What is ITE Barcelona and why is it important for my building?

ITE Barcelona is the mandatory technical inspection for buildings over 45 years old. It ensures that the property is in good condition and complies with safety regulations.

What are the requirements to obtain the ITE certificate in Barcelona?

To obtain the building fitness certificate, the property must pass the technical inspection with no serious deficiencies. If only minor issues are found, the ITE certificate can still be issued and will be valid for 10 years before requiring a new inspection.

How often must the ITE be carried out in Barcelona?

The ITE inspection must be done every 10 years, unless serious deficiencies are found, in which case more frequent inspections may be required.

What happens if my building in Barcelona fails the ITE inspection?

If a building fails the ITE inspection or does not obtain the certificate, the owner may face penalties. Additionally, prospective buyers may be unwilling to purchase a property without a valid ITE certificate.

Can I get help to pass the ITE in Barcelona?

Yes, at Kaitek Arquitectura we offer specialized services to help you pass the ITE inspection successfully. We can prepare a PRE ITE report to identify existing issues before the official inspection. After repairs, we issue the final report and manage the ITE certification for your building.

Does the ITE apply to single-family homes?

Yes, ITE also applies to single-family homes. Although the process is typically focused on multi-unit buildings, detached houses located less than 1.5 meters from the public road must also undergo the technical inspection. The ITE certificate ensures the property meets safety and maintenance standards.

Inspections and certifications

ITE in Barcelona: technical building inspection

We inspect your building, write the report and handle the certificate of fitness with the Agència de l’Habitatge de Catalunya. Registered architects in Barcelona and its metropolitan area.

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45 years

Building age
Residential buildings must undergo the ITE in the year they turn 45.

10 years

Certificate validity
When the building has no defects or only minor ones.

4 months

Submission deadline
From the closing of the report to the application for the certificate of fitness.

450 € + VAT

Guide price
From €450 + VAT for buildings with up to 5 dwellings. See rates

What it is

What is the ITE?

The ITE (technical building inspection) is the mandatory review of the state of repair of residential buildings in Catalonia. It is carried out by a qualified professional —at KAITEK, a registered architect— who visits the building, identifies the defects and classifies them by severity in the technical inspection report.

Based on that report, the Agència de l’Habitatge de Catalunya issues the building’s certificate of fitness , which attests to its condition and sets when it must be inspected again.

What we check

Structure and foundations: cracks, deformations and damage
Façades, party walls, balconies and projecting elements
Roofs and roof terraces
Shared water, drainage, gas and electrical installations
Damp and other defects affecting safety or habitability

Obligation

Does your building need to undergo the ITE?

The obligation depends on the age and type of building. If you are unsure, we will confirm it with no obligation.

Multi-dwelling buildings

All multi-dwelling residential buildings, in the year they turn 45.

Single-family homes

Those less than 1.5 m from the public road, public spaces or neighbouring properties. If they hold a valid certificate of occupancy (cédula de habitabilidad), when it expires.

Buildings applying for grants

Buildings seeking public renovation grants, regardless of their age.

Building age is counted from the year of construction recorded in the Land Registry (Catastro). Older buildings had deadlines that have already passed: if yours has never undergone the ITE, it should be done as soon as possible.

How we work

From the visit to the certificate, we handle everything

One of our registered architects manages your ITE from start to finish and explains the result clearly.

1. Quote

Give us the address and number of dwellings and we will send you a quote.

2. Inspection

We visit the building and check the structure, façades, roofs and shared installations.

3. ITE report

We write the report setting out the defects, their severity and any urgent measures required.

4. Certificate

We submit the report and obtain the certificate of fitness from the Agència de l’Habitatge.

Outcome

The four possible certificate outcomes

The certificate of fitness depends on the defects found and sets when the building must be reviewed again.

Fit

No defects or minor defects. Valid for 10 years.

Provisionally fit

Significant defects. Valid for 6 years, with reviews at 2 and 4 years.

