Electricity: plan around interruptions
Power interruptions are a known part of daily life in parts of Cuba, and their frequency and timing shift over time and place. A rental in one neighbourhood may be far more stable than one nearby. Ask the owner honestly about the local pattern, whether the home has any backup, and how they usually cope.
Practically, this means keeping devices charged when power is available, being ready for periods without air conditioning or refrigeration, and not depending on anything that must run continuously. Owners who are upfront about this are giving you the information you need to plan.
Water: storage matters
Water supply can also be intermittent, which is why many Cuban homes rely on storage tanks that fill when mains water is available and supply the house in between. When you rent, understanding how the home stores and manages water is more useful than assuming a constant tap. Ask whether there is a tank, how it is filled, and what to do if supply is low.
Hot water in particular is worth confirming, since arrangements vary from home to home.
Internet: expect variability
Internet connectivity in Cuba is limited and variable compared with many countries. Some rentals have a home connection; its speed and reliability differ, and public or shared access points are used too. If you need connectivity for work or staying in touch, treat it as something to verify specifically rather than assume, and ask the owner what actually works in their home.
Across all three utilities the theme is the same: confirm the local reality directly, and build your plans around intermittency rather than constant supply.
Adapting your daily routine
Once you accept that utilities are intermittent, the practical response is to build small habits around them rather than fight them. Charge phones, laptops and battery lights whenever power is on. Keep drinking water and some stored water in reserve so a supply gap is a minor inconvenience rather than a crisis. Do connectivity-dependent tasks when your connection is working, and keep offline alternatives ready for when it is not.
Cubans manage these rhythms as a matter of course, and adopting the same flexible mindset makes a rental far more comfortable. The households that cope best are simply the ones that plan for interruption instead of being caught out by it, and a renter can do exactly the same.