We are moving to Spain at the end of Sept. We have the contract in Spanish.
Within the contract it mentions the following. We did a brief translation on babel fish so the English may not be perfect but gives you a good idea.

‘The expenses by the services of the house (water, light, gas, telephone, etc.) will be of account of the renter whom it authorizes to the landlord in this act by means of this document to the hiring of the corresponding provisions’.

Is this normal that the landlord can choose what electric/water company we use? Also is there a way that they can rip us off and charge us high rates. This is our only concern. Would be fab if anybody knows. Thanks in advance.

Hi.
This is a way used by the landlord to avoid paying the various gas, telephone, etc. companies to get the service every time he has a new tenant. It means he is receiving the relevant invoices even when there are no tenants. He’ll have to give you each invoice and then you’ll have to pay them, either to him or (and I’d prefer this solution) directly to the company providing the service.

Only with the first invoices you’ll have to calculate the percentage of the amount due to the landlord. For example: gas and electricity are invoiced every two months. If the invoiced period is from 01/08 to 30/09/2008 and you have rented the flat starting from 01/09, you’ll have to pay only 50% of the total amount.

Thanks for that. The apartment is new and has not been lived in yet so hopefully this will be ok to work out.
Just wasn’t sure if the supplier he uses may be a higher rate.

You can not pick and choose electric and water comp in spain its not like UK.
Make sure you see all bills before you pay anything,and check the address on the invoice.

Will do. Thanks for advice. Just 2 weeks to go.

Where in Spain are you moving to.

Costa del sol, 10 minutes walk from Benalmadena Pueblo.
We have a little boy who is 18 months old so we thought now was the time to make
the move.
Are you living in Spain then?

Used to live in Benalmadena now live in La cala.
Def the right time to make the move.

Yeah we stayed in La Cala for month. Its a nice place.
We are renting for a year and then maybe we will buy if we settle ok.

We have always rented here,keep thinking of buying but somthing always happens and we never bothered.
Also cant seem to find what we want in our price range.

Good luck with the move Spooksie.
If it is your first time living/renting in Spain, then just take caution as you would anywhere else (sounds like you are doing this though by asking these kind of questions in advance).
As you say it is a new property - so bills shoud all be 0 or as near too as poss. 
Once you see a bill (always keep a copy of any monies you had over to the land lord for extras)  - there will be a ‘Contador number’ on the bill- this is the actual meter that is being used to calculate your bill. Make sure it corresponds with what you are being asked to pay for. Likewise, if you can look at the meter (it is usually in a public place in the building) - that no one else has attached their apartment to yours! (This is very common - but usually in older buildings). 
The main ele co is Sevelliana/Endesa and water will be from a local co (or possibly the community well - but check on your first bill). 
They also do ‘actual/real’ and ‘estimada/estimated’ readings as in the uK.  So just keep an eye on it.
The landlord should not be able to control the prices you are being charged - unless he was supplying it via his own system!

New apartment sounds OK tho/straight forward???
Suggestion - check the reading/get a copy of both bills from Landlord/agent on te ‘WALK THROUGH’ on arriving at the property/moving in day.
regards,
SJ

On some urbs water is included in the community charge double check this with the agent or landlord.
All will say its seperate,so dont pay untill you see a bill.

Thanks for all the sound advice. Looking forward to moving. I think the water and electric is seperate but will double check.

Hope you enjoy living here as much as i do.