Residents struggling with limited financial means in Nerja are going to get new opportunities to do up their properties through a special council plan. The local government recently approved funding that targets essential home improvements for qualifying households.

Programme details and funding levels

This 10th Municipal Housing Rehabilitation Programme has set aside a total budget of €145,000. Households can receive subsidies covering up to 80 per cent of eligible works costs, reaching a maximum of €12,000 per dwelling. Councillors have designed the scheme specifically to support those facing economic constraints while promoting better living conditions across older properties.

Strict eligibility requirements for applicants

Applicants must meet several key conditions to qualify for assistance. Household income cannot exceed three times the IPREM threshold. This is the Public Indicator of Income for Multiple Effects, meaning a guide to how well-off someone is. Currently, the IPREM is set at about €600 and can be checked at the iprem.com.es official website.

Properties also need to be over ten years old, serve as the main residence, and represent the sole ownership of the applicant. These rules make sure aid reaches those who need it most without allowing multiple claims per family.

Range of eligible home improvement works

Works focus on core aspects that increase safety and comfort inside homes. Structural stability improvements and damp removal feature prominently among supported activities. Accessibility modifications and energy efficiency upgrades also qualify for funding. Renewal of water, electricity, gas, and drainage systems receives coverage, in addition to better lighting, ventilation, window replacements, and interior surface treatments. These interventions are meant to raise overall habitability standards for participants.

Application process and next steps

Submission windows open for 15 natural days following official publication in the Boletín Oficial de la Provincia de Malaga and the national subsidies database. Interested parties should prepare documentation promptly once announcements appear.

This latest round of support continues Nerja’s commitment to affordable housing maintenance. Local families now have a practical pathway to address property needs without bearing full financial burdens. With clear criteria and substantial per-home grants available, the scheme offers real benefits for qualifying households seeking to improve their daily environments.

Imagine cutting your electricity bill without installing a single solar panel on your roof. No building work, no expensive equipment and no need to own your home. It might sound too good to be true, but that’s exactly what thousands of households in Italy are already doing using solar energy generated in Spain. The question now is whether the same idea could eventually benefit more homes across Europe, including those in Spain.

Instead of fitting solar panels to their own properties, families are signing up to a scheme that links them to a solar farm in southern Spain. When the energy produced by their allocated panel matches what they use at home, they receive that electricity free of charge, although they still pay network costs and other fixed charges that appear on a normal electricity bill.

How does it work?

The idea is surprisingly simple. Rather than asking every household to install rooftop solar panels, customers are assigned a virtual solar panel at a large photovoltaic plant in Cerrillares, Spain. The electricity generated by that panel is tracked and matched with the customer’s energy use back in Italy using digital software developed by Australian company Enosi.

If the panel produces the same amount of electricity that the household consumes during that period, the energy itself is credited to their bill. Customers continue to pay standard network charges and fixed costs, but the electricity generated by their virtual panel is effectively free. For people who live in apartments, rent their home or simply cannot install rooftop panels, it offers a completely different way to benefit from solar energy.

Thousands of families have already signed up

The idea is no longer a small pilot project. More than 110,000 customers have already joined the programme in Italy, showing there is strong demand for alternatives that help reduce household energy bills without requiring major home improvements.

The scheme is operated through Italian energy company Plenitude, while the technology behind it is provided by Enosi’s Powertracer platform, which matches electricity production with individual household consumption. For many participants, the attraction is obvious. They can benefit from renewable energy generated hundreds of kilometres away without having to own the equipment themselves.

Could something similar work in Spain?

For people living in Spain, the concept naturally raises another question. If solar farms in Spain can help power homes in Italy, could a similar system eventually allow more households in Spain to benefit from shared solar energy, particularly those living in apartment blocks or properties where rooftop panels are not practical?

Many urban residents simply do not have access to their own roof space. Others face restrictions because of where they live or the type of property they own. A shared system could offer an alternative by allowing households to benefit from electricity generated elsewhere rather than relying solely on panels installed at home.

Spain has no shortage of sunshine

Spain is already one of Europe’s biggest producers of solar energy, with large photovoltaic plants operating across several regions thanks to the country’s high number of sunshine hours. As more solar farms are built, interest is growing in new ways of connecting that renewable electricity with consumers.

Projects like the one linking Spain and Italy demonstrate that the technology now exists to match electricity generation with individual households, even when they are hundreds of kilometres apart. For consumers, that opens up possibilities that would have seemed unlikely only a few years ago.

Why it could appeal to so many people

Installing rooftop solar panels is not always an option. Many people rent their home, live in flats or simply cannot afford the upfront cost of buying and fitting a complete solar system.

