What it is and who issues it
The cédula confirms that the home meets the minimum habitability conditions set by its region. Each Spanish region regulates it, so its name, how long it lasts and when it is required vary from one to another.
In Catalonia it is handled by the Catalan Housing Agency (Agència de l'Habitatge de Catalunya). There are three kinds: first occupation for new builds, first occupation after refurbishment and second occupation for existing homes. The second-occupation cédula needs a habitability certificate signed by an architect, a technical architect, a building surveyor or a building engineer. In the Balearic Islands it is issued by the island council (Balearic Housing Act 5/2018, article 16).
Why it matters if you are buying
Where it is required, selling without a valid cédula causes problems: in Catalonia it is needed to sell, let or hand over the use of a home and to connect water, electricity and gas. In the Balearic Islands, every sale or let must include a copy of the valid cédula or, where applicable, of the occupancy licence; if there is none, the contract or deed must say so expressly.
Ask the seller for the cédula, or the equivalent document in that region, and check its expiry date. If there is none, ask why: sometimes it only needs renewing, but sometimes the premises or loft being advertised as a home never had one.
What the HOUSINGFAX report tells you
The report does not look up the cédula de habitabilidad, but it gives you grounds for asking. Check 05, «Cadastral record», shows the use, floor area and year on record in the Spanish Cadastre, and check 09, «Land classification», the planning class of the land where the building stands.
If the listing says home and the Cadastre says something else, that is the moment to ask for the cédula. Look through the sample report and check your home for free.
What the cédula does not tell you
The cédula confirms minimum conditions on the date it was issued; it does not describe the state of the structure or the common parts of the building, which is what the building inspection looks at. Likewise, the report sums up what the records say and does not replace an on-site technical inspection of the building.
Short answers
Does every Spanish region have a cédula de habitabilidad?
No. Each region regulates it, and not all of them use this document or require it in the same cases. Ask the town hall or the regional housing department which document applies where the flat is.
How long does a cédula de habitabilidad last?
It depends on the region. In Catalonia, the second-occupation cédula is valid for 15 years; after that, a new one is needed with a new technical certificate.
Can a flat be sold without a cédula de habitabilidad?
Where it is required, selling without a valid one causes problems: in Catalonia it is needed to sell and to connect utilities, and in the Balearic Islands the contract must state expressly that there is none. Ask for it before you sign the deposit contract (arras).
Who pays for the cédula de habitabilidad?
The person selling or letting provides it, because they must hand it over with the contract. If the home does not have one, agree in writing who applies for it, who pays and by what date.
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.