Buying a Tenerife Property A Glossary of Spanish to English Legal Terms & Useful Phrases

A

Abogado - Lawyer

Adosado - Semi-Detached House Or Town House

Aire Acondicionado - Air Conditioning

Agente De La Propiedad - Property Agent

Agua - Water

Amortización - Repayment Of Loan or Mortgage

Aparcamiento - Parking

Architecto - Architect

Arras - Deposit

Arrendador - Landlord

Arrendatario - Tenant

Assesoria Economica Contable - Accountant

Ayuntamiento - Town Hall

B

Balcon - Balcony

Banco - Bank

Bano - Bath or Wc

Barbacoa - Barbecue

Basura - Rubbish Bins And Rubbish Taxes

Bombilla - Light Bulb

Buzón - Mailbox

C

Caja De Ahorros - Spanish Savings Bank

Cargas - Arrears, Charges Registered Against The Property

Casa Unifamiliar - Detached House

Casita - Cottage

Catastro - Spanish Land Register

Cédula De Habitabilidad - Habitation Certificate Of Occupancy

Certificado de Eficiencia Energetica CEE - Energy Efficiency Certificates The Spanish Government has passed a new Energy Efficiency Law, Royal Decree 235/2013 Of The 5th April 2013.

The Royal Decree states that Certificado de Eficiencia Energetica (CEE) (Energy Efficiency Certificate EPC) will become a Legal requirement for properties in Tenerife and throughout Spain that are advertised for sale from the 1st June 2013.

All Sellers must by Law be able to present this Certificate to prospective purchasers and to the Notary.

The energy rating label must also be included in any advertising or marketing including on estate agents websites.

Certificado Registral - Certificate Showing Debts Attached To A Property

Cláusula - Clause In A Contract

Cocina - Kitchen

Comedor - Dining Room

Communidad De Propietarios - Community Of Property Owners, Which Manages A Complex, Building Or Development. A New Owner Becomes A Member Of The Owners' Community When They Purchase A Property on a complex.

Community Fees - If You Purchase A Property Within An Apartment Block Or Complex, You Are Obliged To Join Its Resident Association Which Administers The General Maintenance Of The Areas Of Common Ownership, Such As Gardens, Hallways, Lifts, Swimming Pools, Exterior Lighting Etc. An Annual Budget Is Calculated To Cover These Costs, Which Is Divided Between All The Owners According To The Size Of Their Properties. All Owners Have A Vote To Agree The Budget At The Annual General Meeting.

Compraventa Private - Property Sales Contract

Compra Sobre - Plano Off-Plan Property Purchase

Constructor - Builder

Construido - Built Area Of A Property

Contrato De Arrendamiento - Letting Renting Contract

Contrato De Compraventa De Vivienda - Private Property Sales Contract

Completion Date - This Is The Date On Which The Balance Of The Purchase Price Must Be Paid Together With All Fees And The Title Deeds Are Signed Over To The New Owner(S).

Cuenta De Banco - Bank Account

D

Documento Privado - Private Document

Documento Público - Public Document

Dormitorio - Bedroom

Ducha - Shower

Duplex - Apartment Over Two Floors

División Horizontal - Official Document To Describe Horizontal Division If Property Between Different Owners

Documento Privado - Private Document

Documento Público - Public Document

E

Edificio - Building

Energy Efficiency Certificates Certificado de Eficiencia Energetica CEE

The Spanish Government has passed a new Energy Efficiency Law, Royal Decree 235/2013 Of The 5th April 2013.

The Royal Decree states that Certificado de Eficiencia Energetica (CEE) (Energy Efficiency Certificate EPC) will become a Legal requirement for properties in Tenerife and throughout Spain that are advertised for sale from the 1st June 2013.

All Sellers must by Law be able to present this Certificate to prospective purchasers and to the Notary.

The energy rating label must also be included in any advertising or marketing including on estate agents websites.

Escritura - Title Deeds Of Ownership

Escritura Pública De Compraventa - Title Deeds Of Ownership

Euribor - Variable Interest Rate Set By European Banks

F

Fontanero - Plumber

Finca - Farm House Or Small Estate

Fin De Obra - Formal Completion Of Works On A New Property

G

Garaje - Garage

Gestoría - Specialists Used To Obtain Official Authorisations, Permits, Certificates And Licences and deal with Red Tape on your Behalf

H

Habitación - A Room

Hacienda - Spanish Tax Authorities (Equivalent To The Inland Revenue)

Hipoteca - Mortgage

I

IBI Impuesto Sobre Bienes Inmuebles - Local Rates on Your Property Paid Annually

IGIC - General Indirect Tax of the Canary Islands (VAT)

Impuestos - Taxes

Impuesto De Circulación -Motor Vehicle Local Tax, Pay Annually By All Vehicle Owners At The Town Hall

Impuesto De Sucesiones - Inheritance Tax

Impuesto Sobre El Incremento Del Valor De Los Terrenos - Tax On The Increase Of Land Value

Impuesto Sobre El Patrimonio - Capital Gains Tax

Incremento De Patrimonio - A Capital Gain

ITP Impuesto Sobre Transmisiones Patrimoniales - Property Transfer Tax Levied On All Re-Sale Property.

