How much does a nota simple cost?

€9.02 per property plus tax on the Land Registrars site. An English translation costs €30 more.

Can I order one if I am not the owner?

Yes. You only need to state a legitimate interest, such as considering a purchase.

If the nota simple is clean, am I safe to buy?

Not entirely. It shows what is registered. Community debts, IBI and planning are checked separately.

Does an agency have to give it to me?

In Andalusia, the professional who shows you a resale home must give you a sheet with the owner, charges and floor area backed by a nota simple less than three months old (Decree 218/2005).

Legal guide · Land registry

The nota simple: who owns it and what it owes.

Before you sign a deposit on a Costa del Sol property there is one document to read: the nota simple from the land registry. It costs €9.02 plus tax on the official Land Registrars site, arrives by email and shows who the owner is and what charges sit on the property.

What it shows and what it does not

It identifies the property by its registry code, the holder of each registered right (the owner, the mortgage bank, a usufructuary) and any restrictions. It is for information only and has no legal force of proof. To prove charges against third parties you need a registry certificate instead.

What it does not show: community fee debts, unpaid IBI property tax and planning problems that were never registered. Other documents cover those, listed below.

In ten minutes

How to order it

Go to sede.registradores.org, the official site. You do not need an account.
Search by registry code (CRU or IDUFIR), property number and registry, owner, address or cadastral reference.
State your legitimate interest, such as considering a purchase, and pay. You get an email with the PDF.
Watch out for sites that imitate the registrars and charge up to around €20 for the same thing.

What to ask for besides the nota simple

Community debt certificate. The property answers for the fees of the year of purchase and the three previous years (art. 9 of the Horizontal Property Law). Without it the notary will not authorise the deed unless you expressly waive it.
Latest IBI receipt. The property answers for unpaid IBI, and the notary must warn you of any debt.
Energy performance certificate. It is required to sell, it is attached to the contract and its label must appear in the advert.
Occupancy. In Andalusia occupancy of a finished building is proven with a licence or a responsible declaration (Law 7/2021, LISTA).
Planning, especially for villas. An irregular house on rural land may hold an "asimilado a fuera de ordenación" (AFO) recognition, which does not legalise it. On rural land within the coastal influence zone, the authorities can act at any time.

In Marbella, ask which plan applies

The Supreme Court annulled the 2010 Marbella general plan in 2015, and the 1986 plan applied again. The new plan (PGOM) was approved in September 2026, but as of this guide we could not confirm it has come into force. Ask your lawyer to check it for the specific plot.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a nota simple cost?: €9.02 per property plus tax on the Land Registrars site. An English translation costs €30 more.
Can I order one if I am not the owner?: Yes. You only need to state a legitimate interest, such as considering a purchase.
If the nota simple is clean, am I safe to buy?: Not entirely. It shows what is registered. Community debts, IBI and planning are checked separately.
Does an agency have to give it to me?: In Andalusia, the professional who shows you a resale home must give you a sheet with the owner, charges and floor area backed by a nota simple less than three months old (Decree 218/2005).

Sources

General information reviewed on 5 November 2026. The planning situation in Marbella is changing: confirm the position of each property with a Spanish lawyer before signing.

Already have the nota simple for a home?

Send it over and we will tell you what else to ask for before you commit.

Talk to HH