Buying a finca in Mallorca: questions to ask before you commit

You liked the finca because it has a pool, a guest annexe and enough land to extend the house. Ask an independent lawyer and an architect to check those features before you make a binding commitment. Give them a list of everything you intend to use or change.

View of Puigpunyent, Mallorca
Puigpunyent, Mallorca. Photo by Antoni Sureda, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0).

Compare the paperwork with what you saw

Ask for the Land Registry and cadastral records, approved plans and available licences. Walk the property with someone who can check whether the house, pool, terraces and outbuildings match those documents. Ask the lawyer to explain any discrepancies and what they could mean for the purchase or future work.

Check what you can do on the land

Ask which rural land classifications and restrictions apply to the parcel, what the town hall has authorised and whether there are any enforcement proceedings. If the purchase depends on adding a bedroom, converting an outbuilding or letting the property to guests, get a written answer about that specific plan.

Ask about water, drainage and access

Find out where drinking water comes from and whether the supply is reliable throughout the year. Ask for records relating to any well or wastewater system. Check who owns the access road, whether the property has the necessary rights to use it and who pays for its upkeep.

Ask what the cédula covers

Request the current cédula de habitabilidad and ask your lawyer which parts of the property it covers and which other documents are needed. Give your adviser enough time to check before you agree to a reservation or deposit deadline.

Sources and related guides

Consell de Mallorca on planning and habitability

Our guide to buying a house in Mallorca


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