Spain — Property: Legal Checks

Key facts

• Nota Simple from the Land Registry is the primary check for ownership, liens, and mortgages.
• Certificado Catastral confirms cadastral value/boundaries, which underpins IBI and transfer-tax calculations.
• Certificado de Estar al Corriente confirms no unpaid community/HOA fees are attached to the unit.
• Short-term letting requires a VUT tourist-rental license; many cities have frozen or capped new VUT issuance.

Steps

1. 1. Request a Nota Simple — Obtainable online or in person from the Registro de la Propiedad; confirms registered owner, charges, and liens.
2. 2. Check the Certificado Catastral — Confirms cadastral value and boundaries against the property being purchased.
3. 3. Request the community-fee certificate — Certificado de Estar al Corriente from the administrator/president of the community of owners, confirming no outstanding HOA debts.
4. 4. Check for planning violations — Certificado de No Infracción Urbanística from the town hall confirms no unresolved illegal-build or zoning issues.
5. 5. Verify VUT eligibility if letting short-term — Check current municipal rules on tourist-rental licensing before assuming short-term letting will be possible.

Required documents

• Nota Simple
• Certificado Catastral
• Certificado de Estar al Corriente
• Certificado de No Infracción Urbanística

Common mistakes

• Skipping the community-fee certificate and inheriting unpaid HOA debt attached to the property.
• Assuming short-term letting is automatically permitted without checking current VUT license availability in that municipality.

Related topics