Inspector Home now provide snagging inspections across Cyprus, Southern Spain and The Algarve

Inspections can be carried out before or after completion (you will need the authority of your developer for inspections pre-completion.) Reports will be written in plain English including digital photographs and provided to you within 72 hours by e-mail. A Spanish translation service is available for a small additional charge.

All prices include a free re-inspection to check that remedial works have been carried out to standard, saving you a fortune in wasted air fares. To book please call 0845 408 4979 or click here

Spanish Building Warranties:

Your builder is legally liable for any defects in your new home. Until May 6th 2000, this was a civil law matter: the responsibility was for 15 years after completion, but the only way of enforcing an unresolved problem was to take the builder to court. The new Ley 38/1999 de 5 de noviembre sobre la Ordenación de la Edificación (Building Standards Act) came into force on May 6th 2000, and this provides obligatory protection. Serious defects affecting safety are covered for 10 years and the builder must have insurance cover for this. The policy must be given to the notary, and details of the policy must be included in the escritura, and without this the sale transaction cannot be notarised.

Other defects affecting the habitability of the property (such as for example failure of electricity or water) - but not affecting safety - are covered for 3 years. Other minor defects are covered for 1 year. In the last two cases insurance cover is not required, so check to see if your builder can offer this as an additional guarantee.

Portugese Building Warranties:

Under Portuguese law, builders are responsible for minor defects for one year after completion and for structural defects for five years (less than in many other countries). It isn't uncommon to have problems during construction, particularly regarding material defects. If you do have problems, you must usually be extremely patient and persistent to obtain satisfaction.

You should have a completed building checked by a structural surveyor for defects and a report drawn up, and if there are any defects, he should determine exactly who was responsible for them. Architects and builders in Portugal are required by law to have indemnity insurance, although many still try to avoid claims.

Portugese Habitation Licence & Registration

When a property has been completed the builder must arrange for an inspection (visitoria) by the local council to ensure that it has been constructed according to the plans and building regulations. After a satisfactory inspection, the local council issues a habitation licence (licença de habitação) and the final payment is due only after this has been issued. When this has been completed a property must be registered with the local authority (the plot must be registered before building work commences), the local tax office (finanças) and at the local land registry (conservatória de registo predial).

Back to top