How to find out if a property has a certificate of habitability

One of the requirements set out in Spanish legislation for each property is the processing of certain documents to guarantee its proper functioning, and as we will see, one of the most important certificates is the certificate of occupancy. In order for a property to obtain this certificate, it must be inspected by a specialist technician to check that it meets all the necessary regulatory requirements for it to be suitable for habitation.
Do you know if your property has a certificate of occupancy? If not, or if you need an expert, our architectural firm in Gandía can help you with the certificate of occupancy process. But your property does not need to be located in Gandía, as we also work as architects in Jávea and throughout the Costa Blanca.

What is the certificate of habitability

As we have seen in previous blog posts, the cédula is a permit of habitability in which it is argued that the dwelling has the mandatory technical conditions for habitation. Some of the minimum requirements are to have a bathroom and a kitchen, to have a minimum of 36m2, etc…

What to do to find out if I have this certificate of habitability

If you intend to sell or rent your house, you should first find out whether it has a certificate of occupancy. However, you should be aware that if you have ever had one, it may have expired. Therefore, it is possible that your certificate is up to date and valid, that you do not have such a certificate at all, or that it has expired.You should be aware that current legislation states that homes built after 2012 will have a certificate valid for 25 years, but if the home is older, the certificate of occupancy will only be valid for 15 years.You can find out its status through the local council where the property is located. You can go in person to the council offices or do it online with a digital certificate or PIN.

What happens if I don’t have a cédula de habitabilidad and I want to get one?

If you do not have a certificate of occupancy and wish to apply for one, you must submit an application form with proof of payment for the procedure, a copy of the property deed and a photocopy of the owner’s identity card.
If the property has never had a certificate or if it has currently expired, you must contact professionals so that they can issue the legal document. In these cases, we always recommend that you consult architects and specialised technicians who can advise you and help you with the entire process. In these cases, you can always count on our architectural firm.
At Velló Monfort, we have been helping our clients with all the administrative and technical processes related to their properties for over 20 years, and we want to work with you too.