New Asbestos Certificate Required To Sell Or Rent Property In Catalonia

From 3 October 2026, property owners in Catalonia face another piece of paperwork when selling or renting: a certificate stating whether or not the property contains asbestos.

A new Catalan law on the eradication of asbestos introduces the requirement for property transactions and new rental contracts from the beginning of October.

What owners need to know

Catalonia’s new Asbestos Eradication Law (Law 8/2026), published in July, comes into force on 3 October 2026.

Article 21 creates a new “certificate of presence or absence of asbestos”, which owners must provide when selling or renting a property.

This is therefore not just another document for vendors to add to the pile when selling a home. Landlords signing new rental contracts will also need one.

The requirement applies broadly to property rather than just homes, so owners of commercial premises and other types of real estate should also take note.

What does the certificate say?

The detailed regulations governing the certificates have yet to be approved, which leaves some aspects of the new system unresolved.

In the meantime, the law says certificates must at least establish whether visible asbestos is present or absent. Where it is present, the certificate must also describe the condition of the asbestos-containing materials and the risk they may pose to people.

The regulations will ultimately determine the precise characteristics of the certificate and who is qualified to issue one.

There is also an additional disclosure requirement worth noting. In consumer transactions, advertising for homes for sale or rent must disclose the presence or absence of asbestos in accordance with the certificate.

Another document to organise before selling

For anyone planning to sell or rent property in Catalonia from 3 October onwards, the practical message is simple: find out about the asbestos certificate before getting too far into the transaction.

As the implementing regulations have yet to fill in all the details, there is likely to be some uncertainty in the early stages. But the underlying obligation is already in the law.

Vendors in particular would be well advised to add this to the growing list of documents that should be organised before putting a property on the market. Finding out at the last minute that you need another certificate is rarely conducive to a smooth sale.

More paperwork for Catalan property owners

Catalonia is already one of the most paperwork-heavy regions in Spain when it comes to selling or renting a home. Alongside the Energy Efficiency Certificate required throughout Spain, vendors and landlords in Catalonia generally also need a valid habitability certificate. From 3 October they will have another document to organise: the new asbestos presence or absence certificate. Whatever the merits of the requirement, the practical consequence for owners is clear — getting the paperwork in order before going to market is becoming more important than ever.

Thinking of selling in Catalonia?

If you are considering selling a property in Catalonia, Spanish Property Insight can help you get your paperwork organised and prepare for the sale before you approach the market. You can also start with a free personalised market report showing the latest sales, price and demand trends in your area, so you have a clearer idea of the market you are selling into.

Get in touch using the form below to request your free market report and find out how we can help you prepare your property for sale.