There will be several obligatory charges, as well as other non-tax related fees, when buying a property in Spain. In summary they are as follows:

1. Notary fees (making and notarising the "escritura" (title deed)
2. 7% IVA purchase tax (equivalent to VAT)
3. "Registro" - registering the title deed at the Property Registry
4. Electricity connection
5. Water connection
6. Gas connection
7. Legal fees (where necessary)
8. Community fees
9. "Contribucion Urbana" - Local Land Taxes

We are happy to discuss any of these charges with you and also recommend speaking with your solictor to ensure you are fully aware of what you need to pay. In more details the charges are:

1. The Notary ("Notario") - This is mostly paid by the seller, however can be charged to the purchaser. This is the person acting on behalf of the Spanish government to make sure that:
   (a) The seller is who he says he is; and
   (b) That the Escritura ("Title Deed") is clear of debts, if not the Escritura will state what status and what rates of interest are owed on the property.
2. IVA (VAT in Spanish) - 7% of the Escritura´s declared value. If you are purchasing a commercial unit, taxes raise to 16%.
3. Registering your Title Deed at the Land Registry - Registering your Title Deed with the Registrar of Deeds in Granada will cost approximately 300 Euros. This must be paid no more than 30 days from when you have taken title or fines may be charged.
4. Electricity - About 120 Euros for the standard contract of 3.500 Watts. You pay bi-monthly fees normally rangle between 30 and 80€ per month based upon consumption and the amount of watts you have contracted.
5. Water - Contract is usually 120 Euros and depends on consumption but is normally between 20 and 40€ per month.
6. Gas (Butano) - Gas bottles cost around 12.00 Euros for a refill, delivered. The contract per bottle costs 30 Euros.
7. Legal Fees - Lawyer's usually charge about 1-1.5% of the sales value (although a set fee may be agreeable) for checking the legal paperwork on purchasing a typical two bedroom apartment. "Gestors" often charge much less for the same work.
8. Community fees - There is no standard fee here, it depends entirely on the urbanisation and can range from 20 to 100€ per month.
9. I.B.I. - Land Tax - Land Taxes on the property (known as "Contribucion Urbana" or "I.B.I.") for a 2 bedroom apartment will be approximately 100.00 Euros per year.

If you would like to discuss these points in more detail please contact our office or contact us by email.