What is it like to live in Mallorca in winter?
If you first saw the flat on a sunny afternoon in September, go back at the hour you’d normally come home from work. How much light does it get? Can you buy dinner nearby? What happens if you miss the last bus? Those are the questions that tell you how a place will work in winter.
Look at how the home is heated
Ask what heats each room and whether the landlord can show you a winter electricity bill. Check windows, corners behind furniture and external walls for signs of damp. Find out where you’ll dry clothes after several wet days. If you work from home, spend some time in the room you plan to use.
Check the things you do every week
Find a grocery shop, pharmacy and GP surgery you can reach on an ordinary weekday. If you have children, try the journey to school and the trip home after an activity. In coastal areas, check what is open in your immediate neighbourhood rather than relying on the list of businesses you saw in summer.
Try the trip after dark
Check the actual winter bus or train timetable, including weekends, and walk the route between the stop and the property. If a visit to friends or a late shift means a taxi, add it to the cost of living there.
Read the lease before planning for summer
Ask for the start and end dates in writing. If you’re looking for a year-round home, check whether the contract matches that intention before paying a deposit. A place that works from November to April may leave you searching again before summer.
Sources and related guides
Our guide to an 11-month rental
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