Fit with precautionary measures

Serious or very serious defects with precautionary measures. Valid for 3 years, with a review every 12 months.

Refused

Serious or very serious defects without precautionary measures to prevent risks to people and property.

Before the certificate expires, the owners’ association must commission a new ITE. Interim reviews serve to show that the defects have not worsened or have already been repaired.

After the ITE

If there are defects, we help you resolve them

When the ITE identifies defects, the owners’ association must take the urgent measures set out in the report, approve a renovation programme funded from its reserve fund and carry out the works within the set deadlines.

We can support you throughout the process: we draw up the repair project, apply for permits, manage the works and inform you about the renovation grants available.

And if you want to know the condition of the building before the official inspection, we carry out a PRE-ITE report: that way you can repair first and pass the ITE with the best possible result.

Why KAITEK

Registered architects with over 20 years’ experience in inspections and building defects
We handle the entire procedure with the Agència de l’Habitatge
Clear report, with repairs listed by priority
PRE-ITE report so you can get ahead of any defects
If repairs are needed, project and site management by the same team
We work in Barcelona and its metropolitan area

Frequently asked questions

Frequently asked questions about the ITE in Barcelona

Which buildings must undergo the ITE in Barcelona?

In Barcelona and the rest of Catalonia, the following must undergo the technical building inspection : multi-dwelling residential buildings in the year they turn 45; single-family homes located less than 1.5 m from the public road, public spaces or neighbouring properties; and buildings applying for public renovation grants. Building age is based on the year of construction recorded in the Catastro.

How often does the ITE have to be carried out?

It depends on the outcome of the certificate of fitness: every 10 years if the building is fit, every 6 years if provisionally fit and every 3 years if fit with precautionary measures. In the last two cases there are also interim reviews to check that the defects have not worsened or have been repaired.

What is the ITE certificate of fitness?

It is the document issued by the Agència de l’Habitatge de Catalunya based on the technical inspection report. It states whether the building is fit, provisionally fit or fit with precautionary measures, or whether the certificate is refused, and until what date it is valid. We take care of submitting it and handling the application.

Who can carry out the ITE?

A qualified professional, such as an architect or building engineer (arquitecto técnico). At KAITEK it is always carried out by a registered architect, who can also draw up the project and manage the repair works if needed.

How much does the ITE cost in Barcelona?

It mainly depends on the number of dwellings and commercial units in the building. As a guide, from €450 + VAT for buildings with up to 5 dwellings. You can see all our guide prices in our article on the price of the ITE in Barcelona o ask us for a quote for your building.

Who pays for the ITE?

The owners. In buildings under horizontal property (multi-owner) arrangements, the owners’ association commissions and pays for it. Lack of funds does not exempt it from the obligation, although the authorities may subsidise the cost if the association applies for and obtains renovation grants.

What happens if we don’t pass the ITE?

Not having the ITE is a serious offence under Law 18/2007 on the right to housing and may lead to fines. In addition, without a certificate of fitness you cannot access renovation grants, and selling the homes becomes more complicated.

What is the deadline for submitting the ITE report?

The certificate of fitness must be applied for within 4 months of the inspection report being closed. If it is submitted late, the authorities will not accept it.

What is the difference between the ITE and the IEE?

The Building Assessment Report (IEE) is a national-level document that, in addition to the state of repair, assesses the building’s accessibility and energy efficiency. In practice it is mainly required for certain renovation grants. If you need it, we can prepare both at the same time.

Does the ITE include the energy performance certificate?

No. The ITE reviews the building’s state of repair, whereas the energy performance certificate is a separate document required for each home, for example to sell or let it. If you need one, we can do that too.

What is the PRE-ITE report?

It is a preliminary inspection that is not submitted to the authorities and serves to find out the real condition of the building. This lets the owners’ association repair the defects first; we then carry out the official ITE and obtain the certificate of fitness with the best possible result.

Is your building due for its ITE?

We will tell you whether you are required to do it and what deadline you have, and send you a no-obligation quote.