Occupancy Certificate | Áurea Inmobiliaria – Real Estate Agency in Los Alcázares

There are different conditions when the Occupancy Certificate – cédula de habitabilidad – of a property is needed, for example when you need to turn on electricity or water. However, there are many people that have not heard about the Occupancy Certificate.

The Occupancy Certificate or First or Second Occupation License – Licencia de primera o segunda ocupación –  is a document that shows that the property has some minimum requirements to be able to live there. The key aspects are cleanliness, healthiness and strenght and we will talk about it later. The Occupancy Certificate is regulated by every Autonomous Community and it lasts around 15 years.

This certificate takes into account the useful surface area, minimum surface are, the different rooms of the property and all the equipment that every property must have, for example hot water, kitchen or bathroom. Usually all properties already have these requirements so it is not usual that a property does not get the Occupancy Certificate.

In case that a property does not have this certificate or it expired, it is necessary to hire an architect or a technical architect who is a member of the Architects’ School in order to draw the Occupancy Certificate. This architect will go to the property to check if it has all the requirements.

Once that the architect has the Occupancy Certificate, it is necessary to take this certificate to the corresponding government, usually the city government, together with more documents, in order the government validates the certificate. This process usually takes around one month.

Essential requirements for a property to be habitable

The architect that goes to your property needs to take into account the following points:

• The number of rooms and the minimum measurements of every one. The minimum rooms are living room, kitchen, one bathroom and one bedroom.
• Cleanliness and healthiness. For example air circulation and lighting.
• Type and condition of the building and the construction materials.

Although these points can slightly change, the rules of Código Técnico de la Edificación – Tehnical Code of Buildings – are followed.

However, there is usually a huge difference between the documents and the report that must be given on the government.

Obligation of the Occupancy Certificate

The Occupancy Certificate is necessary to turn all the supplies of a property, such as electricity or water. Besides, in some Autonomous Community it is compulsory to sell the property, but not in Región de Murcia.

Nowadays all properties are built following the rules of every Autonomous government, so every property has Occupancy Certificate. It is possible to find it in the deeds of the property, with this name or First Occupation License.

Regarding old properties, it is important to know that this certificate expires between 10 or 25 years after. In order to get it again, maybe a small reform is needed in order to have all the requirements. This new certificate is called Second Occupation License. In case that a property has been completely renovated, then it is necessary to get a new First Occupation License because of refurbishing.

If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact us through [email protected] or filling our contact form.

Sources:

Fotocasa blog: ¿Es obligatoria la cédula de habitabilidad?

Fotocasa blog: ¿Qué es la cédula de habitabilidad y cómo tramitarla?