There are very few illegal properties in Gran Canaria and the status of any Las Palmas property is easy to check.
Every property in Gran Canaria is registered in the Registro de la Propiedad, the official Spanish property register. To check that a property is legal and owned by the person selling it, you need a Nota Simple document from the registry. Get this online, with the exact address, or ask your estate agent to order it.
Once you have the Nota Simple, check that the description of the property correlates exactly with the property you viewed. Also check that the names of all the owners are exactly as stated by the selling party. The Nota Simple will also list any historical debts, unpaid taxes or building regulation violations. An experienced estate agent or local lawyer will spot any problems straight away.
If you find a potential problem, quite possible with older properties, property that has been renovated or extended, and rural property (there are some within Las Palmas, see below), you must make sure that you fully understand their implications. For example, a property in building where someone has the right to add an extra floor may be difficult to mortgage.
Note that many problems on the Nota Simple are historical and can be removed easily before the purchase.
Check the communidad statutes for usage rules
Other elements to check include the financial health and rules of the Communidad. This is the equivalent of the neighbourhood association which governs the apartment block complex where your property is located. It is also worth asking the communidad president if there are any upcoming derramas; extra levies for building maintenance, etc. You are liable to pay any derramas that start after you buy.
Make sure that the Estatutos de la Communidad, the statutes, you see are the ones registered in the Property Registry. These are the only ones that are legally valid. This is particularly important if you are planning to rent out your property on a touristic basis.
If you buy a rural home check that there is no case open against the property in the local Town Hall or any issue with SEPRONA, the island’s environmental agency. Much of the rural land within the official Las Palmas city limits is protected so you can’t do things like add swimming pools.
If you plan to buy a property in Las Palmas, please get in touch. My name is Laura Leyshon and I am an experienced Las Palmas estate agent. My services are free to buyers (agent fees are paid by the seller) and my experience icould well save you a lot of time, money and headaches.
Contact Laura
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