If a Spanish sale is going to stall, missing paperwork is usually why. A buyer is ready, a price is agreed, and then everything pauses because one certificate has expired. Getting your file in order before you list avoids that, and quietly tells buyers you are serious. This is the full list of documents needed to sell property in Spain, with particular attention to what the Comunidad Valenciana asks for.
The essentials the notary will ask for
Title deed (escritura de compraventa)
The original public deed showing how and when you bought the property, registered at the Land Registry. Without it, the sale cannot be formalised.
Nota simple
An extract from the Property Registry that sets out who owns the property and any charges against it — a mortgage, a lien, an encumbrance. It should be recent, under three months old, and the notary will pull a fresh one on the day to confirm the current position. It can be obtained from the Property Register or online, and it costs only a few euros.
DNI, TIE or NIE, together with the passport
Valid identification for every owner named on the title deed. If you do not hold a DNI or TIE card, you must present your NIE together with your original passport.
Energy Performance Certificate (CEE)
Required since 2013 before you can even advertise the property. A qualified technician inspects it, rates it from A to G, and registers it with the Comunidad Valenciana’s energy registry. It is valid ten years, and selling without one can bring a fine. Arrange it early — it only takes a few days.
Latest IBI receipt
Proof that you are up to date on the annual council property tax. Both the notary and the buyer will want to see it.
Community fee standing certificate
If the property is part of a community of owners, you need a certificate from the administrator (administrador de fincas) confirming there are no outstanding fees, so the buyer does not inherit a debt.
If you have a mortgage
Where a mortgage is still registered — even one you have fully repaid — you will need the cancellation deed or a zero-debt certificate from the bank, and the charge has to be formally removed from the registry. Deal with this early; it is a frequent cause of delay and carries its own cost, which we cover in our guide to the costs of selling property in Spain.
Useful, though not always required
- Cadastral certificate — helpful where the registry and the property no longer match, for example after undeclared work.
- Certificate of Occupancy (Cédula de Habitabilidad) — a document certifying that a property meets the minimum legal standards for habitation and can be legally occupied. In some Spanish autonomous communities, it is required to sell, rent, or connect utility services.
- A valid Building Technical Inspection (IEE)— required for buildings typically over 50 years old, confirming that they are structurally sound.
- Floor plans — not something the notary requires, but they help a buyer picture the property and decide faster.
- Community statutes (estatutos) and last meeting minutes (actas) — buyers in an apartment block or urbanisation often ask for these.
- Utility bills — recent invoices help the buyer switch the contracts over smoothly.
Have the folder ready before you list
Pulling this together before the property goes on the market does two things at once: it stops the legal process freezing at the notary, and it reassures the buyer that they are dealing with an organised seller. The two documents most likely to hold up a sale are the nota simple and the energy certificate, and in Valencia the cédula de habitabilidad is close behind. A good agent or lawyer will help you check the file early rather than in a last-minute scramble.
Selling in Valencia? YES Valencia helps expat owners get sale-ready and presents their property directly to our international buyer clientele. List your property with us and we will help you line up the paperwork above. If you live abroad, our guide to selling as a non-resident is worth reading too.
Requirements vary by municipality and can change; this is general information current for 2026, not legal advice. Confirm the exact list for your property with your lawyer or the local town hall.
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