Property Purchase in Fuengirola

Fuengirola is a compact seaside town on the Costa del Sol, almost fully built up between Mijas and Benalmádena. Most homes are apartments in blocks along the promenade, in the centre and in Los Boliches, many of them from the tourist boom of past decades. The town has a long-standing Scandinavian and British community and a steady market of retired buyers. The steps are those of buying property in Spain; the age of the buildings and the holiday-let trade bring the local points. The text describes common practice and is not legal advice.

How it usually works in Fuengirola

Once a price is agreed, the seller's agent usually asks for a reservation payment. The buyer's lawyer obtains the nota simple, checks the cadastre and asks the community administrator for a certificate of the seller's fees. A private contract with a deposit follows, then the deed before a notary and payment of the Andalusian property transfer tax. Utilities and the IBI are moved to the new owner once the deed is signed.

What to watch for in Fuengirola

• Older blocks. Many buildings are decades old. Lifts, facades, pipes and roofs are common reasons for special levies, and the minutes of the last meetings show whether works are coming.
• Community certificate. Unpaid fees of the seller can follow the flat. A certificate from the administrator, signed before completion, protects the buyer.
• Holiday lets. A flat let to tourists is entered in the Andalusian register of tourist homes, and building statutes or a community vote can limit new holiday lets.
• Parking and storerooms. A garage space or storeroom advertised with the flat may be a separate property in the registry and is then bought and taxed on its own.

How an English-speaking lawyer helps

The lawyer checks each document in English, confirms that the flat in the advert is the one in the registry, and can sign for a buyer who has gone home under a power of attorney. Owners who later rent out the flat may use renting out your property. A list of lawyers near the town is on the Fuengirola page.

Questions and answers

Can I let my Fuengirola apartment to tourists?

Only if the flat is entered in the Andalusian register and the building's rules allow it. Both are checked before buying with that plan.

Who pays the community levy agreed before the sale?

It depends on the date of the agreement and on the contract. A lawyer sets this out in the private contract so it does not become a dispute.

Is a garage included when I buy a flat in Fuengirola?

Not always. A garage space can be a separate registered property with its own deed, so the registry shows what is really being sold.