Part of the Costa del Sol security guide
The direct answer
If you want someone to verify the alarm and call the police for you, you need a connection to a monitoring centre, for a monthly fee. If it is enough that the alarm alerts you on your phone, with a photo or video, and you decide what to do, an Ajax alarm with no fee is sufficient.
Connecting the alarm to a monitoring centre is an activity regulated by Spain’s Private Security Act 5/2014 that only a registered private security company may provide, and Dartel Solutions is not one: we neither provide nor resell it. What we install alerts your phone and the phones of the people you add.
What is the actual difference?
| Phone alerts | Connection to a monitoring centre | |
|---|---|---|
| Who gets the alert | You, in the app | Operators, 24 h |
| Who calls the police | You | The centre, after verifying |
| Monthly fee | 0 € | Yes, set by the company providing it |
| Who may provide it | Any installer | Only a registered private security company |
| Contract term | None | Depends on the contract |
Can any alarm be connected?
No. In Spain the alarm must be Grade 2 or higher under EN 50131, with conformity assessed by an accredited control body in the European Union. That is set by Orden INT/316/2011 under the Private Security Act 5/2014. The Ajax systems we install meet Grade 2. An ungraded kit cannot legally be connected, whatever the seller says.
Who can give me that service?
A private security company registered with the Ministry of the Interior. Dartel Solutions is not one: we install and maintain the equipment, and that is where our role ends. We would rather say so plainly than sell you something we cannot provide.
When is each option worth it?
- The monitored service is worth it if the house sits empty for months, if nobody you trust can go round, or if your insurer requires it.
- Usually not worth it if you live in the house, have neighbours or family nearby and want to see for yourself what is going on.
The usual pattern on the Costa del Sol is to start without a fee, with phone alerts, and weigh the rest if circumstances change. With Ajax you can do that without changing the equipment. For a holiday rental or second home we cover it separately.
What does the part we do actually cost?
From our 2026 price guide: an Ajax alarm installed, 585–1,000 € one-off, no fee. A provider's subscription alarm, 30–50 €/month, which adds up to 1,800–3,000 € in fees alone over five years.
In the shop: Grade 2 alarm kit with dual 4G SIM · Ajax Hub 2 control panel · all Ajax alarms
Dartel Solutions sells and installs Ajax and Dahua alarms, cameras, networks and video intercoms in Málaga and along the Costa del Sol, from Nerja to Sotogrande. Over 350 installations.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between an alarm connected to a monitoring centre and one that alerts my phone?
With phone alerts, the alarm reaches you in the app, with a photo or video from the detector, and you decide what to do; there is no fee. With a monitoring centre, operators verify the alarm 24 h a day and call the police if warranted, for a monthly fee. Connecting the alarm to a monitoring centre is an activity regulated by Spain’s Private Security Act 5/2014 that only a registered private security company may provide, and Dartel Solutions is not one: we neither provide nor resell it.
If the alarm alerts my phone, can I call the police myself?
Yes. You get the detector’s photo and decide.
Can any alarm be connected?
No. It must be Grade 2 or higher under EN 50131 and with conformity assessed by an accredited control body in the European Union, per Orden INT/316/2011 under the Private Security Act 5/2014. The Ajax systems we install meet Grade 2.
Can I change provider without changing the alarm?
With Ajax, yes: the equipment is yours and there is no contract term on the equipment.
Does my home insurance require a monitored service?
Depends on the policy; ask your insurer before deciding.
Want an alarm that alerts you, with no fee?
We tell you which entry points to cover, how many sensors you need and what it costs, with an itemised quote and no commitment. We install across the Costa del Sol.
You might also find these useful
- An alarm with no monthly fees: what Ajax is and why we chose it
- How much does an alarm cost in Málaga? 2026 price guide
- Which alarm for a holiday rental or second home?