Strolling through Spanish streets and neighbourhoods, you'll come across all sorts of different properties, including dream homes, and in some cases you'll inevitably wonder who has the privilege of living there. Another common reason for wanting to know who the owner of a property is in Spain, is if you are potentially interested in buying the property.
Whatever your reason for wanting to obtain this information, you should know that, although it may seem complicated, knowing the identity of the owner of a property is a very simple process, at least in Spain. So, how do you find out who owns a house in Spain? This is our guide on how to find out who owns a property in Spain for free.
How to find out who owns a property in Spain for free
In order for the process of investigating who is the owner of a property in Spain to be a totally free process, the most effective way to do this is for the owner of the property or, failing that, the real estate agency, to provide us with the information we need and require. Failing this, a small fee must be paid in order to obtain the identity of the owner.
How to find out the owner of a property by consulting the Property Register
How do I check property in Spain? Law 49/1960 of 21st July 1960 on horizontal property dictates that this information is in the public domain, i.e. anyone can find out who is the owner of a property. The only requirement for this is that the respective property must be registered in the Spanish Land Registry. It is this body that will provide us with the identity of the owner of the property we are requesting.
It is sufficient to go to the Land Registry website and request a "nota simple", a document that provides all the information relating to ownership and other data, such as the characteristics of the house or its possible encumbrances.
How can I find out who owns a property by requesting a nota simple? Is it free?
A "nota simple" is an informative document that provides information "on the current entries relating to the property that is the subject matter of the request, stating, at least, its identification with an indication of the Unique Registry Code (CRU), the identity of the owner or owners of the rights registered on the property and the extent, nature and limitations of these".
The information may be requested according to the following search criteria:
- Name of the registered owner of the property or right.
- Company name of the entity owning the property or right.
- Unique Registry Code of the property (CRU).
- Registry property number.
- Cadastral plot number in the case of properties coordinated with the Land Registry or identified in the cadastral cartography.
- National Identity Document, (DNI); Tax Identification Number, (NIF); Foreign Identification Number, (NIE), passport.
- Address (Street, square, etc.).
It may also be requested by means of a geolocation system through the geoportal of the Association of Registrars. To do this, it will be necessary to provide some of the following data: the Unique Registry Code (CRU); the owner of the property (name or company name and/or NIF); or registry data (province, municipality, registry and property number).
The cost of requesting the "nota simple" is 9.02 euros and it can be processed in person, by going to the Land Registry where the property belongs, or electronically, via this link from the Association of Registrars.
Finding out the name of the owner of a property in Spain
Once you have accessed the Land Registry's online portal (which can be accessed in English) and clicked on the option where you request the nota simple, "request Land Registry Excerpt", you must enter the cadastral reference or the address of the property. Next, choose the option "request Nota Simple as a private individual" ("solicitar la nota como particular") and enter your own details as the applicant.
The next step is to indicate the payment method, accept the terms and conditions and confirm the payment with your card.
Finally, you will receive a confirmation email. The final nota simple should be reflected in the same email within 48 to 72 hours.
The details you will find in this document are:
- Land Registry that issues the document, the request number and the reason for the request.
- Description of the property: Useful and constructed surface area, characteristics of the property, if it is under a special regime, i.e. if it is a protected dwelling, etc.
- Ownership of the property: The identity of the owner of the property
- Burdens and debts of the property, as well as the mortgage, liens, judicial auctions, encumbrances, etc.
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