The Building Logbook for Existing Buildings

The regulation governing the content and format of the logbook is DECREE 67/2015, the same regulation that governs ITEs, the technical inspections of buildings.

Chapter five regulates the building logbook and is divided into two sections. The first regulates the logbook for newly built homes, which also applies to residential buildings resulting from a major renovation. The second regulates the logbook for existing homes, which starts with the technical building inspection (ITE) document regulated by this Decree.

For existing residential buildings, the obligation to draw up the building logbook applies from the date the ITE report is received. The duty falls on the owner or homeowners’ association. As a minimum, the building logbook comprises the following sections and/or documents:

1. Instructions or recommendations for the use and maintenance of the building and its services
2. The document file
3. The incident log

This document provides a comprehensive record of the building’s systems and proposes a maintenance plan. The aim is to extend the building’s service life and minimise costly repairs caused by a lack of maintenance. It also indicates which type of professional should carry out these tasks.

As a minimum, the use and maintenance instructions must specify:

1. The purpose of each element of the building and how it should be used properly
2. A comprehensive list of the tasks to be carried out and how often
3. If there are incidents or alterations to the building, documents changing the initially proposed maintenance will be added

1. The Technical Building Inspection (ITE)
2. Proof that the ITE has been submitted to the Administration
3. Where applicable, the notification of risk situations
4. Renovation Programme
5. Where applicable, the completion certificates for all works and projects carried out on the building
6. If available: the Certificate of Fitness
7. Energy Performance Certificate, if available. It is mandatory in order to apply for Next Generation grants.
8. The instructions or recommendations for the use and maintenance of the building and its services
9. Documents proving that the mandatory maintenance or repair work has been carried out
10. Quotes and contracts for building works
11. Quotes and contracts for technical consultants
12. Certificates of registration in the Register of Industrial Safety Technical Installations of Catalonia for the installations that require it: electricity, gas, fuels, lifts, etc.
13. Technical inspection certificates for the installations listed in the previous point.
14. Any other documents relevant to understanding the condition of the building.

The incident log is like the building’s black box: it records every event that affects the building and may alter its ownership, use, form, layout or operation, including the technical and administrative details.

1. The grants the building has received over its lifetime, specifying the dates of application and award and the body granting them, as well as the characteristics of the subsidised work
2. The insurance policies taken out for the building (for the whole building or its common parts), with their identification and purpose
3. The record of delivery of the building logbook from the developers to the buyers or to the president of the homeowners’ association
4. Changes to the governing bodies of the homeowners’ association, or to the ownership of the building if it has a single owner
5. Any renovation or refurbishment work carried out
6. Any incident that changes the information in the logbook must be recorded, as well as anything considered useful to expand the initial information
7. It is important that each recorded incident has a number, a date and a brief, clear and understandable summary of the matter

Currently, Article 53 of Royal Decree 853/2021 sets maximum grant amounts: for single-family homes and buildings with up to 20 homes, €700 plus €60 per home; for buildings with more than 20 homes, €1,100 plus €40 per home, up to a maximum grant of €3,500.

It also specifies that, if the building does not have an ITE on the date the call for applications comes into force, it may qualify for a 50% increase in the grant, provided the new ITE is drawn up and registered.