charges, unless sector rules set a different deadline. Companies have until 28 December 2026 to adapt. If you get no answer, go to the consumer affairs service of your region.

Before you move out

• If you are the holder: transfer the contract to someone who is staying. Cancelling usually means a cut-off and costs for the next person.

• Take a photo of the meter on the day you leave and share it.

• Agree how the last bill will be paid, since it arrives weeks later.

• Return the router if the internet contract was in your name.

Frequently asked questions

Can the landlord charge me more than the bill says?

If utilities are extra, ask for the bill: you need to know what you are paying. If they are included in a fixed price, the contract applies, so read it before signing.

Can I get the bono social (social discount) as a student?

It is difficult. You must be on the regulated price (PVPC), hold the contract in your main home and meet income requirements. You can check with a reference supplier (comercializadora de referencia).

Ask someone who has done it

Not sure how to organise the bills in your flat? Ask in the Uniwords community, where other students share how they do it, and take a look at the student deals.

This article is for information only and does not replace professional advice or your company's information. Last reviewed: 10 November 2026.