GLOSSARY

Spanish property terms,
in plain English.

Every Spanish term used on Investidad, with the rule behind it and the guides that explain it.

AerotermiaAerothermal heat pump: A heat pump that heats, cools and makes hot water from outside air, using far less electricity than resistance heaters.
AJDActos Jurídicos Documentados: Stamp duty on the title deed of a new home, set by each region: 1.2% to 2% on the coasts we cover.
Alquiler de temporadaSeasonal let: A let of a home for a temporary need, such as work or studies, rather than as the tenant's permanent residence.
ArrasDeposit contract: A deposit contract, used mainly for resale homes, with set consequences if either side withdraws.
AutoconsumoSelf-consumption: Generating electricity, usually with solar panels, for use in the same home or building, individually or shared among several consumers.
Aval bancarioBank guarantee: A bank guarantee, or an equivalent insurance policy, that protects money paid to a developer before completion.

Branded residencesResidencias de marca: Homes developed or managed under the name of a hotel, fashion or design brand, with services for owners.

Certificado de eficiencia energéticaEnergy performance certificate: The certificate that rates a home's energy use from A (best) to G and must be shown when it is sold or let.
Certificado final de obraEnd-of-works certificate: The architect's certificate that construction is finished in line with the project.
Cesión de contratoAssignment of contract: Transferring your position in a purchase contract, rights and obligations, to another buyer before completion.
Comunidad de propietariosCommunity of owners: The owners' association of a building or complex, which runs shared areas and charges community fees.
Concurso de acreedoresInsolvency proceedings: Spain's court insolvency procedure for a company or person that cannot pay its debts.
Contrato de reservaReservation agreement: A short agreement and fee that takes a unit off the market while your lawyer checks the project.
Contrato privado de compraventaPrivate purchase contract: The binding contract with the developer that sets the price, the payment plan, the specifications and the delivery date.
CTECódigo Técnico de la Edificación: Spain's technical building code, which sets standards for structure, safety, insulation, noise and energy use.
Cuenta especialSpecial account: The separate bank account into which off-plan payments must be paid, kept apart from the developer's other money.

Declaración de obra nuevaDeclaration of new building: The notarial deed, registered at the Land Registry, by which the developer records that a new building exists on the plot.
Declaración responsableResponsible declaration: A formal statement that you meet the legal requirements for an activity, which lets you start without waiting for prior approval.
DerramaSpecial levy: A one-off charge the community of owners votes for major works, such as a façade, roof or lift.

Escritura públicaTitle deed: The public deed of sale signed before a notary, at which you pay the balance and become the owner.

Fondo de reservaReserve fund: The fund a community of owners must keep for maintenance and repairs, at least 10% of its last ordinary budget.

IBIImpuesto sobre Bienes Inmuebles: The yearly municipal property tax, based on the cadastral value.
IGICCanary Islands sales tax: The Canary Islands' tax in place of IVA. A new home that is not the buyer's main residence pays 7%.
IRNRNon-resident income tax: Spain's income tax on non-residents, including on rental income and on property they own but do not rent out.
ITPImpuesto de Transmisiones Patrimoniales: The transfer tax on buying a resale home, set by each region: from 6.5% to 13% depending on region and price.
IVASpanish VAT: The VAT charged on the first sale of a new home by the developer: 10% on homes, outside the Canary Islands.

Key readyLlave en mano: A new development that is finished and can be bought and moved into at once.

LAULey de Arrendamientos Urbanos: Spain's law on residential and other urban leases, Ley 29/1994.
Libro del EdificioBuilding file: The file of a finished building, with the as-built project and instructions for use and maintenance, delivered to its owners.
Licencia de obraBuilding licence: The town hall's permission to build. Off-plan payments may only be taken once it has been granted.
Licencia de primera ocupaciónFirst-occupation licence: Confirmation from the town hall that a finished building matches its licence and can be lived in.
LOELey de Ordenación de la Edificación: Spain's Building Act, which sets who is liable for defects in new buildings, for how long, and how off-plan payments are protected.

Memoria de calidadesBuilding specifications: The developer's written description of the materials, installations and finishes of a new building and its homes.
Modelo 210Form 210: The form non-residents use to declare and pay IRNR on Spanish property.

NIENúmero de Identidad de Extranjero: The tax identification number every foreign buyer needs to buy property in Spain.
Nota simpleLand Registry extract: A short extract from the Land Registry showing the owner of a property and the charges on it.
NotarioNotary: A public official who authorises the title deed and checks the parties' identity and the property's legal status.

Off-planSobre plano: Buying a home before it is built, paying in stages during construction.

Plusvalía municipalMunicipal capital gains tax: A municipal tax on the rise in land value, paid by the seller when a property is sold.
Presupuesto de la comunidadCommunity budget: The annual income and expense budget of a community of owners, which sets each owner's community fees.

Registro de la PropiedadLand Registry: The public register of who owns a property and what charges (such as mortgages) weigh on it.
Registro MercantilCompanies Register: Spain's public register of companies, their officers and their annual accounts.
Registro Único de ArrendamientosSingle rental register: The national register for short-term lets created in 2024 and annulled by the Supreme Court in May 2026.

Seguro decenalTen-year insurance: Compulsory ten-year insurance on a new home against structural defects.
SnaggingPre-completion inspection: An inspection of a new home before completion, listing defects the developer must fix.

Tasa de basuraRefuse tax: The municipal fee for rubbish collection, charged yearly to owners.
TasaciónValuation: The valuation of a property by an approved appraiser, required for a Spanish mortgage.

Valor catastralCadastral value: The administrative value of a property set by the Catastro, used as the base for IBI and for non-residents' imputed income.
Valor de referenciaCadastral reference value: A value set by the Cadastre for each property that has been the minimum tax base for ITP since 2022.
Vivienda turísticaTourist rental licence: Registration that allows a home to be let to tourists for short stays, regulated by each region and town.

Zona de mercado residencial tensionadoStressed housing market area: An area declared by a regional government under the 2023 housing law, where rent limits and extra tenant protections apply.

Spanish property terms,in plain English.