Property owner’s guide · Catalonia
Asbestos certificate in Catalonia: what you need to sell or rent out a property
What the certificate must include, who can issue it and how to prepare the paperwork before selling or renting out your property.
01 · The requirement
What changes on 3 October 2026?
From 3 October 2026, if you sell or rent out a property in Catalonia, you must give the buyer or tenant a certificate confirming the presence or absence of asbestos. This requirement is set out in Article 21 of Law 8/2026 of 2 July on the eradication of asbestos.
If you are preparing a transaction in Barcelona, include this document in the paperwork from the outset. For a sale, commissioning it and sending it to the notary’s office in advance will help identify potential issues before signing.
The law recognises the right of buyers and tenants to receive information about asbestos in the property. Although implementing regulations must specify the certificate’s characteristics and who may issue it, the law itself already sets minimum content requirements for the transitional period.
| Question | What you need to know |
|---|---|
| Does it apply to sales? | Yes. The certificate must be given to the buyer. |
| Does it also apply to rentals? | Yes. Article 21.2 expressly includes rental agreements. |
| Is checking the asbestos register enough? | No. Checking the register and providing the certificate are separate steps. |
| Does a negative result rule out all asbestos? | Not necessarily: the transitional minimum requirements concern visible asbestos. |
02 · Required content
What must the asbestos certificate state?
Until the implementing regulations are in place, Article 21.3 requires the certificate to address at least three points:
- The presence or absence of visible asbestos. It must reflect the condition of the property when the certificate is issued.
- State of preservation. If materials containing asbestos are present, their condition must be described.
- Risk to people. A general statement that asbestos is present is not enough.
It is also advisable to check that the certificate identifies the property, the date, the professional or organisation responsible and the areas inspected. These details help clarify what the certificate covers and the scope of the inspection.
Not finding visible asbestos does not guarantee that no hidden materials are present. Read the limitations of the inspection and clarify any questions with the person signing the document.
03 · The professional
Who can issue the certificate?
The law leaves the qualifications required to issue the certificate to future implementing regulations. It does not itself establish a definitive list of authorised professional qualifications.
According to the API communication summarising the provisional guidance issued by the Col·legi Notarial de Catalunya on 22 September, the certificate could be issued by professionals with appropriate technical qualifications, such as architects, technical architects (arquitectos técnicos) or engineers. This is provisional guidance, pending the relevant regulations.
For a sale, confirm with the notary’s office which documents and technical qualifications it considers appropriate before commissioning the certificate. For a rental, check with the professional what the inspection and the certificate will cover.
04 · Scope
Which properties in Catalonia are affected?
Article 21 refers to the sale or rental of a property, without limiting the requirement to a main home. It must be taken into account in transactions involving homes, commercial premises and industrial buildings in Catalonia.
The API communication adds that the notarial guidance includes undeveloped land in transfers for consideration, as it may also contain remnants of asbestos-containing materials. For these transactions, confirm with the notary’s office how to document the inspection.
If you are selling a flat in a building with an owners’ association, ask the professional to specify which areas have been inspected and how shared areas are covered. Do not assume that inspecting the inside of the flat covers the whole building.
05 · Prepare the transaction
What should you prepare before selling or renting out?
- Commission the certificate in good time. Tell the professional about the type of property and the planned transaction.
- Review its content. Check the property identification, date, scope of inspection and minimum information on presence, condition and risk.
- Give it to the other party. Keep documentary evidence that they have received it.
- If you are selling, send it to the notary’s office in advance. According to the notarial guidance reported by API, delivery will be recorded in the deed and the document will be attached to the original deed retained by the notary.
- Provide documentation for any grants awarded, if asbestos-related subsidies have been granted under Article 26.
The certificate is required alongside the other sale documents. You can review the paperwork and the steps involved in our guide to the procedures for selling a flat in Barcelona.
For a rental, arrange to give the certificate to the tenant as part of the tenancy paperwork. The requirement is not limited to transactions handled by a notary. If you also need to organise the tenant search and the rental agreement, you will find information on our page about renting out your flat in Barcelona.
06 · If asbestos is found
What happens if the certificate identifies asbestos?
The certificate should identify the materials found, their condition and the risk they may pose. The action required under the applicable rules will then need to be assessed by a technical professional.
For transfers for consideration, the seventh additional provision provides for the certificate confirming the presence of asbestos and the relevant grants to be recorded in the Land Registry. The API communication explains that the notarial guidance proposes a marginal entry when the transfer is registered.
If the result is that no visible asbestos is present, the same communication does not envisage a specific registry entry, subject to the registrar’s assessment.
07 · Your questions answered
Questions before signing
Can you complete a sale without the certificate?
The law does not expressly state that the absence of a certificate prevents a notary from authorising the sale. However, this does not remove the obligation to provide it or guarantee that the transaction will be registered without issues.
The notarial guidance reported by API recommends requiring the certificate. If the signing date is approaching and the document is missing, discuss the case with the notary’s office before keeping the appointment as though all the paperwork were complete.
The fact that the specific penalty framework still requires implementing regulations should not be confused with an absence of consequences: the seventh final provision preserves the general environmental penalty rules in the meantime.
Does checking the register replace the certificate?
No. Checking the register and providing the certificate are separate steps. You must prepare the certificate for the property concerned.
Does a negative result also rule out hidden asbestos?
Not necessarily. The transitional minimum content requirements concern visible asbestos. Check the areas inspected and the limitations stated by the professional.
Sources and scope of this information
- Law 8/2026 of 2 July on the eradication of asbestos — BOE: Article 21, the seventh additional provision and the first and seventh final provisions.
- API communication provided to PUNTO HABITAT, summarising the note issued by the Col·legi Notarial de Catalunya on 22 September 2026. The notarial guidance is attributed to that communication; the original note has not been consulted directly.
The implementing regulations must clarify the outstanding details. For a specific transaction, confirm the requirements with the professional and, for a sale, with the notary’s office.
Support for your sale, from start to finish
Planning to sell your flat in Barcelona?
At PUNTO HABITAT, we help you prepare the sale and coordinate the paperwork through to signing. We will review the steps you need to arrange, including commissioning the asbestos certificate from the appropriate professional.