Property registry
All property in Spain should be registered in the Land Registry (“Registro de la Propiedad”), where you can obtain the full details of the owner, the exact size of the property and full details of any mortgages, debts or judgements against the property will be normally registered. Only the persons or the Company named on the title deed (“Escritura Pública”) have the right to sell the property, unless a notarised power of attorney has been given to a third party.

When the title deed is signed, you will automatically become the new owner. The final step is to have the title deed (“Escritura Pública de Compraventa”) inscribed in the Land Registry Office as soon as possible to prevent any mortgages or other charges being registered against the property, while it is still in the name of the vendor. It is frequent that the notary sends a fax to the land registry asking them to write you sale in on the margin of the book, which will block any other entries for a maximum of 10 days until your original deed is given to them for full registration.