What the report checks and what is up to you
What condition is the building in?
Start with the year of construction, the floor area and the number of units recorded in the Spanish Cadastre (Catastro): they tell you which problems are common in a building of that age. For older buildings, ask whether the building inspection (ITE or IEE) has been passed, what it found and whether any defects are still waiting to be repaired.
In the Valencian Community, the Basque Country and Madrid the Complete report reads the regional register of those inspections and shows the result, the defects and their deadlines. Everywhere else it still gives, from the year of construction, the probability level of aluminosis and whether asbestos may be present, always in words and with the reason.
Which documents should you ask for?
An energy performance certificate is compulsory when selling: the advert must state its rating, a registered copy is annexed to the contract and it is valid for up to ten years, or five if the rating is G (Royal Decree 390/2021, articles 13 and 17). The report shows the rating, consumption and emissions of the registered certificate where the regional register can be consulted, today in the Valencian Community and the Basque Country.
The nota simple (the Land Registry extract) tells you who owns the property; HOUSINGFAX tells you what state the building is in. Ask the Land Registry for the nota simple, the seller for the latest IBI (local property tax) receipt, and the comunidad de propietarios (owners' association) for approved works and outstanding charges: the report does not replace any of them.
What risks does the ground carry?
Check whether the plot lies in an official flood zone mapped by the Spanish Ministry for the Ecological Transition, whether the ground is moving according to Copernicus satellite measurements, how seismic the area is and what radon potential the Spanish Nuclear Safety Council (CSN) gives it.
The report adds the geology under the building, wildfires recorded in the municipality and the distance to the nearest woodland. When a source does not respond or does not cover the area, the check shows «no data», never an absence of risk.
What is around the property?
Look at the official noise level of the street where a noise map exists, the distance to the nearest main road, railway, airfield, high-voltage line and industrial estate, and the registered industrial facilities nearby.
The hours of sunlight on each façade in summer and winter, the roof's solar potential, the local climate and the crime recorded in the municipality (or the province when there is no municipal figure) against the national average also count.
Which checks in the report answer this list
The 22 checks follow the same order as this guide: building (01 to 04), cadastral record and energy certificate (05 and 06), price (07), land and ground (08 to 13), surroundings (14 to 17) and sunlight, climate, wildfires and radon (18 to 22). Each has a traffic-light rating: ✓ no alert, ⚠ worth noting or ○ no data.
You can see how it looks in the sample report, a real flat in València, and check your own property for free: the free report shows the rating of every check for your building before you pay anything.
Does the price match the reference values?
The report shows the official valuation figures of the Spanish Ministry of Housing for the province and, in large municipalities, for the municipality, the state reference rent for the area, an indicative estimate of purchase costs and a link to the average closing price of the Notaries' Statistical Portal for the postcode.
It does not calculate a target price or tell you how much to offer: it gives you sourced, dated references so you can negotiate with facts.
What this report cannot tell you
The report works from official records without entering the building: it is no substitute for an on-site technical inspection, a valuation or advice from a lawyer. If a check comes out worth noting, the «Points to check» list tells you what to ask, and whom, before you sign the arras (the deposit contract).
Short answers
What is the first thing to check before buying a flat in Spain?
The condition of the building: year of construction, the result of the building inspection if there is one, and any pending works. It is the hardest thing to see during a viewing and the one that shapes future works, which you will pay for as the new owner.
Which documents should I ask the seller for?
The nota simple from the Land Registry, the registered energy performance certificate, the latest IBI receipt, the building inspection report if there is one and, from the owners' association, approved works and any outstanding fees.
How do I know if a flat is in a flood zone?
By checking the official flood-zone maps of the Spanish Ministry for the Ecological Transition. The report does it for the exact plot in check 10 and, in the Valencian Community, adds the regional PATRICOVA plan.
How much does it cost to check a flat with HOUSINGFAX?
The free report costs €0, the Essential report €11 VAT included and the Complete report with building condition €19 VAT included, VAT included, as a one-off payment with no subscription.
Does the report tell me how much to offer?
No. It shows official reference prices and rents with their source and date, but it does not calculate a target price or a discount.
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.