Careful When Buying: Not Everything Registered as a Home Is Actually a Home

When someone is thinking of buying a home, they usually trust the description in the title deeds and the Land Registry, but this can be a mistake. Title deeds sometimes become outdated and do not reflect changes of use that may have taken place over time. It is not unusual for a property registered as a home to actually have a different use under planning law.

It is common to find offices on some principal floors in Barcelona’s Eixample that, although registered as homes, have lost that planning status as a result of business activity projects. In these cases, restoring the original use requires a change-of-use project, which is not always feasible or straightforward.

That is why, when buying a home, we recommend looking into its planning status beforehand rather than relying solely on the property’s appearance and the description in the deeds. Some properties that appear as homes in the deeds are not homes in planning terms, which can lead to a range of problems. For example, if you want to renovate it as a home, the City Council could refuse the building permit or open disciplinary proceedings for breaching planning regulations.

So, before buying a property, it is crucial to investigate its planning history. This includes checking the planning permits in the municipal archives and compliance with current regulations to confirm the permitted use of the property and, if necessary, requesting a detailed planning report.

To make sure this process is carried out correctly and efficiently, we recommend relying on specialist professionals such as the team at KAITEK ARQUITECTURA. With our extensive experience and knowledge in this field, we can offer complete, detailed advice, making sure your investment is safe, avoiding unpleasant surprises and ensuring the property can be used for its intended purpose without legal or administrative setbacks.

Trust KAITEK to make informed, safe decisions when buying your new home.