Note
Neighbours and community life when buying in Spain
Quick answer
Ask for the community’s statutes, the last accounts and the minutes, and talk to the administrator and to neighbours. The law says the owners’ meeting governs the community, and a three-fifths vote can approve or ban tourist rental. We found no official way to check people, so rely on documents and visits.
Applies toBuyers of flats and homes in developments who want to know what living next to people will be like.
On this page: 9 sections
§ 1A community is a legal body
When you buy a flat in a block or a house in a development, you join a community of owners. The horizontal property law makes the owners’ meeting the first governing body and gives the president the role of convening it. The community sets a budget and charges the costs to the owners, and a decision binds those who vote against it, within the law. This page belongs to the chapter on what to know about daily life.
§ 2Documents to ask for
Ask for the statutes, which set rules on use, noise, pets and lets, the last accounts and the budget, the minutes of the last meetings, the balance of the reserve fund, any special charge approved or proposed, and any claims or disputes. The law requires a reserve fund of at least a stated share of the last ordinary budget, 10%. A low reserve and big works planned means a bill. The legal section on communities explains the debts that follow a property.
§ 3Tourist lets
If you plan to let your home to tourists, or fear that the flat next door will be used that way, read the statutes and the minutes. The law requires the favourable vote of three fifths of all the owners to approve, limit or prohibit tourist rental. The section on renting and investing explains the layers of rules that apply. A vote before you buy can change your plans.
§ 4Works and charges
The law makes works necessary for the maintenance of the building mandatory for the community. Ask about the state of the roof, the lift, the façade and the pipes, and whether an inspection report exists. Ask what works are planned and how they are to be paid for.
§ 5Noise and habits
Noise from neighbours, bars and shared spaces depends on the building and the people. Visit in the evening and at the weekend. The statutes may set quiet hours, and the town may have noise rules that we did not read. Ask residents about the street.
§ 6Talking to people
The administrator and long-term residents are the best sources. Be courteous and ask open questions. Do not expect official data on people.
§ 7If you let the home
Neighbours and the administrator should have a contact who can act if there is a problem. The section on owning and selling explains how to cover a home from abroad.
§ 8What we could not verify
We did not read municipal noise ordinances or the statutes of any development. The community’s own documents are the authority.
§ 9More on this topic
The rules on cost of living for retirees explains how to build a realistic monthly budget for retirement in Spain and the rules on healthcare explains the main routes to public healthcare for foreign residents in Spain.
The rules on schools explains how school admission works and what to ask when moving with children and the rules on living near an airport explains how to check airport noise before buying.
FAQRelated questions
What can I ask the community for?
The statutes, the budget and last accounts, the minutes of recent meetings, the reserve fund balance, any special charge, and any dispute or claim. The administrator can provide these, and the seller should ask for them for you.
Can the community ban holiday lets?
Yes, by vote. The property law demands the favourable vote of three fifths of all owners to authorise, restrict or forbid tourist rental. Check whether a vote already happened and what the statutes provide.
How do I judge the neighbours?
Visit at different times, speak to residents and the administrator, and read the minutes for recurring disputes. We found no official source for judging people, so we recommend only documents and courtesy.
Sources
- Boletín Oficial del Estado: Ley de Propiedad Horizontal (Ley 49/1960, BOE-A-1960-10906) (official source, opens in a new window), Arts. 7, 9, 10, 13, 16 and 17 (consolidated text of 3 October 2026)Last checked 26 October 2026
Legal note. How the process works in general. It is not legal advice, and it never replaces an independent Spanish lawyer acting for you.