The 1960s: the decade that shaped Alicante's housing

Of the 187,658 homes counted in the 2021 census, 48,513 are in buildings from 1961 to 1970, by far the busiest decade. The 1970s follow with 36,844 and the first decade of this century with 33,951. In practice, most buyers in Alicante choose between a block from Spain's 1960s building boom and one from the last construction cycle.

That split matters for two reasons. Every 1960s block is past 50 years and therefore must have the regional periodic inspection. And NCSE-02 came into force on 12 October 2002: a building designed after that date was calculated under it, while a 1960s block followed earlier rules, which makes whatever its inspection says about the structure doubly important.

The building inspection in Alicante: deadlines and where to look

The building inspection (ITE or IEE in Spanish) is called a building assessment report in the Valencian Community. Decree 53/2018 requires it for residential buildings over 50 years old, makes the owners responsible and gives it 10 years' validity from its online filing with the regional register. According to the regional government, not having it when due is a planning offence.

For a buyer, three questions matter: does the report exist, is it about to expire, and what repairs does it leave pending? The regional search tool for summary reports, GESIEE, answers the first. Check 01 of the HOUSINGFAX report answers all three from the register: date, result, defects by building element with their deadline, and remaining validity. Pending repairs are paid by the owners' association, and so by you, often through a special levy (derrama).

Earthquakes in Alicante: what 0.14 g means

Basic seismic acceleration is the value NCSE-02 uses to rate each municipality. From 0.04 g the code requires the effects of earthquakes on potentially unstable ground to be considered; from 0.12 g, as in Alicante, it limits brick or block masonry buildings to two storeys wherever it applies. It is not a forecast: it is why more is asked of a building's design here.

The National Geographic Institute (IGN) catalogue records the earthquake of 21 March 1829, centred on Torrevieja, with a maximum intensity of IX-X and an estimated magnitude of 6.6. In Alicante it was felt with intensity V-VI, and in La Santa Faz with VI. Check 12 of the report gives the acceleration at the building's exact location from IGN data, not just the municipal value.

Ravines and flood zones: Alicante's ARPSI

The national flood-zone mapping system (SNCZI) places 1 area of significant potential flood risk across the municipality, ES080_ARPS_0001. Its record groups the Rambuchar ravine from the Horta d'Alacant canal, the Pepior de Rambuchar ravine (also called Barranc de las Ovejas) from Las Amoladoras, and the Alabastre ravine. Here water does not come from a large river but from channels that stay dry for months and fill within hours.

The regional PATRICOVA map, published by the Valencian Cartographic Institute, adds six hazard levels that combine flood frequency (25, 100 or 500 years) and depth (above or below 0.8 metres), plus a geomorphological class for ground whose shape makes flooding possible. The report marks both maps and, if the building lies outside them, how far away the nearest zone is.

Energy, industry, radon and prices

In the Valencian Community energy performance certificates are filed in a public regional register, which the report searches by cadastral reference: rating, energy use, emissions and expiry date. It also checks the building against the regional register of industrial facilities (RAICV). For radon, Alicante is not listed in appendix B of the Building Code's radon section: neither zone I nor zone II.

The average appraised value of private housing in Alicante was €2,265.3 per m² in the first quarter of 2026, up 11.7% year on year, according to the Ministry of Housing. The 2025 crime statistics give 74.19 criminal offences per 1,000 residents, against a national average of 50.38.

What the report costs for an Alicante property

Start with the free report: it shows all 22 checks for your building with the key data blurred, and first checks at no cost whether the regional register holds the building's inspection. If it does, you can order the Complete report with building condition for €19; if not, the Essential report costs €11. It arrives as a PDF within minutes, with a one-off payment and no account needed.

If you are buying from abroad, the report is delivered in the language you use on the website, English included. A nota simple from the Land Registry tells you who owns the flat; HOUSINGFAX tells you what state the building is in. The report does not replace a technical inspection of the building, but it tells you what to look at during one.

What the report checks in Alicante

The report runs all 22 checks for any address in Alicante. In this municipality, these also use a local source:

  1. Check 01Building condition assessment What condition is the building in?Generalitat Valenciana, registro IEEV.CV (GESIEE)
  2. Check 06Energy efficiency What energy certificate does it have?Generalitat Valenciana, registro de certificados de eficiencia energética (ICV)
  3. Check 10Flood risk Is it in a flood zone?Generalitat Valenciana, PATRICOVA (servicio del ICV)
  4. Check 16Industrial facilities What industry is nearby?Generalitat Valenciana, RAICV e instalaciones de residuos (ICV)

Check my home for freeSee the 22 checksSee the sample report

Short answers

Is Alicante in an earthquake zone?

Yes. NCSE-02 gives it a basic seismic acceleration of 0.14 g, so the code applies to ordinary buildings and limits the height of brick masonry ones. The report gives the value at the building's exact location.

How can I check an Alicante building's inspection?

Search the address in the regional GESIEE tool or ask the property manager (administrador de fincas). The HOUSINGFAX report checks the register and shows the defects with their deadlines.

Which parts of Alicante does the national map flag for flooding?

The municipality crosses ARPSI ES080_ARPS_0001, which groups the Rambuchar, Pepior (Barranc de las Ovejas) and Alabastre ravines. To know whether your street is inside, the report checks the building's location against the SNCZI and PATRICOVA.

The flat is from 1965: what should I ask for?

The latest building inspection and its date, the minutes of recent owners' meetings and any approved structural works. In 2026 the building is well past 50 years, so its inspection must be on the register.

Do I need to be in Spain to order the report?

No. You only need the address or the cadastral reference; the report is generated online and sent by e-mail as a PDF.

Official sources you can consult

The links let you review the primary source. Their inclusion does not widen their purpose or turn a piece of context into a diagnosis.

Essential limit. Preliminary screening: it does not replace an inspection, a diagnosis, a test, a certificate or a safety report.