Ask About Utilities in Spanish: Rent, Water, Electricity, and Deposits

Asking the main question

The most direct way to ask whether utilities are included is «¿Están incluidos los servicios?». In English this means "Are utilities included?" The word servicios refers to services such as water, electricity, gas, and internet. Use this question at the start of a rental conversation. It is short, polite, and widely understood. After you hear a general answer, you can ask for details. A useful follow-up is «¿Qué servicios no están incluidos?», which means "Which utilities are not included?" This helps you find out exactly what you must pay separately. Notice that both questions use están incluidos, the plural form, because servicios is plural. If you want to ask about specific utilities in one question, you can say «¿La renta incluye agua, luz y gas?», which means "Does the rent include water, electricity, and gas?" Here renta means the rent, agua means water, luz means electricity, and gas means gas. In much of Latin America, luz is the common word for electricity.

Understanding the landlord's answer

In a real conversation, the answer may include some utilities and exclude others. Listen to this exchange. The visitor says «Buenas tardes, vi el anuncio del apartamento. ¿Está disponible?», which means "Good afternoon, I saw the apartment listing. Is it available?" The landlord answers «Sí, está disponible. La renta es de quinientos dólares al mes.», which means "Yes, it's available. The rent is five hundred dollars a month." The visitor then asks «¿Están incluidos los servicios?», which is the same main question: "Are utilities included?" The landlord replies «El agua está incluida, pero la luz y el internet no. Se pagan aparte.», which means "Water is included, but electricity and internet are not. They are paid separately." The key phrase is se pagan aparte, meaning "they are paid separately." So agua is included, but luz and internet are not. If you hear this answer, you know that you must pay electricity and internet on your own. You can also ask about the deposit with «¿Cuánto se paga de depósito?», which means "How much is the deposit?" This is a standard question before moving in. The amount and included utilities describe only this sample apartment; actual rental terms vary.

Putting the questions in order

A natural rental conversation often follows this order. First, greet the person and ask if the apartment is available, as in «Buenas tardes, vi el anuncio del apartamento. ¿Está disponible?». Second, ask the main question about utilities, as in «¿Están incluidos los servicios?». Third, if the answer is general, ask which services are not included, as in «¿Qué servicios no están incluidos?». You can also ask about specific utilities with «¿La renta incluye agua, luz y gas?». Fourth, ask about the deposit, as in «¿Cuánto se paga de depósito?». When you listen to the landlord's answer, focus on two things: which services are included, and which are paid separately. Words such as incluido or incluida mean "included." The phrase se pagan aparte means "they are paid separately." If you hear pero, meaning "but," pay attention because it often introduces the services that are not included. You do not need to invent new phrases. Use the recorded questions and answers as your model, and practice saying them aloud until they feel comfortable.

Listen once, then say the phrase yourself. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.

Checking available voices…

Read one side aloud, then answer in your own words. The goal is to make the exchange yours.

Common questions