Building inspection reports (ITE and IEE) and how to read them

Terms used

• ITE — The ITE is the mandatory periodic technical inspection of the state of repair of older buildings.
• IEE — The IEE is the broader national building report covering repair, accessibility and the energy certificate.
• Arquitecto técnico — An arquitecto técnico is a licensed building technician who can draw up the inspection report.
• Derrama — A derrama is an extra charge the owners' community splits among owners to pay for works.
• Desfavorable — Desfavorable is an unfavorable inspection result: defects were found and must be repaired.

Key rules

• Local rules: The name, age limit and deadlines of the inspection are set by your region or town.
• Who has the report: The community of owners holds it, and a copy is registered with the town hall or regional register.
• Tenants: Tenants usually have no direct right to the report and must ask the landlord.
• Desfavorable result: Owners must repair the listed defects by the deadline, and the community shares the cost.

Does the building need an inspection?

Older residential buildings must pass a periodic inspection. Names, age limits and deadlines are set by each region or town, so the rules differ by region. Check the local rule with your town hall or your regional housing department.

The inspection is called ITE or IEE. The ITE checks the state of repair. The IEE is the broader national report. It adds accessibility (ramps, lifts) and the building's energy certificate. Many regions have merged the two or accept either. An architect or arquitecto técnico draws up the report, and it is registered with the town hall or the regional register.

What it is called where

• ITE is the usual name in Madrid city, Andalusia, Catalonia, Galicia, Murcia, the Basque Country and the Balearic Islands.
• The Valencian Community uses its own report, the IEEV.CV.

Details change, so confirm the local name and register before you ask for a document.

How old is "old"?

The national report covers residential buildings over 50 years old. Many places start earlier, often at 45 years, and a few at 30. Towns often set submission deadlines by year of construction. Find the building's year of construction first, then ask the town hall whether it is already due.

How often is it repeated?

Usually every 10 years. A building with serious defects may have to repeat it sooner, for example after 5 years.

How to get the report

Ask the people who hold it:

• Buying: ask the seller, who should pass on the latest report. You can also ask the community president or administrator.
• Owning a flat in the building: ask the community of owners.
• Renting: you usually have no direct right to it. Ask your landlord, who may share it.
• Anyone else with a real interest: the town hall or regional register holds a copy and may give you one. Local practice varies, so ask.

The decision block below helps you choose whom to ask first.

How to read the result

The result is either favorable or desfavorable.

Favorable means no serious defects. It may include minor recommendations. Sometimes a favorable result has conditions and needs a re-inspection.

Desfavorable means defects need repair. The report lists each defect and how urgent it is. Urgent safety work must be done at once or very soon. Other work has deadlines of months or a few years, set by the town or region.

Check these points in any report:

1. A qualified technician signed it, and it covers repair, accessibility and energy.
2. If it is desfavorable, which repairs are pending, their deadlines, and how the cost is split.

Who pays for repairs

The community of owners pays, through ordinary fees or a derrama (an extra charge) shared by each owner's share of the building. If you buy, you may inherit part of that bill. Ask for the last minutes of owners' meetings and any works budgets before you commit.

Owners who skip the inspection or the works risk fines. The town hall can order the works and charge the owners. Owners can lose access to some grants. In extreme cases a building can be declared in ruins. Public grants for works are sometimes available, so ask the town hall.

The checklist, timeline and FAQ below cover the steps and common questions.

Choosing between options

Where should you ask for the building's inspection report?

• The community of owners: You own a home in the building: ask the president or administrator, who holds the report.

• The seller: You are buying: the seller should hand over the report, and in some regions the certificate too.

• The town hall or regional register: The community or seller cannot provide it: a copy is deposited there, and you may get it by showing a legitimate interest.

• Your landlord: You are a tenant: you usually have no direct right, but the landlord or community may share it.

Start with whoever holds the report, the community of owners. If that fails, go to the town hall or regional register that your area uses.

Check who holds the report and how your region handles copies with your town hall or regional housing department.

Timeline and deadlines

• First inspection of the building by an architect or arquitecto técnico: once the building reaches the age set locally, usually 45 or 50 years, and by the date in the town hall calendar

• Repair the listed defects if the result is unfavorable: within the deadline set by the town hall or region, urgent safety works first

• Repeat the inspection: generally every 10 years, or every 5 years for buildings with serious defects

Condition documents to ask for before you commit

Condition documents to ask for

• The building's ITE or IEE report (the mandatory inspection of older buildings). It shows whether the building has been inspected and what defects were found. Ask the seller for it. A buyer cannot demand it directly from the community, but the seller should provide it. A tenant has no direct right to it, though the landlord can share it.

• Proof that the inspection is up to date. Inspections usually apply to buildings over 45 or 50 years old, depending on the town or region, and are repeated about every 10 years, sometimes every 5 if defects are serious. Ask the ayuntamiento (town hall) or regional register for the building's status.

• The certificado de deudas, the community debt certificate. It proves whether the seller owes community fees or approved derramas (extra charges for works). It matters because a buyer is responsible for unpaid community debts of the current year and the previous three years. The seller or notary requests it from the administrator, with the president's approval, and the notary will normally ask for it at the sale.

• The last actas (minutes of owners' meetings). They show works already approved, derramas voted and upcoming costs. Ask the seller, the administrator (administrador de fincas) or the president. Owners and buyers can see them.

• Budgets for planned works and receipts for recent works. They show what you may have to pay soon. Ask the seller or the administrator. As a tenant, you normally pay no derramas unless your contract says so.

Checklist

• Ask your town hall or regional housing department what the inspection is called locally (ITE or IEE) and from what building age it applies.

• Find the building's year of construction and check if it is old enough for the inspection.

• Ask the seller or the community president or administrator for a copy of the latest report.

• Check that the report covers the state of repair, accessibility and the energy certificate, and that a technician signed it.

• Check that the report is registered with the town hall or regional register.

• Read the result: favorable, or unfavorable with a list of defects and their urgency.

• If the result is unfavorable, ask what repairs are pending, their deadlines and how the cost will be split among owners.

• If the building is due for a new inspection, ask when it is scheduled.

Frequently asked questions

What happens if the building fails its inspection?

If the result is unfavorable, the owners must repair the listed defects within the deadline set by the town hall or region. Urgent safety works come first and other works can have months or a few years. The community pays through fees or extra charges (derramas) split by share, and ignoring the order can bring fines or works done at the owners' cost.

Can I get the inspection report if I am only a tenant?

Tenants usually have no direct right to the report, but your landlord or the community of owners may share it. If you are an owner, ask the community president or administrator. A buyer with a real interest can ask through the seller.

Is the inspection the same in every region?

No, the name, the building age and the register change by region and town. Valencia uses the IEEV.CV, while Madrid, Andalusia and Catalonia use the ITE.

How often must the inspection be repeated?

The inspection is generally repeated every 10 years. Buildings with serious defects can be on a shorter cycle, such as 5 years. Your town hall sets the exact calendar, often by year of construction.