What Documents do I need to Sell a Property in Tenerife?

The short answer

You do not usually need every document in hand before speaking to an estate agent, but you do need a clear view of what exists, what is missing, and what may take time to obtain.

In practical terms, the core seller file usually revolves around:

• proof of ownership
• an up-to-date nota simple
• valid identification and NIE where relevant
• an energy performance certificate
• latest IBI receipt
• community debt information where applicable
• mortgage or charge information if the property is not debt-free
• supporting documents for any annexes, inheritance, tenancy, or power of attorney issues

What I usually ask for first

In practice, the first thing I usually want is not every document at once. It is the information I need to order a current nota simple.

I do very little without that. Once I have the nota simple, I can start properly checking ownership, title details, annexes, and any registered charges affecting the property.

If you have the escritura

Ask the owner to look in the escritura or title deed from when they bought the property. Usually around pages 4, 5 or 6 there will be a section headed Datos registrales. In that section there is normally a sentence along the lines of “finca número 12345 de Adeje”, or whichever municipality applies.

That finca number and municipality are usually enough for me to get started quickly.

If you cannot find the escritura

If the owner cannot locate the escritura, I will usually ask for:

• the full name of one of the owners
• their NIE number
• confirmation of whether this is the only property they own in Tenerife

With that, I can often manually search the Land Registry and start building the file from there.

The most important documents

If I am helping an owner prepare a sale, the first priority is usually to establish the legal position of the property properly. In practice, that normally starts with the nota simple.

From there, the core seller file usually revolves around:

• the title deed or escritura
• an up-to-date nota simple
• valid identification and NIE details for the seller
• the latest IBI position
• the energy certificate
• community debt information where the property is part of a complex
• mortgage or charge information if the property is not debt-free
• supporting documents for any tenancy, inheritance, annex, or power of attorney issue

Not every seller will have every document neatly ready on day one. The key is knowing what exists, what is missing, and what can be sourced quickly before the sale gets serious.

Title and registry documents

Title deed or escritura

The escritura is the notarial title deed that records the acquisition of the property. It is one of the foundational ownership documents and usually the starting point for verifying who owns what, how they acquired it, and whether there are any obvious issues in the legal description.

Nota simple

The nota simple is one of the most useful documents in the whole process. It is an informative extract from the Land Registry that shows the registered owner, the legal description of the property, and any registered charges or limitations affecting it.

If the property has a separate trastero, parking space, or another annex, that may also need to be checked separately. Sellers often assume everything sits under one neat title when it does not.

If you want to understand this document properly, read The Nota simple in Tenerife and what it tells you.

Seller identification

You will usually need the seller’s passport, DNI, NIE, or other identity details depending on nationality and tax position. If there is more than one owner, each owner’s position needs to be clear.

Inheritance or probate documents, if relevant

If the property came through inheritance, the inheritance paperwork and registration position need to be in order before the sale can complete properly.

Energy certificate

The energy performance certificate is not just a nice extra. It is part of the normal legal and marketing paperwork around a sale.

If you do not have a valid one, sort it early rather than late. If the certificate is missing, we can arrange that for you. Read Energy performance certificates in Tenerife for sellers.

Community, taxes and utility paperwork

IBI receipt

The latest IBI receipt is one of the standard pieces of seller paperwork. It helps confirm the municipal tax position and is also useful for checking property references and administrative consistency.

If the owner does not have the latest IBI receipt, or is not even sure what it is, that is not unusual. We can usually help them work out what is missing and, where necessary, make an appointment and go with them to resolve it.

Basura

Basura can matter too. In some cases it is billed separately. In others it may already be wrapped into the community charge. Sellers often do not know which applies to their property, so this is one of the small admin points worth clarifying early.

Community debt certificate

If the property is part of a community of owners, this matters. The seller is usually expected to provide a certificate showing the debt position with the community.

In practice, we will often speak to the community administration directly. Many of them know us and are happy to help. If that is not the best route, we can also give the owner the wording for an email they can send themselves.

Water and electricity

Water and electricity bills are also useful to check, although water is sometimes included in the community charges.

Occasionally a seller does not have a recent electricity bill. In that case, bank receipts showing payment can still help. If we can identify the supplier and know whose name the account is in, we can often make enquiries from there.

Mortgage cancellation and charges

If there is still a mortgage, embargo, or any other registered charge against the property, that needs to be understood early.

This is one of the reasons I want the nota simple as early as possible. It will usually show whether there is still a mortgage or another registered issue affecting the property.

If there is a mortgage, it is very helpful to know whether the owner has a direct contact at the bank, ideally by email. That can save time later when redemption figures or cancellation paperwork are needed.

If the owner already works with a gestor, tax adviser, or lawyer, I also want those details early. It is much better to know who is involved before the sale gathers pace.

Tenants and occupancy issues

If the property is rented out, the paperwork and sale position become more complicated. In that case, the tenancy documents, payment position, and actual occupancy reality all matter.

Do not assume that missing tenancy paperwork puts the seller in a strong position. And do not assume a friendly verbal understanding with the tenant is enough if the sale is meant to complete with vacant possession.

If this applies to your property, read Can I Sell My Property in Tenerife with Tenants? and Long Term Rental Laws in Tenerife, Tenants and Owners Rights.

If you are not in Tenerife

Not every seller will be present on the island for every stage. If you are abroad, or one owner cannot attend, a power of attorney may become relevant.

That is not something to improvise late in the process. If it looks likely to be needed, get clear on it early. Read Power of attorney in Tenerife for buyers and sellers.

What owners often miss

• assuming the escritura tells the whole current story without checking the latest nota simple
• forgetting that parking or storage may sit under separate title details
• discovering too late that the energy certificate is missing or expired
• not checking the community debt position early enough
• thinking mortgage cancellation can be left until the last moment
• underestimating how much tenancy or inheritance issues can affect timing
• relying on memory rather than pulling the actual paperwork together

Seller checklist

Before going to market, I would want clarity on the following:

• Can I order the nota simple immediately, or do I first need finca details or owner details to search the Registry?
• Who exactly owns the property?
• Does the latest nota simple match the ownership and description I expect?
• Is the energy certificate valid and ready?
• Is the IBI position clear?
• Is there any mortgage, embargo, or other charge still affecting the property?
• Is there a community debt certificate issue to deal with?
• Are there tenants, inheritance issues, or absent owners that could affect timing?
• If something is missing, who can help supply it, the owner, the community, the bank, the gestor, or the lawyer?
• Do I have the right supporting documents for all of the above?