Our fees
In brief, we do not tie our fees to purchase price; they depend entirely on the actual work done. So they will reflect the complexity of the situation with title and the type and amount of work involved leading up to the public escritura in the notary's office and possibly beyond.
English-speaking law firms in south and east Spain will normally quote a minimum fee of around 1% of the purchase price but this can be expensive. Our experience over the last year suggests a standard fee of around 1,300 euros. Or roughly 870 pounds at current rates. This 1,300 euros would, of course, be 1% of a 130,000 purchase but more than 1% for a cheaper property and less than 1% for a costlier property. Below is a schedule which clarifies which elements are included in the what one might call the standard package at 1,300 euros. It is the Extra items which take it above this level. At the outset, it is impossible to know which of these will arise, either because of circumstances or because the client specifically requests extra work.
Any out-of-pocket expenses would be additional. The main item would be any travel necessary to make face-to-face enquiries at the local town hall.
Naturally, clients are free to terminate our services at any time, paying only for the work executed until then.
| Provision of services | Included/Extra |
| Providing information on the buying process | Included |
| Providing information on the legal process and requirements | Included |
| Advising re fees and taxes applicable during and after sale | Included |
| Advising re the payment of costs and national/local taxes arising from the purchase | Included |
| Advising re the roles of gestors, asesores and fiscal representatives | Included |
| Advising re the law on fiscal representation and implications | Included |
| Advising re any withholding tax obligations arising from foreign residence of buyer[s] | Included |
| Advising re agents' reputations | Included |
| Assisting with the negotiation of the price | Included |
| Advising on the question of size and nature of the deposit and final payment | Included |
| Dialogue on the nature and mechanics of payment - deposit and final | Included |
| Advice on any particular Spanish aspects of the purchase | Included |
| Introduction to sources of finance | Included |
| Checking title by obtaining and reviewing Catastral and Registro data | Included |
| Enquiring at the Catastro and/or the Registro re implications of any irregularities | Included |
| Checking that the property is free of any charges, mortgage or the like | Included |
| Advising on how to deal with any title complications arising | Included |
| Checking on the application of Bantegal [Land Bank] rules | Included |
| Advising the client about any Bantegal application | Included |
| Ensuring that a correct Bantegal application is made | Included |
| Chasing re the Bantegal application and response | Included |
| Checking on any rights in favour of neighbours | Included |
| Checking on any old/new building licences required | Included |
| Checking local planning regulations | Included |
| Checking local council building, road and rail plans - Informe urbanistico | Included |
| Enquiries re any specific alteration/refurbishment proposals [reformas] | Included |
| Dialogue on the choice and location of notary | Included |
| Drafting the arras (deposit) contract and negotiating with the seller/agent | Included |
| Translating the arras contract | Included |
| Drafting or agreeing the escritura with the notary | Included |
| Supervising the work done by the notary | Included |
| Ensuring the discharging of any existing mortgage | Included |
| Attending the signing of the escritura and dealing with issues arising | Included |
| Obtaining copies of the formal documents and supplying same to client | Included |
| Assisting with payment of notary and/or fiscal representative bills | Included |
| Assisting with payment of taxes | Included |
| Assisting with registration of title | Included |
| Liaising frequently with the client throughout the process - by phone an email | Included |
| Providing regular updates of the Checklist | Included |
| Responding to client enquiries as required | Included |
| Correcting Catastro data prior to or post the signing of the escritura | Extra Legal |
| Responding to bank enquiries re a mortgage | Extra Legal |
| Dialogue with whomsoever re the problem of property without proof of title | Extra Legal |
| Devising solutions to the problem of unclear title | Extra Legal |
| Obtaining a survey in respect of the land to be bought required for rectification | Extra Legal |
| Assisting with the production of a Power of Attorney in either the UK or Spain | Extra Legal |
| Translating a Power of Attorney | Extra Legal |
| Translating the escritura | Extra Legal |
| Providing English translations of all papers | Extra Legal |
| Production of Wills | Extra Legal |
| Providing legal advice unrelated to property | Extra Legal |
| Assistance with selling your property | Extra Legal |
| Assisting with the appointment of a gestor, asesor and/or fiscal representative | Extra Non Legal |
| Chasing the client's gestor, asesor and/or fiscal representative | Extra Non Legal |
| Assisting with the obtaining of NIE(s), either in the UK or Spain | Extra Non Legal |
| Assisting with the opening of a Spanish bank account | Extra Non Legal |
| Assisting with a mortgage application | Extra Non Legal |
| Assisting with obtaining a structural survey | Extra Non Legal |
| Translating a structural survey report | Extra Non Legal |
| Reporting on the implications of a structural survey | Extra Non Legal |
| Assisting with the transfer of gas, water and/or electricity accounts | Extra Non Legal |
| Advice on the availability of grants from local authorities | Extra Non Legal |
| Enquiring re grants | Extra Non Legal |
| Assisting with the negotiation of grants | Extra Non Legal |
| Discussing aspects of construction with builders and reporting to client | Extra Non Legal |
| Chasing builders in respect of relevant licences | Extra Non Legal |
| Advising on Community Statutes in apartment blocks | Extra Non Legal |
| Obtaining and translating Community Statutes | Extra Non Legal |
| Dialogue with the seller's lawyer on the issue of renting the property | Extra Non Legal |
| Writing or reviewing contracts for renting out the property | Extra Non Legal |