Renovations in Fuengirola and Los Boliches

Renovating in Fuengirola is nothing like renovating in an inland white village or a hillside villa estate. Fuengirola is a compact, vertical beach town: much of its housing stock is high-rise apartments built during the tourism boom of the 1960s, 70s and 80s, now carrying dated plumbing, kitchens, bathrooms and aluminium window frames that are ready for an overhaul. Layered on top is a strongly international owner base, Fuengirola is home to Spain's largest Nordic and Finnish community, concentrated in Los Boliches, living alongside lifelong local residents. At Costa del Sol Reformas we work with our own in-house team and a 5-year guarantee, and we run every project in Spanish, English and German, essential in a town where owner and contractor rarely share a first language.

Where we renovate

• Los Boliches. Fuengirola's most international neighbourhood and the heart of its Nordic and Finnish community. It's dominated by first- and second-line beach apartment blocks, many from the 70s-80s, where the typical job is a full modernisation: kitchen opened to the living room, accessible bathroom, continuous flooring and glazing the terrace to gain usable space.
• Centro y Paseo Marítimo. The town centre and seafront hold Fuengirola's oldest apartment towers. Here renovation demands careful logistics: moving materials in buildings with no goods lift, working hours agreed with the residents' association and protecting shared areas. Common jobs: rewiring and re-plumbing, treating damp, and updating compact bathrooms.
• Torreblanca. An elevated area beside its Cercanías train station, mixing 1980s housing with newer developments. Demand leans towards mid-to-upper renovations: extending terraces, thermal and acoustic insulation, and reworking older flats for international buyers who prize the sea views.
• Carvajal. A quieter, higher-status beachfront with lower-density buildings, especially in its upper zone. Second homes are common, so we're often asked for turnkey renovations coordinated remotely for owners who only visit a few weeks a year.
• Reserva del Higuerón (El Higuerón). Fuengirola's premium edge, on the Benalmádena border: luxury new-build, penthouses with panoramic views and high-end finishes. Here renovation isn't about updating but personalising: home automation, designer kitchens, spa-style bathrooms and premium materials that match the resort setting.
• Pueblo López. Fuengirola's most charming quarter: whitewashed former fishermen's houses, narrow lanes and a tapas atmosphere. Renovations here are more craft-led and delicate: refurbishing small-footprint homes while respecting their traditional character, bringing in light and updating services without breaking the look of the ensemble.

The property market in Fuengirola

Fuengirola's housing stock is clearly dominated by the seafront high-rise apartment, a legacy of tourism development from the 1960s to the 80s. These are 2- and 3-bedroom flats, many with terraces facing the Mediterranean, compartmentalised layouts and period finishes. That's why the flagship renovation here is the full apartment modernisation: opening the kitchen to the living room, renewing plumbing and wiring, swapping aluminium frames for PVC or thermally-broken aluminium, and enclosing or reworking the terrace to use it year-round. Running alongside this are the second homes of expats and Nordic owners (who want turnkey renovations) and the premium new-build segment in El Higuerón, a very different kind of commission geared far more towards design and personalisation.

Building permits in Fuengirola

In Fuengirola many interior renovations no longer need a prior licence: the Town Hall replaces the permit with a Declaración Responsable (responsible declaration) for minor works valued under 30,000 € (excluding VAT), distinguishing type A and type B works under article 5.2.13 of the PGOU. It's filed through the online sede electrónica, with no in-person visit. Major works, or anything affecting the structure, still require a licence with a technical project; the council processes an average of ten major-works licences a month. For queries, the Urban Planning department can be reached on 952 58 93 05. We prepare and file all the paperwork for you.

Renovation costs in Fuengirola

As a reference, sale prices in Fuengirola sit around 4,400 €/m² in 2026, with a 20-25% premium on the beachfront versus a few blocks inland. For renovation, cost depends on scope (a cosmetic refresh vs. a full gut renovation), finish quality and local factors specific to the town: high-rise buildings with no goods lift, awkward material access and working hours agreed with the residents' association all add to logistics. Asking for a fixed, itemised quote, like the one we provide, avoids surprises.