Villa management in Marbella: pool, garden and preventive maintenance

A villa in Marbella doesn't let itself: it lets when everything works. Villa management in Marbella is a different job from looking after a flat. There's a pool, a garden, irrigation, palm trees, air conditioning across several zones and a lot more square metres to clean and check. And guests paying for a luxury villa won't forgive a cloudy pool or an air con unit that gives up in August.

We started out in maintenance, so here's how we organise it at ERA, and what you can keep an eye on if you manage your villa yourself.

Why preventive maintenance is the backbone of villa management

In a villa, a breakdown mid-stay can't be fixed with an apology. A pool pump that stops, a leaking irrigation line or a garden lighting fault usually ends in three things: an emergency call-out (more expensive), a negative review and, sometimes, a refund for the guest.

Preventive maintenance flips that around. You check things before they fail and use the gaps between bookings, and the quieter months, for the jobs that take longer. It's less glamorous than a great photo, but it's what keeps the five-star reviews coming season after season.

The pool: the first thing guests look at

The pool is usually the cover photo of the listing and the first thing guests check when they arrive. These are the jobs we never skip:

• Balanced water. Test the pH (usually kept around 7.2-7.6) and sanitiser levels several times a week in high season. With heat and heavy use, pool water changes quickly.
• Physical cleaning. Skimmer baskets, floor, waterline and walls. Water on the Costa del Sol is hard, and limescale marks the waterline if it isn't kept on top of.
• Filter and pump. Backwash according to the pressure gauge, check seals and listen for new noises. A pump that starts sounding different is often warning you before it stops.
• Safety. Non-slip edges and steps, working lights and, if the villa is marketed to families, think about a pool fence or safety cover.
• A check before every arrival. Crystal-clear water, a pleasant temperature if the pool is heated, clean sun loungers and pool towels ready.

Water and drought: keep up with the current rules

In 2024, because of the drought, filling private pools was restricted for months on the western Costa del Sol until the ban was lifted in June. That's why it pays not to empty the pool unless you have to, to fix leaks early, and to check the current rules from your town hall and water company before refilling or setting the irrigation schedule.

Garden and irrigation

A well-kept garden lifts both the photos and the stay. A neglected one shows from the front gate. Our routine includes:

• Checked irrigation. Timers adjusted for each season, drippers kept clear and sprinklers that don't soak walls or terraces. An irrigation leak can go unnoticed for weeks and send the water bill soaring.
• Plants that suit the climate. Mediterranean, low-water species cope better with summer and fit with any restrictions.
• Pruning and leaf clearing. Especially around the pool, where leaves end up in the skimmer.
• Outdoor lighting. Guests eat outside: lamps, spotlights and path lights need to work.

Palm trees and pines: pests to watch for

Two pests are common in villas along this coast:

Pest	What it attacks	What we do
Red palm weevil	Palm trees, especially Canary Island palms	Regular checks of the crown and preventive treatments by a professional. In Andalusia, owners are legally required to control it (Decree 77/2010)
Pine processionary caterpillar	Pine trees	Removing nests and treating at the right time. Their stinging hairs are dangerous for children and dogs when the caterpillars come down from the trees in late winter and spring

If your villa is pet-friendly or popular with families, take the processionary caterpillar seriously before spring.

Air con, systems and outdoor areas

Beyond the pool and garden, a villa has plenty of systems that tend to fail just when they're needed most:

• Air conditioning. Clean the filters and service the units before summer. In a villa with several units, keep a log for each one.
• Hot water and water softener. Limescale also hits water heaters, taps and shower heads.
• Electrics and smart home. Fuse box, electric gates, cameras and wifi. A gate that won't open is a poor start to anyone's holiday.
• Outdoors. Paintwork on walls and façades, wooden pergolas and garden furniture, awnings and cushions. Sun and sea air wear them out fast.

A maintenance calendar for a Costa del Sol villa

When	Main jobs
Between every booking	Pool ready, garden tidy, check air con, lights, wifi and gates
Weekly in high season	Pool water testing, filter cleaning, irrigation check
Spring	Pool start-up, air con service, watch for processionary caterpillars, outdoor furniture ready
Summer	More frequent pool and irrigation visits, look out for leaks and water use
Autumn	Pruning, roof and gutter check before the rains, palm treatments
Winter	Bigger jobs (painting, upgrades, repairs) while occupancy is lower

How we do it at ERA

At ERA every villa has its own maintenance plan and a record of every check. Our team and trusted partners (pool, garden, air con) get their tasks in our software, with dates and photos, so the owner always knows what's been done at their home. Before every arrival we run a full check of the house, not just the cleaning.

If you'd like to know what else full management includes, have a look at our guide to holiday rental management fees in Marbella. If you're getting the villa ready to let, our home staging guide for holiday rentals may help too. We mainly work in villa areas such as Nueva Andalucía and Sierra Blanca.

Own a villa in Marbella?

We'll put together a free assessment of your villa: its current condition, the maintenance it needs and how we'd manage it so every guest finds it perfect. Request your free assessment here.