What is a Nota Simple and why is it so important?

Put simply, a Nota Simple is everything you need to know about a property in Spain – from deeds, owners, debts etc through to rights of way, boundaries and proper address, it’s THE essential property document every owner and buyer needs to know about.

In Spain, if you’re interested in buying or need prove ownership of a property, then you’ll want to see the Nota Simple, issued by the Spanish Land Registry, which amongst other things indicates: 

• Who owns the property, the percentage of ownership and ID numbers 
• Location, size, address, type of property, defined boundaries, total square metres of the land and the gross overall area of all built structures
• If there are any associated debts on the property e.g. mortgages, embargoes etc that must be settled before ownership can be transferred
• The date the current owners purchased the property
• Any community costs for which the owner is liable
• Any rights other users have on the property and land (rights of way, access to water, usufruct etc)
• How the land has been classified e.g.  rústico, urbano, or urbanizable.

A bank may request a Nota Simple if you’re applying for a mortgage or using your property as collateral therefore, in some cases, you can use it as proof of wealth and assets in Spain when applying for legal residency. 

How to get your Nota Simple (pronounced “nota sim-play” in Spanish)

Where to go?
To get a Nota Simple, you can visit your local Land and Property Registry Office known as a ‘Registro de la Propiedad’, order one online at www.registradores.org (the national database of Land Registry), or use one of the websites that offer a simplified (and quick) online application process like www.registro.es 

What information will you need?
You’ll need to provide the individual owner’s full name and national ID number (DNI for Spanish owner(s), NIE for foreign owner(s), CIF number if company). Alternatively, you can use the property registration data, which is either the “finca” number or the unique identification number called a IDUFIR.

How long does it take?
Although you’ll pay slightly more for the ‘quick’ service, it only takes a few minutes for the online service to email you the Nota Simple, so this is by far the quickest way to get your document. You’ll probably need to make an appointment to visit the Registry office in person and then they may ask you to come back another day to collect the documents. The online process via the Registro de la Propriedad is a bit labour intensive but should only take a couple of hours, depending on demand. 

What information will you be given?
Depending on how you request the information, your ‘Nota Simple Informativa’ could be sent to you electronically or handed over as an actual document.  There’ll most likely be several closely typewritten pages, detailing all the information about the property. As it will be in Spanish, it’s a good idea to get it translated so that you are aware of the contents and can check for any potential issues before submitting it as part of a residency application or visa renewal.

Good to Know
The Nota Simple is a “snapshot” in time and so it’s as well to bear in mind that the information may change – keeping an eye on your Nota Simple once in a while is always a good idea.