Renovating an old home in M\u00e1laga \u2014 whether it is a 1960s flat in the historic centre, a village house inland or a 1970s coastal apartment \u2014 is a project of a different order of complexity from renovating a recent property. It is not \u201cthe same thing, only slower\u201d: it is a kind of work that calls for an initial diagnosis, technical judgement and planning that goes far beyond choosing tiles and paint. Done well, it can turn a home that has lost value into one of the most sought-after properties in its area.<\/p>\n
A home built in M\u00e1laga before 1990 has, by definition, a number of features that complicate (and sometimes increase the cost of) a renovation:<\/p>\n
\u2022 Outdated electrical installation: no earthing, cable cross-sections unsuited to today\u2019s power demands and a consumer unit with no RCD. The current Spanish Low Voltage Electrotechnical Regulation (REBT 2002) requires everything to be brought up to standard in a full renovation.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Lead or galvanised iron plumbing: pipes that degrade water quality and suffer from chronic leaks. Complete renewal of the hot and cold water installation is essential.<\/p>\n
\u2022 No thermal insulation: homes built before 1980 were constructed with no insulation requirements whatsoever. A renovation that does not tackle insulation will let in the cold in winter and the heat in summer just as before.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Outdated layout: small, closed-off kitchens, a single bathroom, narrow corridors. Opening up the layout often means altering load-bearing walls or rerouting services.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Long-standing damp and leaks: deteriorated roofs, fa\u00e7ades and window frames that have caused damp problems which must be remedied before work begins.<\/p>\n
The cost of a full renovation of an old home on the Costa del Sol depends on the floor area, the condition of the property and the level of quality chosen. Klic Arquitectos\u2019 ranges for 2026:<\/p>\n
\u2022 Basic full renovation (complete renewal with no change of layout, standard finishes): \u20ac600\u2013900\/m\u00b2<\/p>\n
\u2022 Mid-range full renovation (partial change of layout, quality materials, complete kitchen and bathrooms): \u20ac900\u20131,400\/m\u00b2<\/p>\n
\u2022 High-end full renovation (complete redesign of the layout, premium materials, home automation, designer kitchen): \u20ac1,400\u20132,200\/m\u00b2<\/p>\n
Worked example: an 80 m\u00b2 flat built in the 1970s in Torremolinos that needs a top-to-bottom full renovation (all-new services, new layout, new kitchen and two new bathrooms, new exterior windows and doors, flooring and paintwork) will have a construction cost of between \u20ac72,000 and \u20ac110,000, plus technical fees and permits (an additional 10\u201315%).<\/p>\n
Before hiring anyone and before asking for a single quote, an old home should undergo a technical diagnosis that identifies:<\/p>\n
\u2022 Condition of the structure: floor slabs, beams, columns and load-bearing walls.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Existing services: layout, condition and capacity of the electrical, plumbing and drainage installations.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Presence of damp: its source (water ingress, rising damp, condensation) and extent.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Condition of the roof and exterior joinery: whether they need complete replacement or repair.<\/p>\n
This diagnosis, carried out by a building engineer (arquitecto t\u00e9cnico) or by the Klic Arquitectos team during the preliminary study phase, costs between \u20ac300 and \u20ac800, but it can identify problems which, if not detected before work starts, would surface in the middle of the renovation and multiply both cost and timescale.<\/p>\n
The order of works in a full renovation of an old home is not optional: getting it wrong leads to costly rework. The standard sequence:<\/p>\n
1. Demolition and strip-out: removal of partition walls, floor finishes, wall coverings and any elements to be replaced.<\/p>\n
2. Damp remediation and structural reinforcement where needed.<\/p>\n
3. Main building work: changes to the layout, new openings, new walls.<\/p>\n
4. Concealed services: horizontal drainage, embedded water pipes, chases for electrical wiring.<\/p>\n
5. Building envelope and roof (where needed): new windows, waterproofing.<\/p>\n
6. Finishes: wall tiling, flooring, plastering and wall linings.<\/p>\n
7. Visible services: switches and sockets, taps, radiators, split air-conditioning units.<\/p>\n
8. Interior joinery, kitchen and bathrooms.<\/p>\n
9. Painting and final finishes.<\/p>\n
In the Costa del Sol property market, a well-renovated old home can reach a market value between 40% and 80% higher than its price before the renovation. In prime areas such as M\u00e1laga\u2019s historic centre, or in coastal towns with high demand for holiday rentals (Marbella, Benalm\u00e1dena, Torremolinos), the full renovation of an old home can deliver a project return of 15\u201330% on the total investment.<\/p>\n
But beyond the investment, a well-executed renovation of an old home transforms everyday life: thermal comfort, quietness, natural light and the functionality of the spaces are qualitatively different before and after. It is the kind of transformation that, when we carry it out at Klic Arquitectos, leads clients to say it is \u201cnothing like it was before\u201d.<\/p>\n
Between 3 and 6 months for a 60\u2013100 m\u00b2 flat, from the start of works to handover. If a major works permit is required (structural changes or significant changes to the layout), you need to add 2\u20136 months of processing before work can begin. For a full renovation with no structural changes, a minor works permit can be obtained in 3\u20136 weeks.<\/p>\n
Renovating is usually a better option than buying new when: the old home is in a very good location (beachfront, historic centre, high-demand area), the purchase price plus the renovation comes in below the market price of an equivalent new-build home in the same area, or when the design of the old home has features that new ones do not offer (high ceilings, generous floor area, a large terrace).<\/p>\n
In full renovations that include renewing services and changing the layout, living in the home while the work is under way is practically unfeasible. The dust, the noise, the lack of water and electricity at various stages and the health risks all mean that the advisable course is to move out for the duration of the works. In partial renovations (kitchen only, bathrooms only), it is possible to live alongside the works.<\/p>\n
Architectural design, permit management, execution of the complete works (structure, services, finishes, joinery) and technical supervision, all under a single contract at a single fixed price. The client does not have to coordinate any trades or administrative agents: the home is handed over finished and ready to live in within the agreed timeframe.
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