Impuesto Sobre Actos Juridicos Documentados AJD - Stamp Duty Legal Documentation Tax

Inmobiliaria Agente - Estate Agent

Inversion En Terreno - Land Investment In Spain

J

Jardin - Garden

K

L

Land Registry Office - Official Body That Deals With All Property Transactions. This Is Where All Escrituras (Title Deeds) Relating To Property Transfers Are Registered After Taxes Have Been Paid And Where The Title And Any Charges Against The Property Can Be Checked

Libre De Cargas - Debt Free

Libro Del Edificio - Documents From The Promoter When Building Is Finished

Licencia De Prima Ocupación - Licence To Occupy A Completed Property

Licencia De Obra - Building Permission

Limpiadora - A Cleaner

M

Madera - Wood

Mármol - Marble

Metros Cuadrados - Square Metres Units Floor Area Is Measured In

N

N.I.E. Número De Identificación De Extranjeros - Identity Number For Foreigners - Required For A Property Purchase.
This Is The Foreigners Identity Number Given To All Non-Residents Purchasing A Property In Spain. This Should Be Obtained By All Non-Residents Preferably Prior To Purchasing A Property.

Notario - Notary Records The Legal Details Of Property And Land Sales.

The Notary Is A Lawyer Appointed By The Spanish Government To Ensure That The Change Of Title Is Properly Executed. It Is The Notary's Job To Make Sure That The Seller Is Legally Entitled To Sell And The Taxes Are Paid. The Notary Will Register The Change Of Ownership In The Land Registry Office.

Nota Simple - Certificate From Property Registry
A Simple Document Of Ownership And Registry Details. This Will Need To Be Checked And Verified By The Buyer´s Solicitor.

O

Obra Nueva - Document Certifying A New Building

Ordenador - Computer

P

Pago En Efectivo - Cash Payment

Parcela - Lot Or Plot

Pintor - Painter

Piscina - Swimming Pool

Piso - Apartment

Playa - Beach

Planta Baja - Ground Or First Floor

Plusvalía - Municipal Capital Gains Tax On The Sale Of Property

Poder - Power Of Attorney

Préstamo Hipotecario - Mortgage Loan

Pueblo - Town Or Village

Puerta - Door

Planta: Floor e.g. Planta Baja = Ground Floor

Precio: Purchase Price

Propiedad: Property

Propietario: Owner

Protocolizacion: Certification Of A Foreign Document Or Certificate By A Spanish Notary

R

Registro De La Propiedad - Register Of Property Ownership

Representante Fiscal - Foreigner's Official Tax Representative

Resale Property - A Second Hand Property, Already Registered At The Property Register In Spain.

Residencia - Residency Permit

Residente - Resident

S

S.A. (Sociedad Anonima): Plc

S.L. (Sociedad Limitada): Ltd

Sala/ Salon - Lounge

Se Vende Or En Venta - For Sale

Se Alquila - For Rent

Segunda Vivienda - Second Home

Seguro De Amortización De Préstamos - Loan Repayment Insurance

Seguro Multirriesgo Hogar - House Insurance

Sótano - Basement

Suelo - Floor Or Surface

Superficie Útil - Useable Square Metres In A Property

T

Tarjeta De Banco - Bank Card

Tasación - Independent Valuation Of Property

Tasa De Cambio - Exchange Rate

Tasadores - Official Bank Valuers

Terraza - Terrace

Terreno En Venta - Land For Sale

Terreno - Plot Of Land

Tipo De Interés - Rate Of Interest

Título De Propiedad - Deeds Stating The Ownership Of Property, Date Of Sale Etc.

Trastero - Storeroom

Title Deed - Escritura
The Proof Of Ownership Of A Plot Of Land Or A House. It Includes The Names Of The Previous And Current Owners, All Details Of The Property And The Price That It Was Sold/Bought For. On Completion A New Title Deed Will Be Produced With Details Of The Sellers And New Owners.

Town Hall -

Official Body From Which Building Licences Are Requested. Together With The Land Registry, The Town Hall Also Holds Information About Properties And Also Provide Information About Plans For The Area Which May Impact Upon The Property In Future.

Transfer Of Utilities - Having Completed The Purchase, It Is Necessary To Connect Or Transfer Services. For Example, Electricity, Water, IBI Impuesto Sobre Bienes Inmuebles Local Rates And Impuesto De Basura (Garbage Tax) Need To Be In Your Name And On Direct Debit From Your Bank Account Once You Have Signed For And Completed the Purchase of your Property.

V

Valor Catastral - Assessed Value Of Property For Tax Purposes

Ventana - Window

Vidriero - Glazier

W

Wills - As Spanish Inheritance Laws Are Different, It Is Generally Recommended That You Instruct The Solicitor To Draw Up A Spanish Will Covering The Succession Rights To Your Property

Tenerife Canary Islands Spain

If you are looking to invest in property, purchase a villa, second home, townhouse, penthouse, apartment, townhouse or country house in Tenerife please take a few moments to browse through our website to view our database of continuously updated properties.

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