If you are buying a home right now or have recently done so, the first thing you should do is change the utilities over to your name. I hope that this information will speed up the process in getting you set up! When you have purchased a new home in Playa del Carmen, and the title has been transferred and you become the official owner, one of many post-closing tasks you’ll have to carry out is switching the utilities into your name. It is good to do this over the first several months and to have the bills with your name on them for future proof of address.
For those of you who prefer not to go to the offices in person, perhaps because your Spanish is not good, you can give Power of Attorney to your Property Manager or someone you trust. But if you do go, take someone who is a Spanish speaker to help you out, especially if they’ve lived here a while and are familiar with the process.
When you begin changing the name on the accounts I recommend that you take care of the property tax first. The reason is that the water and electricity will require your property tax registration in order to set them up, while the other utilities will require the water or electricity bill. If you have yet to pay property tax you can use the promissory contract for the various utilities.
Property Tax
This is the first account where you should change your name. The other basic utilities will probably ask you for this as primary proof of address. To make this change you will need the following documents, both the original and a copy:
- Deed recorded in the Public Registry of Property
- Process Fees
- Official ID
After arriving at the office you will need to obtain the following:
- A Motion to File Application for Cadastral (for new properties)
- A Form of Clarifications (for resale properties)
- Declaration of the assessed value of property tax
Once you have all of these documents you will be able to change the name of the property tax and you will get a registry document, called boleta predial in spanish.
The office is located at the Palacio Municipal, Playa del Carmen’s city hall. It’s on 20th Ave., between 8th St. and 12 St., right behind Walmart and is open Monday to Friday from 8:30AM to 3:00PM.
The water service in Playa del Carmen is called Aguakan, and is located on Kantenah Av. SM-53, M-2, in the area known as Cruz de Servicios. In order to change the name on this account or set up this service you will need to bring a copy of your Identification, usually passport. You will also need a copy of your property tax registration and your last water bill (unless it’s a new home).
Electricity
The CFE (Federal Commission of Electricity) is the national organization which manages all electric services. Most cities have an office for CFE, including Playa del Carmen. To set up a contract with CFE, or to change the name on an existing account, you will need the following documents.
- For a new property, you will need a proof of address with your name on it (your property tax registration, promissory contract or water bill if you already have it).
- To change the name on existing service (i.e. resale property), you need the contract number (you should ask the last owner for their last bill or a copy of it).
- Identification (passport)
- Copy of the deed
If you have air conditioning, you must report the capacity of the equipment. Be sure to note this before heading to the office!
There is a security deposit of around $500.00 pesos, but this will show up on your first bill. There is no connection fee.
With your documentation, go to the following office:
40th Ave. between 20th St. and 22nd St.
Playa del Carmen
Phone: (984) (984) 807-7272
Fax: (984) 803-1869 http://www.cfe.gob.mx/lang/en/Pages/thecom
Please note that there are big changes currently planned for the CFE, and by 2018 this information will likely be out of date as the CFE gives way to several competing companies which will take over the current services operated by them.
Telephone
You have a choice of two main phone companies offering service in Playa del Carmen: Telmex and Izzi (formerly Cablemas). Telmex is the main phone company, and offers phone, cable television and internet service. You will need:
- Proof of address (water or electricity bill)
- Identification (passport)
- Payment
As of November 2015 the line installation fee was $2004 pesos.
The basic line monthly fee is $187.00 pesos, but there are also plans that offer package deals for long distance, phone and internet, ranging from $ 389.00 pesos to $699.00 pesos. Usually it is better to contract one of those packages, depending on your needs.
The Telmex office in Playa del Carmen is located at:
40th Ave. at the corner of 6th St. Downtown, Playa del Carmen
Phone: 01-800-123-0000/ 01-800-123-1114
Izzi also provides phone service, but it’s not available in all neighborhoods. Their packages for phone, cable and internet often have attractive prices. Visit their office for requirements, which will probably be similar to those of Telmex.
Av.10 #325, Col. Xaman-Ha, Playa del Carmen, QR. CP 77710
Open Monday to Friday from 9am to 6pm and Saturdays from 9am to 2 pm.
Gas
There are two choices for gas service. Some homes use small, portable tanks; a truck makes its rounds through town, and simply picks up the tanks to fill them, and return them the next day. You must pay cash when they pick up the tank, and there are no bills or registration. The other option is to have a permanent tank installed (usually on the rooftop.) In this case, it will be like a regular utility which you will have to contract and get set up (if it’s not already there). However, you will have to call whenever your tank is running low and a truck will come by to fill it. You will pay when it is filled.
The main company is Z-Gas. To set up the service you will need the following:
- Photocopy of official ID – Passport
- Photocopy of proof of address (property tax registration, electric or water bill)
- 2 references, with addresses and telephone numbers
- $550.00 pesos for the set-up fee
The office is located at:
Av. Benito JuaÌrez, Ejidal,
Playa del Carmen, Q.R.
Phone: 01 800-011-ZETA (9382)
www.grupozeta.com/pagina_internet/index.htm
In order to make the process easier you can download a PDF of the Setting Up Utilities kit at the following link: http://bit.ly/kit_settinguputilities. Here you will find all of the information that has been covered in this blog”
If you’d like more information about living in Playa del Carmen or are interested in purchasing property here, we invite you to visit our main website where you can search further. Please get in touch with one of our agents who will gladly assist you in any questions you might have. And remember, at Top Mexico Real Estate…
we make it happen!