Property Purchase in Benidorm

Benidorm, in the Marina Baixa district of Alicante province, is known for its tower blocks along the Levante and Poniente beaches. Most buyers here purchase an apartment, either to live in for part of the year or to let; others look at neighbouring towns such as Finestrat, L'Alfàs del Pi or Altea. Legally, a purchase in Benidorm runs like any property purchase in Spain, under the Valencian Community's own tax and tourism rules. What is written here is general and does not replace advice on a given flat.

How it usually works in Benidorm

With an NIE in hand, the buyer usually pays a reservation and then signs an arras contract. The lawyer requests the nota simple, checks the cadastre, the IBI and the community, and prepares the deed for signing before a notary. A resale flat pays the property transfer tax of the Valencian Community, which the region sets and collects; a new apartment pays VAT.

What to watch for in Benidorm

• Holiday lets. Letting to tourists in the Valencian Community needs an entry in the regional tourism register, and the current rules ask for more paperwork from the town hall than before. Many tower blocks have statutes or votes that limit tourist lets.
• Tower block communities. Lifts, pools, facades and fire safety in tall buildings are costly. The community's budget and approved levies weigh on the real price.
• Older apartments. Buildings from the first decades of the resort may need updating, and a flat altered inside without a licence can be a problem for a bank valuation.
• Furniture and contents. Flats are often sold furnished; what is included is written into the contract, not left to the advert.

How an English-speaking lawyer helps

The lawyer works in English, checks the building's rules before the deposit is paid, and can complete for an absent buyer under a power of attorney. Income from letting is taxed in Spain; see tourist rental income tax. Lawyers who cover the town are listed under Benidorm.

Questions and answers

Can I rent my Benidorm apartment to tourists?

Only once it is in the Valencian tourism register and the building allows it. Checking both before the purchase avoids a flat that cannot earn what was planned.

Are community fees high in Benidorm tower blocks?

They vary with the services of the building. The budget, the latest accounts and any approved works show the real cost before signing.

Does a non-resident pay tax on a Benidorm flat that is not let?

In most cases yes: non-resident owners file a yearly return on the property even when it earns nothing, besides the local IBI.