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The cost of registering your house at land registry in Spain
Though not mandatory, registering a house is recommended, and this is what it costs
The Spanish land registry (Catastro) is a public institution that registers property information and its legal ownership. The land registry records changes to a property’s ownership and the status of its legal situation, including mortgages, seizures and inheritance.
Registering a house with the Catastro is not mandatory, but it is highly recommended. Usually, it is a step most people take upon purchasing a house, because registering a house offers a series of advantages and benefits to the owners. This article will walk you through everything there is to know about the registration process.
How much does it cost to register a property in Spain?
To find out how much it is to register a property in Spain, at the Spanish land registry, the owner must know the Property’s cadastral value. The rates depend on the value stated in the deeds, as stipulated in Spanish Royal Decree 1427/1989, of 17 November.
Below is a table that clarifies the rates that will be charged at each price point.
| Property value | Rate |
| Below €6,010.1 | €24.04 |
| Between €6,010.12 and €30,050.61 | An additional €1.75 for every €1,000 more in value |
| Between €30,050.62 and €60,101.21 | An additional €1.25 for every €1,000 more in value |
| Between €60,101.22 and €150,253.03 | An additional €0.75 for every €1,000 more in value |
| Between €150,253.04 and €601,012.10 | An additional €0.30 for every €1,000 more in value |
| Above €601,012.10 | An additional €0.20 for every €1,000 more in value |
An example of how Spanish land registry costs are calculated
Below is an example of how a Spanish land registry costs are calculated. The example will take a house worth €100,000.
24.04 + 42.07 + 37.56 + 29.92 = €133.59
The first €24.04 refers to the first €6,010.12 of the value, and the following three figures correspond to the consequent price scales, up to €100,000.
€133.59 would be the most that a registrar can charge you for registering your €100,000 property at the Land Registry in Spain.
Why register a house at the land registry?
The main advantage of registering your property at the Spanish land registry is that it is a legal guarantee against third parties. You publicly state that you are the real owner of the property and that no one can claim or use it without your consent.
The registry of your property therefore protects you against possible fraud, such as the seller being able to sell the house to someone else or someone else being able to encumber it with a mortgage or a seizure.
Another advantage is being able to secure a mortgage for financing or renovations. Banks only grant mortgages on properties registered with the land registry to ensure that the property exists and is free of encumbrances.
Finally, when you register your home, you can benefit from certain tax reliefs, such as reduced Property Transfer Tax or the Tax on the Increase in Urban Land Value (municipal tax).
How to register a home in Spain?
Registering a home is relatively easy in Spain. A owner must follow the four steps stated below.
- Obtain a notarised copy of the public deed of sale.
- Pay the Property Transfer Tax (ITP) corresponding to your Autonomous Community and keep the proof of payment.
- Pay the municipal tax (plusvalía municipal) and keep the proof of payment.
- Take these documents to the Registry Office where your property is located or upload them electronically, directly through the notary where the deed is issued.
The deadline for registration at the Spanish Land Registry is 15 working days from signing the deed. The registrar will check that the contract was signed with all the requirements established by law, and if there are no faults that prevent its registration, they will proceed with the registration.
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