Two kinds of Elche: 1970s blocks and turn-of-the-century flats

The census splits 116,080 homes by year of construction. The 1970s left 23,369 and the 1960s 19,731; then the decade from 2001 to 2010 overtook them all with 25,559. That profile differs from Valencia, Alicante or Castellón, where most homes predate 1980.

For a buyer this mix means different questions depending on the building. In a 1975 block the first thing to look at is the periodic inspection, compulsory from 50 years, and the state of façades, roofs and pipes. In a 2006 building the inspection is not due yet, but the cadastral record, the energy certificate and any claims for construction defects deserve a look.

The building inspection in Elche

In the Valencian Community the building inspection (ITE or IEE in Spanish) takes the form of the building assessment report set out in Decree 53/2018 of 27 April. It is compulsory for residential buildings more than 50 years old, paid for by the owners, written by a qualified architect or building engineer and valid for 10 years from its online filing.

The regional register keeps those reports, and the regional government offers a search tool for summary versions called GESIEE. HOUSINGFAX checks it with the flat's address and, when the building has a report, check 01 shows the result, each defect with the element affected and its deadline, accessibility and how long the report remains valid.

Earthquakes in Elche: 0.15 g and the 1829 precedent

At 0.15 g, Elche is above the 0.12 g threshold from which NCSE-02 limits brick or block masonry buildings to two storeys where it applies. The code also requires the effects of earthquakes on potentially unstable ground to be taken into account. A building designed after 12 October 2002 was calculated under these rules; one from the 1970s, under the older ones.

The National Geographic Institute (IGN) lists the earthquake of 21 March 1829, centred on Torrevieja, with a maximum intensity of IX-X and an estimated magnitude of 6.6. In Elche it was felt with intensity VI-VII. Check 12 of the report gives the acceleration at the exact spot where the building stands.

The Vinalopó, its ravines and PATRICOVA

The national flood-zone mapping system (SNCZI) identifies 1 area of significant potential flood risk in the municipality, ES080_ARPS_0002. Its record includes the Vinalopó river from the Elche reservoir down to the Azarbe de Dalt channel, the San Antón ravine and the Grifo ravine, with river and sea origins. The first flood layer to reach the municipality is the 10-year one.

The regional PATRICOVA plan, served by the Valencian Cartographic Institute, grades hazard in six levels by flood frequency (25, 100 or 500 years) and depth (more or less than 0.8 metres), plus a geomorphological class. The report shows the level at the building, the risk the plan assigns and, if the building is outside every zone, the distance to the nearest one. Where the level means more than 0.8 metres of water, it suggests asking the town hall whether the building has an approved flood study.

Energy certificate, industry, radon and prices

The Valencian register of energy performance certificates lets the report show the rating, energy use, emissions and expiry date of the property's certificate, found by cadastral reference. The report also checks the building against the regional register of industrial facilities (RAICV) to list the nearest industrial and waste sites. For radon, Elche is not listed in appendix B of the Building Code's radon section: outside zones I and II.

The average appraised value of private housing in the first quarter of 2026 was €1,684.1 per m², up 21.4% year on year, according to the Ministry of Housing. The 2025 crime statistics record 40.43 criminal offences per 1,000 residents, against a national average of 50.38.

The report in Elche: free, €11 or €19

The free report is where to start: the 22 checks for your building with the key data blurred, after a free lookup in the inspection register. If the building's inspection is on the register, the Complete report with building condition costs €19; if not, the Essential report costs €11. One-off payment, no account, PDF within minutes, in the language you use on the website.

A nota simple from the Land Registry tells you who owns the flat; HOUSINGFAX tells you what state the building is in. What the report cannot do is go inside the home: it does not replace a technical inspection of the building, and it tells you what to look at during one.

What the report checks in Elche

The report runs all 22 checks for any address in Elche. 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 the earthquake risk higher in Elche than in Alicante?

Slightly, according to NCSE-02: 0.15 g in Elche against 0.14 g in Alicante. Both are above 0.12 g, the threshold from which the code is stricter with some structures.

Does a 2005 flat in Elche need a building inspection?

Not yet: in the Valencian Community the duty starts once a residential building is over 50 years old. Check the energy certificate, the cadastral record and the association's repair history instead.

How do I know whether my street near the Vinalopó is in a flood zone?

The report checks the building's location against the 10, 100 and 500-year zones of the SNCZI and against PATRICOVA, and tells you whether it is inside or how far the nearest zone is.

Where can I see whether the building's inspection is registered?

In the regional GESIEE search tool, or by asking the property manager. HOUSINGFAX checks it free before offering you the Complete report.

Can I order the report from outside Spain?

Yes. You need only the address or the cadastral reference; the report is generated online and delivered in English if that is the language you use on the site.

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.