A virtual panel removes many of those barriers. Instead of maintaining equipment or worrying about installation, customers simply receive the benefit of electricity generated on their behalf at a large solar farm. For households looking for ways to reduce rising energy bills, it is easy to see why the idea is attracting attention.

A different way of thinking about solar power

For years, solar energy has largely been associated with rooftop panels. This new model suggests that may not always be necessary. Instead of asking every household to generate its own electricity, larger solar farms could allow many more people to benefit from renewable energy, regardless of where they live.

While the Italian scheme is still specific to one energy provider and operates under its own conditions, it offers a glimpse of how electricity could be supplied differently in the future. For now, households in Italy are already proving that benefiting from Spain’s sunshine no longer means living under it. It can simply mean being connected to it in an entirely new way.

If you’ve booked a holiday in Andalucía this summer and found yourself paying more for hotels, restaurants or attractions than you expected, you’re certainly not imagining it. Foreign visitors spent a record €7.8 billion across Andalucía between January and May this year, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they’re splashing out more than ever. With the cost of holidays rising, many travellers are simply paying more for the same experience.

Record spending reflects another busy year

Visitor spending reached its highest ever level for the first five months of a year, rising 7.72 per cent compared with the same period in 2025. It is another sign that Andalucía remains one of Europe’s favourite holiday destinations, even as travel costs continue to climb.

Whether it is the beaches of the Costa del Sol, the historic streets of Sevilla, the Alhambra in Granada or the white villages scattered across the region, Andalucía continues to attract millions of overseas visitors every year. The latest figures show those visitors spent €7.8 billion between January and May, in Andalucía alone, setting a new record for the region during that period.

For businesses preparing for the busiest months of the year, it is welcome news. Hotels, restaurants, cafés, shops and tourist attractions all rely heavily on the summer season, and strong visitor spending helps support thousands of jobs across the region.

Are holidays becoming more expensive?

While the figures point to record spending, they do not necessarily mean holidaymakers are buying more. Accommodation prices have risen in many popular destinations, eating out often costs more than it did just a few years ago, and everything from drinks on the beach to family attractions can add noticeably more to the final holiday bill.

That means many visitors may simply be spending more because prices have increased, rather than because they are treating themselves to extra luxuries. For anyone who has returned to Andalucía after a few years away, the difference in costs is something they are likely to notice.

Visitors are still choosing Andalucía

Higher prices do not appear to be putting people off. Andalucía continues to offer the mix of sunshine, beaches, culture, gastronomy and relaxed lifestyle that has made it one of Europe’s most popular holiday destinations.

Many visitors return year after year, while first-time travellers continue to discover everything from the Costa del Sol and Costa Tropical to the cities of Málaga, Córdoba and Cádiz. For many families, Andalucía still offers excellent value compared with long-haul destinations, even if holiday budgets are under a little more pressure than they once were.

Good news for local businesses

A busy tourist season brings obvious benefits to businesses across the region. Hotels fill more rooms, restaurants welcome more diners and local shops see more customers walking through their doors. Tour companies, museums, beach bars and leisure attractions also benefit when visitors stay longer and spend more during their trip.

After several years of rising travel demand, another strong summer could provide an important boost for businesses that depend on tourism. For many, the summer months remain the most important trading period of the entire year.

What holidaymakers should expect

For anyone travelling to Andalucía over the coming weeks, the latest figures suggest another busy summer lies ahead. Popular resorts are likely to remain lively throughout July and August, while beaches, restaurants and major attractions may be busier than usual during peak holiday periods.

Booking accommodation, restaurants and popular attractions in advance could help avoid disappointment, particularly in the region’s busiest destinations. Visitors should also be prepared for prices that may be higher than they remember from previous holidays, especially in the most sought-after coastal areas.

Spending smarter, not necessarily more

Many holidaymakers are becoming far more careful about how they spend their money. Instead of booking luxury hotels, some are choosing self-catering apartments. Others are travelling for fewer days, comparing prices more carefully or looking for free attractions and local experiences that offer better value.

That does not mean people are enjoying their holidays any less. It simply means many travellers are making every euro count. With holiday costs continuing to rise across much of Europe, careful budgeting has become part of planning a trip.

Andalucía remains as popular as ever

The latest figures confirm that Andalucía continues to attract visitors from around the world, with international tourism showing little sign of slowing down. For local businesses, record visitor spending is a positive sign as the peak summer season gets underway.

For holidaymakers, the message is slightly different. Andalucía remains one of Europe’s most popular destinations, but enjoying everything it has to offer is likely to cost a little more than it once did. Planning ahead, comparing prices and setting a realistic budget could make all the difference between an expensive surprise and a holiday that is remembered for all the right reasons.