What do I need to build a house?

¿Qué necesito para construir una casa?

Many people decide to buy a plot of land in order to build their own house, in a design that they like, with the materials and design that they want.  The process can be long and tedious but, in the end, it is worth it because they achieve the house of their dreams. 

For those of you who are also thinking about building a house, we want to show you all the steps that you should take, from the beginning of the process to the end, with particular emphasis on the things you need most: commitment and patience. 

Buying a plot of land

The first thing you need in order to build a house is to find a plot of land. To do this, you need to keep various things in mind. On the one hand, the plot should be located in an area where you can build housing. This may seem obvious, but you have to be cautious. In the  local government of the area, you can see which building regulations apply to that plot and what its rating is. 

You will also need to ensure that the plot is sufficiently large enough to build all the spaces of the house that you need, that it is accessible, and that it has water and electricity services. 

We also advise you to consult the Land Registry and the Property Register for details of the deeds, land titles and to check if there are any charges of any kind on the property. 
Once you have compiled all the information and you decide to proceed with the purchase, you will need to sign a sale-purchase contract that will enable you to get the title deeds for the land. Then you will have to pay the corresponding taxes, such as VAT or ITP, depending on the legal person representing the seller, and present the title deeps to the property register. Once this has been done, you will be able to continue with the following steps.

Design the house

The next step is to design the house, keeping in mind the characteristics of the land and the type of house that you want to have.   
When you decide on the type of house that you are going to build, you will need to take an important decision: the materials for the structure of the house. The most commonly-used materials are wood, steel and concrete. Sometimes, certain materials are used to face the exterior walls to give your house a more personal touch. In these cases, Thermostone has a large variety of eco-friendly artificial stone facings in their catalogue, which have great thermal insulation, are long-lasting, extremely robust and come with a 50-year guarantee.

Procedures and licenses for your build

Once you have created the house design and chosen the materials, in order to be able to start the building work, you need to process the municipal licence with the corresponding local government.

Moreover, to build a house in Spain you need to obtain approval from the College of Architects for the project in accordance with R.D. 1000/2010, and this is provided by the professional colleges of architecture. 

And the last step before beginning construction is for the architect to verify, with their signature, the start of the house building works and that the logbook of orders and materials is ready.  

Completion of works certificate

When the build is completed, you need to take a series of steps before you can begin living in your home. The first thing is the completion of works certificate which needs to be signed by the architect and endorsed by the College of Architects. 

You also need to obtain a building logbook and an energy efficiency certificate. Lastly, both you and the builder will need to sign the handover certificate, which states that the build has been carried out and handed over correctly.  

Final steps

Once the build has been completed, if you want to start living there, there is a series of final steps to take. Firstly, you will need to get an occupation licence or occupancy certificate. To do this, you will need to provide the building records and the completion of works certificate. 

Then, you will need to execute a deed for registration of a new building using a notary which will provide details of when the works were commenced and completed and, subsequently, you will need to register the property on the property register.  

Lastly, so that you can start living in your home with everything perfectly set up, you need to register for an electricity supply. 

Building a house requires various steps, but they are processes that are worth doing in order to have a home that is designed and set up to your taste. When you start living in it, you will feel that all the effort invested in it has been worthwhile.