What to check before buying a holiday apartment

The first thing to ask for is a current site plan and tax valuation of the property. The second is the title document and a check for encumbrances in the Property Register. That is a job for a lawyer, and it costs little set against the risk.

What is particular to holiday complexes is the annual maintenance fee. It is due whether or not you use the property, and in some complexes it reaches 15 euro per square metre a year. Ask what the fee is, what it covers, and whether there are unpaid charges on the apartment.

Check how the complex runs outside the season as well: is the reception open, is the pool heated, is there security through the winter. An online viewing is a good moment to put these questions to the distributor.

Pick a listing in the catalogue and ask for a viewing.