Legal Services for Property Owners and Buyers in Spain: A Complete Overview
Short answer: Spanish property lawyers do much more than conveyancing. Beyond buying and selling, they help owners with taxes, rentals, renovations, inheritance and disputes throughout the life of the property. This overview explains each service, when you need it and where to learn more.
Services when buying
| Service | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Due diligence | Title, charges, planning, licences, debts and community checks. Learn more |
| Contracts | Review or drafting of reservation, option and arras contracts |
| Cancellation of charges | Making sure existing mortgages and embargoes are cancelled at or before completion |
| NIE and bank account | Applying for your NIE number and helping open an account |
| Power of attorney | Acting for you if you cannot attend. Learn more |
| Military authorisation | For non-EU buyers of rustic land in affected areas. Learn more |
| Completion and registration | Notary signing, tax payments and Land Registry registration |
| Purchase structure | Personal, joint or company ownership. Learn more |
Services when selling
- Preparing documents buyers will request: nota simple, energy certificate, cédula de habitabilidad, IBI and community certificates.
- Negotiating the sale contract and protecting the deposit.
- Calculating capital gains tax, the 3% retention for non-residents and the municipal plusvalía. See selling property in Spain.
Services for owners
- Tax compliance: annual non-resident income tax, wealth tax and IBI. See non-resident property tax.
- Rentals: long-term tenancy contracts, holiday-rental registration and compliance. See holiday rental licences.
- Renovations and construction: licences, contracts with builders and defects claims.
- Inheritance and wills: Spanish wills and the inheritance process. See inheritance tax and wills.
- Residence: visas and residence options for non-EU owners.
- Family law: property in separations and divorces.
- Disputes and litigation: boundary, community, tenancy and contract disputes in court.
Related professionals
Lawyers often work alongside architects and surveyors for technical checks, valuers for mortgages, tax advisers for complex situations and currency specialists for international transfers. A good firm will coordinate them or recommend independent professionals. See our list of tax advisors in Spain.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a lawyer after buying a property in Spain?
Not continuously, but many owners use a lawyer or tax adviser for annual tax filings, rentals and inheritance planning.
Can one firm handle both legal and tax matters?
Many property law firms offer both, or work with a tax adviser. Ask what is included in their quote.
How are property lawyers paid in Spain?
Usually a percentage of the price or a fixed fee for purchases and sales, and hourly or fixed fees for other services, plus 21% VAT. See property lawyer costs.
Services vary by firm. Property-Lawyers.com is a directory; agree the scope of work directly with the lawyer you instruct.
Sophie Gutenberg is a legal content specialist focused on Spanish property law, real estate transactions, conveyancing, due diligence and tax issues affecting international property buyers in Spain. She works alongside qualified Spanish property lawyers .
