Water connection and the habitability certificate (cédula de habitabilidad)

Terms used

• Cédula de habitabilidad — The cédula de habitabilidad is a regional document certifying that a home meets minimum standards of size, ventilation, sanitation and safety.
• Licencia de primera ocupación — The licencia de primera ocupación is a town hall licence confirming a new or renovated building may be lived in.
• Boletín — The boletín is the certificate an authorised installer issues to confirm the plumbing installation is safe and correct.
• Acometida — The acometida is the physical connection between the building and the public water network.
• OMIC — The OMIC is the municipal consumer information office, where you can file complaints against suppliers.

Key rules

• Not national: No national rule requires the certificate for water; it depends on your region and your provider.
• Most affected: Catalonia, the Balearic Islands and Valencia most often ask for it when you open a water contract.
• Owner's job: The owner, not the tenant, is responsible for getting the certificate.
• New contracts: New connections are the main risk; transfers of an existing contract often need no certificate.
• If refused: Ask the landlord first, then ask the provider about other accepted documents, then complain in writing.

When a missing certificate blocks your water contract

A water provider can refuse a new contract if the home has no proof that it is legally habitable. That proof is usually the cédula de habitabilidad, or in some places the licencia de primera ocupación. There is no national rule. It depends on your region and on the provider.

For an existing connection that is simply being put in your name, the document is often not requested. Ask the provider whether your case counts as a new contract or a transfer, because that changes what they want.

Where it is most likely to come up

There is no national list. The certificate exists in several regions, including Catalonia, the Balearic Islands, Valencia, Galicia, Navarra, the Basque Country, Asturias and Andalusia (in a different form). It is most commonly asked for water, electricity and gas contracts in Catalonia, the Balearic Islands and Valencia.

In other regions, such as Madrid, it is generally not required for water. The provider may ask for a first-occupation licence, or for no document at all. Practice can also change between towns and providers, so ask yours before you plan around it.

Who gets the certificate

The owner is responsible for it, not the tenant. The regional housing department issues it, often after a report from an architect or technical architect. In Catalonia it is needed for rentals and sales, and it lasts 15 years for second-hand homes. In some regions it has been replaced by a responsible declaration or the first-occupation licence.

Expect to pay roughly 100 to 300 euros in total (the professional's fee plus an administrative fee), and expect days to a few weeks of processing. The owner normally pays.

If the provider refuses your contract

Do these in order:

1. Ask the landlord or seller for a valid certificate or licence, or ask them to request one from the regional housing department.
2. Ask the provider which other documents it accepts. Some take a recent bill from the previous holder, the lease, or a municipal certificate.
3. Ask whether the landlord can keep the existing contract and transfer it to you.
4. Complain in writing to the provider's customer service if the refusal seems unjustified. Then go to your town hall's consumer office (OMIC) or the regional consumer body. If the water supply is run by the town, go to the town hall.

Some providers offer a temporary or building-site supply. In some places a basic supply is protected for vulnerable households. Ask the provider what applies.

Other papers for a brand-new connection

If the home has never had water, you will usually need more than the certificate: a plumbing installation certificate (boletín) and a connection (acometida) permit with its fee. The documents list below covers these. Each provider publishes its own list, so ask for it before you book anything.

Use the checklist below to work through the steps, and the FAQ for common questions.

Documents you need

• Habitability certificate (cédula de habitabilidad), issued by your region's housing department. The owner normally requests it. It is asked for mainly in regions such as Catalonia, the Balearic Islands and Valencia.

• First-occupation licence (licencia de primera ocupación), which some providers accept or ask for instead of the habitability certificate.

• Proof of ownership or title, or the owner's authorisation if you are the tenant.

• Your ID as the applicant.

• Installation certificate for the plumbing (boletín), issued by an authorised installer, for a new connection.

• Connection (acometida) permit or municipal authorisation and its fee, for a dwelling never supplied before. New builds also need the building licence or project details.

• A bank account for direct debit.

Checklist

• Check whether your region asks for a habitability certificate for water contracts, for example Catalonia, the Balearic Islands or Valencia.

• Ask your water provider which document it wants: the habitability certificate or the first-occupation licence.

• Ask your landlord or seller whether a valid certificate already exists, and for a copy.

• Ask the owner to request the certificate from the regional housing department if none exists.

• Confirm with the provider whether the contract is new or a transfer of an existing connection, since existing connections often need no certificate.

Frequently asked questions

Who issues the habitability certificate and how much does it cost?

The housing department of your regional government issues the cédula de habitabilidad, often after a report by an architect or technical architect. The owner normally requests it. In 2025 the total cost was commonly 100 to 300 euros, and processing takes from a few days to a few weeks.

Is the habitability certificate valid for ever?

No, in Catalonia the certificate for a second-hand home lasts 15 years. Other regions differ, and some have replaced it with a responsible declaration or the first-occupation licence. Ask your regional housing department how long it lasts where you live.

Can I get a temporary water supply while the certificate is missing?

Sometimes, because some suppliers offer a temporary or building-site supply. Ask your supplier whether it does this.

What can I do if my water provider refuses the contract without a certificate?

Ask your landlord to get the missing document, because the owner is responsible for it. You can also ask the supplier which substitute documents it accepts, such as the previous holder's recent bill, your lease or a municipal certificate. If the refusal seems unjustified, complain in writing to the supplier, then to your town hall's consumer office.