One of the main questions that usually comes up when buying a property in Spain is whether everything is actually in order. To avoid surprises later, buyers should always ask the seller for a specific set of documents before completing the purchase:

  1. Energy efficiency certificate, confirming the property's energy rating; the sale generally cannot go ahead without one.
  2. The last IBI (property tax) receipt, showing the tax has been paid up to date.
  3. Certificate of occupancy, confirming the property is legally fit to live in.
  4. The last paid receipts for utilities such as water, electricity and gas, to confirm there are no outstanding balances that could otherwise fall on the buyer.
  5. Plans of the property, matching what has actually been built.
  6. The Building Technical Inspection Certificate, for older properties required to have one, confirming the building's structural condition.
  7. A certificate from the community of owners confirming there are no outstanding community fees owed on the property.
  8. Details of any approved but not yet paid special assessments agreed by the community, since these can become the buyer's responsibility.
  9. The statutes of the community of owners, setting out the rules that come with the property.
  10. The internal rules of the community, covering day-to-day matters such as the use of common areas.

Requesting all of this before signing is the easiest way to avoid inheriting a problem, whether that is unpaid fees, an unauthorised structural change, or a restriction you did not know applied to the property.