What Does a Property Lawyer Actually Check in Spain?

A British buyer purchased a €250,000 apartment on the Costa del Sol. Good price, clean-looking title, smooth transaction at the notary. Three weeks after he picked up the keys, two letters arrived.

The first: €9,400 in unpaid community fees spanning three years, left behind by the previous owner. The second: €3,200 in IBI (municipal property tax) arrears.

Total: €12,600. Under Spanish law, this was now his debt.

In Spain, certain debts attach to the property title, not to the person who created them. When you buy, you inherit them automatically. This is the single most important fact that international buyers don't know about Spanish property transactions.

Buyers from the UK, Scandinavia, or the US often assume the notary protects them. The notary doesn't. Their job is to verify identities, read the deed aloud, and process the transaction. They're neutral. They don't represent either side.

Estate agents earn their commission from the seller when the sale completes. Their incentive is to close the deal, not to uncover problems.

A property lawyer is the only professional in the transaction whose job is to protect the buyer. They search registers, uncover debts, and flag problems before you sign any binding contract. For a full overview of the legal framework, read our legal requirements guide.