Property Purchase in Torrevieja

Torrevieja (Torrevella in Valencian), on the southern Costa Blanca between the salt lakes and the sea, is one of the Spanish towns with the highest share of foreign residents. Most purchases are resale apartments, ground-floor bungalows, quad houses and villas in the urbanisations around the town, often bought by retired people from northern Europe. The steps are those of property purchase in Spain; the points below are the ones that come up most often here. Nothing here is legal advice for a specific case; it describes how purchases usually run.

How it usually works in Torrevieja

A seller often asks for a reservation deposit as soon as an offer is accepted. The buyer's lawyer then obtains the nota simple, checks the cadastre description and asks for the receipts of the IBI, the community fees and the utilities. A private contract with a larger deposit follows, and the escritura is signed before a notary in the town. A resale home pays the Valencian property transfer tax, set by the region.

What to watch for in Torrevieja

• Added rooms and enclosed terraces. Many homes on the urbanisations have a closed-in terrace, a solarium turned into a room or an extra bedroom. If the work had no licence and is not in the deed, it can cause trouble with a later sale or a bank valuation.
• Size on paper. The registry, the cadastre and the advert often give different sizes. The lawyer explains which one counts.
• Community of owners. Shared pools and gardens are run by the community; debts of the previous owner and approved levies are checked with the administrator.
• Local taxes. The IBI of many towns in Alicante province is collected by the provincial agency SUMA, which can issue a statement of debts on the property.

How an English-speaking lawyer helps

The lawyer is independent of the agent and the seller. He or she reads the contract in English, negotiates deposit terms that protect the buyer and checks that utilities and fees move to the new owner. Many buyers also make a Spanish will once they own a home here; see make a will in Spain. The lawyers who serve the town are listed under Torrevieja.

Questions and answers

Do I need a lawyer to buy a property in Torrevieja?

It is not required by law, but the notary does not check the home for the buyer. A lawyer's checks are the buyer's main protection.

Can a closed-in terrace in Torrevieja be legalised?

Sometimes. It depends on the town's planning rules and the community. A lawyer looks at this before the price is agreed, not after.

Can I sign the purchase from my home country?

Yes, through a power of attorney signed before a notary or a Spanish consulate, which lets the lawyer complete on the buyer's behalf.