One of the most important building materials in Spain is paper!

The papers you need to worry about when building a house, or have someone worry about, are the following:

"Informe urbanístico" from the town hall telling you what you can build on a certain plot, before you purchase it.

Statutes of the Community of Owners if the plot is situated on an urbanisation.

"Nota simple" from the property register telling who is really the owner of the plot and if it is free from charges.

"Escritura de compra-venta" for the official purchase, signed at the notary's office and registered in the property register.

Building licence from the town hall.

"Boletin de instalaciones eléctricas" from the electrician wiring the house.

"Certificado de fin de obra" from the architect when work is finished.

"Cédula de habitabilidad" from the town hall or regional government declaring that the house is fit to live in.

"Declaración de obra nueva" in the form of a notarial escritura, whereby you inscribe the house on your plot.

You may leave to others the task to get these papers, but remember to control that they have been got. You are responsible. It is better that you get the originals at once and keep them under lock and key.