Is legal assistance needed when purchasing a property in Spain?
At Adaleta, we always advise foreign buyers to enlist a specialised lawyer or legal advisor when purchasing a home in Spain. The rules and procedures of the Spanish real-estate market differ greatly from those in their home country. With the right legal support, you avoid unwelcome surprises and extra costs.
What does a lawyer arrange or check for you?
Applying for an NIE number
Tax ID required for all official documents.
Contact with seller, their representative, the estate agent and public authorities
Correspondence in Spanish, negotiations and translations.
Title-deed check (Registro de la Propiedad)
Verifying existing mortgages, liens or easements.
Review of all permits
Including buidling permit (licencia de obra), occupancy certificate and ten-year liability insurance.
Drafting and reviewing contracts
Such as reservation agreement (contrato de arras), preliminary purchase contract and notarial deed (escritura pública).
Negotiating purchase terms
Conditions precedent, payment schedules, penalties for non-performance, ...
Notary support
Scheduling the appointment, translation and clear explanation of the deed.
Fiscal handling
Transfer tax (ITP) on resale, VAT on new builds, property tax (IBI), income and wealth tax on rental or sale.
As a buyer, you are free to choose your own advisor. We recommend avoiding in-house legal services offered by the agency. Adaleta connects you with independent lawyers in Spain, multilingual if required, so you're guaranteed professional support from A to Z and can enjoy your new home worry-free.