If I Buy A House In Sant Cugat What Is The Price Of Water, Electricity And Gas?

The price of water, electricity and gas is very important for buyers in Sant Cugat. Knowing the consumption of a future property is essential when deciding on one flat or another. We know this because it is an issue that our clients always ask us about, and which they pay attention to when defining their purchase. In this post, we will answer all your questions about the value of services nowadays, and if they really influence the price of a future purchase.

How the price of services influences the final value of my future home

When calculating the real value of a property, there are different methods to determine the final valuation number. We can do it through the market value or also through the mortgage value. In the first case, it is the bidding between supply and demand that defines the price. In the second case, the banks are in charge of the valuation. This type of valuation is very well defined by the law, when it states that: “it is the value of the property as determined by a prudent appraisal of the future marketability of the property, taking into account the long-term durable aspects of the property, normal and local market conditions, its use at the time of valuation and its corresponding alternative uses“. Tax valuation, cadastral valuation or land valuation can also be chosen. Analysing each of them, we find that none of them pay special attention to the price of water, electricity and gas of the property. So why is it so important to our customers? It is very common for prospective buyers to ask us for utility bills for the house they are interested in. It is due to the search for profitability in the purchase they are making and to try to avoid having to spend their lives paying for the energy consumption of that property. We are now going to analyse each service to try to understand the problem a little more. We want to know what to do if we want to improve the consumption parameters, and consequently, the costs of a future property.

Electricity: highest historical average price in Spain

In the excellent article published by the Organisation of Consumers and Users, it is clearly reflected in the upward trend of electricity prices. The supply and demand of the wholesale energy market is pushing up prices. According to the article, in “this first fortnight (of October 2021), the average household’s electricity bill (with 4.6 kW of contracted power and 292 kWh of monthly consumption) shot up to 100.7 euros, 75% more than what was paid last year at the same time“. Compared to previous periods, this is even more evident:

What can we see from all this?   That Spain has become – together with Italy – one of the countries with the highest electricity tariffs in Europe. In addition, there is a regional conflict that even the new government measures do not fully control. In short, although the bill history can serve as a parameter to know how much a property consumes, it will be the tools we use for efficient energy consumption that will help us to save on the price of water, electricity and gas.

Gas and water: The other 2 important factors in household spending

Together with electricity, gas and hot water make up the vast majority of the average household’s energy expenditure. According to the IDAE, the average consumption of households with heating, hot water and gas cooking is 7,921 kW/h per year, with heating accounting for 57.1% of consumption, compared to 38.2% for domestic hot water and 4.7% for cooking. In total, heating and hot water account for more than 50% of the household energy bill. So, although the price paid by the consumer depends on the geographical area in which their residence is located and the type of home in question, if we want to know how much more you will pay if you buy a house in Sant Cugat, we must carry out a more in-depth analysis. Following the information in the economic bulletin of March 2021, issued by the Bank of Spain, we can draw an important conclusion: the comparison of electricity, water and gas prices must be made between the urban areas of Barcelona and Madrid with the rest of the Spanish cities. That is where the big difference lies. This is well illustrated in the following graphs.

1. The most expensive areas to live in are the urban areas of Barcelona and Madrid.

2. The difference between the cost of living is 2/3 given by the value of housing and not by services.

For example, the average cost of water in Spain is 1.91 €/m3. In Castilla y León it will be cheapest at 1.16 €/m3 and the most expensive in Catalonia at 2.68 €/m3. This means that in general terms, the north will always be more expensive than the south. Apart from that, it will be up to us how best to manage our energy consumption.

How can we improve consumption in our future home? 10 tips to maximise energy efficiency in your home

There is a lot of information available on how to increase consumption efficiency. Here are 10 tips to get you started:

1. Improvements on home insulation.
2. Change old electrical appliances for more modern, energy-efficient models.
3. Make the most of natural light and when using artificial light, make sure it is energy efficient.
4. Apply measures to reduce water consumption:
   1. Installing showerheads that supply only 5 litres per minute, so that you can save up to 50% of water,
   2. Using water-saving nozzles on kitchen and bathroom taps. These vents add air to the water and reduce water consumption by 30-50%.
   3. Optimise your garden by drip irrigation, grouping plants and reducing the amount of lawn.
5. Keeping equipment turned off to save energy or even using timers to run certain appliances during off-peak hours.

You see, there are many details to consider when buying a property. If the price of electricity, water and gas is a condition that worries you, let us advise you on the best way to measure the energy efficiency of a potential new home. So, if you have any doubts do not hesitate to Contact | Proddigia and we will help you.