Buying or selling
Land registry and charges checks, deposit contracts, and support through to the notary — before money changes hands, not after.
Property & Civil Law — Las Palmas de Gran Canaria
Buying, selling, or inheriting property in Gran Canaria?
Cautio Legal helps foreign owners and buyers protect themselves through Spanish property law — before signing anything, and after, if something has already gone wrong. Free initial consultation, no obligation.
Why this matters more when you're not resident in Spain
- You're not on the island to catch a problem before it's signed
- Notary and land registry procedures don't wait for a flight home
- Non-resident tax rules apply differently on sale and on inheritance
- A poorly worded contract can take years to surface as a real cost
Property law is the area most people sign into without reading closely — a misclassified deposit, a lease with no rent-review clause, an inheritance accepted without knowing what it includes. For a non-resident, the same mistakes are harder to fix afterwards: you're not on the island to catch a problem early, and Spanish notarial and registry procedures don't pause for a flight home.
We work before the fact — reviewing and drafting contracts — and after, when a dispute already exists: payment claims, evictions, construction defects, and inheritance partitions that have been stuck for years.
On inheritance matters we work alongside our own tax team from day one: in the Canary Islands, inheritance tax treatment shapes decisions that cannot be undone once made.
Situations we regularly handle
Not an exhaustive list — if your situation isn't here, contact us and we'll tell you plainly whether we can help.
Leases and evictions
Contracts drafted under current tenancy law, and eviction proceedings for non-payment, for landlords and tenants alike.
Construction defects
Structural and building defects, and the ten-year builder liability that covers them under Spanish law.
Inheritance and probate
Wills, acceptance, partition, and registration — including for heirs who are not resident in Spain.
Read in EnglishContract and payment disputes
Breach of contract and money claims, from a formal demand through to court proceedings.
Community of owners disputes
Unpaid fees, contested agreements, and disputes over shared areas or common charges.
How we work with clients abroad
Video-call consultations
You don't need to be on the island, or even in Spain, for the first consultation or for most of the process.
One lawyer, throughout
The person you speak to on day one stays responsible for your case — you are not passed between people.
Explained in plain English
What's happening, what your options are, and what it will cost, confirmed in writing before we begin.
Common questions
Do I need to be in Spain to buy or sell property?
No. Most of the process can be handled remotely, with a power of attorney for the steps that legally require someone present — the notary appointment can usually be covered this way too.
What taxes do non-residents pay when selling property in Spain?
There are specific withholding and capital gains rules for non-resident sellers. We'll tell you exactly what applies once we know your situation, rather than give you a general figure that may not hold for your case.
I've inherited property in Gran Canaria and I don't live in Spain — what do I do?
Do not accept the inheritance before knowing what it actually includes — debts attach to an estate the same as assets do. We can check the position before you commit to anything, and handle the acceptance and registration for you. More on how we handle inheritance for non-resident heirs.
Can you help if there's a dispute with my community of owners?
Yes — unpaid fees, contested agreements, and disputes over shared areas are among the most common issues we handle for owners, resident or not.
How much does this cost?
Fees are agreed in writing before we start, once we understand the scope of your case. The first consultation is free and without obligation.
Is what I tell you confidential?
Yes, it is protected by professional secrecy under Spanish law. In this first message, avoid sending sensitive documents — we'll tell you the secure way to share them once we're in contact.
Related articles
The Reinvestment Reserve for the Canary Islands (RIC): A Practical Guide
Up to 90% of undistributed profit can reduce the tax base — but only if the investment is made on time and in the right assets.
Inheritance Tax in Spain: A Guide for Non-Residents
Which rules apply when the heir doesn't live in Spain, and why the six-month deadline doesn't wait for the family to get organised.
The Guard Court in Las Palmas: What Happens in the First Hours
What the guard court does, how long an arrest can last, what a fast-track trial is, and what family members can do in the meantime.
Talk to us about your property
The first consultation is free and without obligation. Call, WhatsApp, or write to us — in English.