Property in Spain

Before you pay a deposit

In Spain the deposit contract is often signed within days of a viewing, and the deposit is lost if you withdraw. Before you sign, I check the Land Registry entry, charges and seizures, the cadastral description, licences, community debts and local taxes, and whether the home as built matches what is registered. If the checks are clear, their cost is credited against the purchase.

Buying

I review the reservation and private contracts, obtain your NIE, coordinate with your bank and the notary, sign the deed under your power of attorney if you cannot attend, and register the property in your name. Transfer tax and notary and registry fees are paid in euros at cost.

Selling as a non-resident

When a non-resident sells, the buyer must withhold 3% of the price and pay it to the Spanish tax authority on account of your capital gains tax. I coordinate that withholding, the municipal capital gains tax and, if you wish, your capital gains return, so that any part of the 3% not due can be reclaimed.

Owning: the annual tax return

Non-residents who own a home in Spain must file a non-resident tax return (Modelo 210) every year, even if the property is not let. Many British owners have never filed. Unfiled years can be regularised, with a surcharge that is considerably lower if you come forward before the tax authority writes to you. I file the return for you each year, at a fixed fee.

Tenants and occupied homes

I handle claims against tenants who stop paying, the recovery of homes occupied without a title, and disputes with the owners’ association.

Fees

Fixed fees in pounds sterling, confirmed in writing before any work begins. Applicable taxes are confirmed in your written quote. Third-party costs such as notary, registry, taxes, translations and apostilles are paid in euros at cost, unless expressly included. How fees work.

Common questions

Do I need to be in Spain to buy?

No. You can sign a Spanish power of attorney before a UK notary public and I sign the deed for you. Many buyers prefer to attend the signing; I explain both options.

I have never filed a Spanish tax return for my holiday home. What now?

Tell me how many years are outstanding. The returns can be filed late, with the tax for each year plus a surcharge that rises with the delay. It is routine work, and it is better done before the tax authority writes to you.

Do you hold the purchase money?

No. I do not receive purchase money. Payments go directly to the seller, the notary or the tax authority, or, for smaller third-party costs, through my client account in Spain where needed.

Can you handle my UK tax on the sale?

No. I deal with the Spanish side. Your UK accountant can advise on UK capital gains tax and on relief for the Spanish tax paid.