10 documents to request from the seller before buying a property in Spain 

Before you commit to buying a property in Spain, there are ten documents you should request directly from the seller. These cover the legal, structural, and financial status of the property itself — proof of ownership, confirmation the property is free of debt, and certification that it meets the standards required to be legally habitable. Checking them properly, before signing anything, is one of the most effective ways to avoid an expensive surprise after completion.

This guide focuses specifically on the documents relating to the property that the seller is responsible for providing — not your own personal paperwork such as the NIE, mortgage documentation, or what is needed when signing the purchase contract, which our essential document checklist for buying property in Spain covers in full. Many of the Spanish terms used throughout are explained in more detail in our essential real estate terms glossary.

This guide also assumes you are buying an existing, previously-owned property. If you are buying off-plan or buying land to build on, the process and paperwork are different — see our guides to navigating an off-plan property purchase in Spain and buying land and building a home in Spain instead.

1. Nota simple (property registry extract)

The nota simple is an extract from the Registro de la Propiedad (Land Registry) confirming who legally owns the property and whether it carries any mortgages, debts, liens, or other charges. It is the single most important document on this list — without it, you cannot confirm the seller has the right to sell, or that the property is free of hidden liabilities.

To request one, you will typically need:

• The CRU/IDUFIR (Unique Registration Code), if known
• The current owner's full name and NIF (tax ID)
• The property's registry details — province, municipality, registry office, and plot number
• Alternatively, the property's address, if the above details are not available

You can request a nota simple in person at the relevant Land Registry office or online via the Registradores de España website. It is worth noting that a nota simple is purely informative — for legally certified proof, a certificación registral is required instead, though a nota simple is generally sufficient for due diligence purposes at this stage. Always check that any nota simple you are given is no more than a few months old, as the property's status can change.

2. Receipt from the latest IBI (property tax) payment

If you are buying a resale property, ask the seller for the most recent receipt for Impuesto sobre Bienes Inmuebles (IBI) — the annual municipal property tax. This confirms payments are up to date. IBI liability for the full year falls on whoever owns the property on 1 January, so if you complete partway through the year, it is standard practice for the buyer to reimburse the seller for the proportional months of ownership from the date of completion onwards. Put this agreement in writing as part of the purchase contract — if left informal, an unpaid proportional amount can lead to a legal claim from the seller after completion.

3. Certificado de eficiencia energética (energy performance certificate)

Sellers are legally required to provide an energy performance certificate, rating the property's energy efficiency from A (most efficient) to G (least efficient), along with recommendations for improving the rating. This affects your future utility bills directly and is worth factoring into any comparison between properties.

4–5. Licencia de primera ocupación or cédula de habitabilidad

The licencia de primera ocupación (licence of first occupation) confirms a property was built in accordance with its planning permission and meets building regulations. It is issued once a new build or major renovation is complete, and is a legal requirement for the property to be occupied.

The cédula de habitabilidad (certificate of habitability) serves a similar purpose — confirming the property meets minimum habitability and safety standards — and is required to register the deeds and connect utilities such as water and electricity. Because the two documents overlap significantly, several autonomous communities have phased out the cédula in favour of the licencia alone. The cédula remains mandatory in Asturias, the Balearic Islands, Cantabria, Catalonia, the Valencian Community, Extremadura, La Rioja, Murcia, and Navarre. In other regions, the licencia de primera ocupación is sufficient. Confirm which applies in your region and make sure the seller provides the correct one.

6. Inspección Técnica de Edificios (ITE) — technical building inspection

The ITE assesses whether a building meets safety, health, and accessibility standards. It is compulsory for buildings over 30 to 50 years old (the exact age threshold depends on the municipality) and must be renewed every 10 years. If you are buying an older property, ask for the most recent ITE report — it will tell you whether the building has any outstanding structural issues or required works before you commit.

7. Floor plans of the property

Request the official floor plans to confirm the exact layout and to identify any modifications made since the original construction. Compare the plans against what you are actually being shown — unregistered extensions or internal changes are common in Spain and can create legal complications after purchase, particularly if you later want to sell or renovate.

8. Licencia de obra and certificado de final de obra

For new-build properties, ask for the licencia de obra (building permit) — issued by the town hall and confirming the construction was authorised — and the certificado de final de obra (final completion certificate), which verifies the finished building matches the approved plans and current regulations. The completion certificate is required for the property to be legally habitable and for registration with the Land Registry.

9. Certificado de deuda and estatutos of the community of owners

If the property is part of a building or development with a residents' association (comunidad de vecinos), request a certificate confirming the seller has no outstanding community fee debts. This is a mandatory document at the notary. Under Spanish law, unpaid community debts can transfer to the new owner in certain circumstances, so this check matters — ask specifically about any pending derramas (special contributions for works or repairs), as these become payable by whoever owns the property when the payment falls due, regardless of when the works were approved.

It is also worth requesting a copy of the community's estatutos (bylaws). These are not mandatory to obtain, but they set out the rules that will apply to you as an owner — useful to review before, not after, you commit.

10. Latest utility bills

Ask for recent receipts for water, electricity, and gas to confirm the seller's accounts are up to date and to get a realistic sense of what these costs will be once you take over as the owner. This is useful both for budgeting and for avoiding any dispute over unpaid balances after completion.

Putting it all together

Requesting and checking these ten documents before you commit to a purchase is one of the most effective ways to protect yourself as a buyer in Spain. An independent lawyer can request and review all of them on your behalf, flag anything unusual, and make sure nothing is missing before you sign the contrato de arras or proceed to completion.

These ten documents relate specifically to the property itself. If you are earlier in the process and want the fuller picture — including your own NIE, mortgage paperwork, and what is required when signing the purchase contract and registering the property — our essential document checklist for buying property in Spain covers the complete journey from start to finish.