Need a nota simple in English for a property in Spain? A nota simple is an extract for information purposes from Spain’s Land Registry, the Registro de la Propiedad. It identifies a registered property and describes the recorded ownership, rights and charges, such as mortgages, at the time of the request. Start by checking that it covers the home you intend to buy. A document for the right street is not enough. Registradores: what the extract establishes

For a purchase in the Canary Islands, use the extract alongside the other property records. Keep the dates and identifiers visible. If something differs, write down the difference and ask for the evidence that could explain it before deciding on a reservation payment.

Our recommendation: The checklists and recommendations help you prepare. They are not findings about your property. Legal explanations link to their sources.

Catastro vs Land Registry in Spain

Catastro is an administrative property record. It includes location, areas, use and the cadastral reference. Under Article 3 of the Cadastral Law, the legal determinations of the Registro de la Propiedad take precedence. A nota simple supplies information from that Property Registry. Cadastral Law, articles 1–3, Registradores: nota simple. Sources checked: 30 September 2026.

RecordWhat to compareLimit for your decision
Nota simpleRegistered property, rights, holders and chargesInformational registry extract; no physical inspection
CatastroCadastral reference, description, areas and mapNo separate confirmation of planning permission
Listing and viewingOffered rooms, outside areas and included partsCompare with dated official records

Our recommendation: List each difference, its source and date, and the person who will resolve it. Ask which correction or further check is needed. Do not simply choose the more favourable floor area.

Cadastral reference in Spain: match it with the CRU

The CRU, or Código Registral Único, identifies the registered property. The older name is IDUFIR, Identificador Único de Finca Registral. Registradores: identifiers

The referencia catastral is the separate, 20-character identifier used by Catastro, Spain’s administrative property record. Keep both identifiers in your file. Catastro: reference and records

Use this checklist when you receive the documents:

CheckWhat to request or compare
Exact unitMunicipality, street, building, floor and flat number or identifier. Ask for an explanation of any difference from the listing.
Registry identityCRU/IDUFIR, registry office and número de finca registral, the property number within that registry.
Cadastral identityThe full cadastral reference and the corresponding description or plan.
Included partsIdentify the garage, storage room, terraces and land being offered. Ask how each appears in the records.
Document dateKeep the issue date and record when the listing and other documents were obtained.

With only a cadastral reference, a registry search may still fail. The official service limits that search route to properties linked to cadastral mapping. Ask the registry what additional details it needs. Registradores: search options

Do not substitute a nearby property because its address looks plausible. Ask the seller for a previous extract or the Land Registry details in the deed. Use them to confirm that the documents refer to the property you intend to buy.

An extract and a certification serve different purposes

The nota simple is informational. A certificación registral is a public document signed by the registrar that attests to registry content. If formal proof is needed, ask the registrar or your lawyer which certification is appropriate. An old extract does not establish today’s position. Registradores: extract versus certification

Read ownership and charges together with the date. Ask who will obtain updated information before the next commitment. The presence of an official heading does not answer every question about the home: a roof’s condition, for example, needs different evidence.

Read area labels before comparing numbers

Catastro describes physical, economic and legal characteristics. Its data carry a presumption of accuracy, subject to contrary evidence and the Property Registry’s prevailing legal determinations. That does not make one area figure the automatic answer to every measurement question. Cadastral law, article 3

Distinguish these labels:

  • Superficie útil means usable floor area, subject to the applicable measurement rules.
  • Superficie construida means built area, including wall areas under the applicable method. Check whether it includes a share of common parts.
  • Superficie de parcela refers to the plot, not the floor area of the dwelling.

Spain’s financial valuation rules distinguish usable area and built area with or without common parts. They also set exclusions. Use those distinctions to ask better questions; do not assume every listing or older deed used that valuation method. Valuation rules, article 4

An illustrative comparison

These figures are invented for explanation. They do not describe a property or a Finca Claro customer report.

DocumentFigure shownQuestion to resolve
Listing112 m², described as living areaWhich rooms and outside spaces are counted? Where is the calculation?
Nota simple86 m², described as built areaWhat does this description include?
Cadastral information104 m² built, including 18 m² of common partsDoes the remaining 86 m² describe the same unit and measurement basis?
Cadastral plot420 m²Does this describe the whole building’s parcel? What land is included in the sale?

Subtracting 18 from 104 gives 86. That suggests one explanation to investigate. It does not explain the listing’s 112 m² or confirm the measurements. Request the underlying plan and calculation. If the physical area matters to your decision, ask a suitably qualified professional to measure it.

Catastro identifies errors and alterations not yet entered in its records as possible causes of differences. A mismatch alone does not prove an illegal extension. Nor does a larger recorded figure prove that all building work was authorised. Catastro: discrepancies

A pool appearing in Catastro is not a planning-permission document. Cadastral incorporation is a tax procedure. For permission questions, request the relevant municipal records and have the position assessed for that property. Catastro: incorporation procedures

A mortgage entry is not the lender’s current balance

Do not read a mortgage figure as the amount still owed today. Banco de España describes a lender-issued balance certificate for settlement when a buyer does not take over the seller’s loan. Request the figure for the intended settlement date through the professionals handling the transaction. Banco de España: sale with a mortgage

Repaying the loan and cancelling its registry entry are separate steps. If the seller says it has been paid off, ask for the bank’s confirmation and the evidence of registry cancellation. Agree who handles any remaining steps. Banco de España: registry cancellation

A document request you can send

Adapt this text for the seller or agent:

“Before I decide on a reservation payment, please send a recent nota simple and the cadastral description and plan. Please identify the CRU/IDUFIR, cadastral reference and every garage, storage room or other part included in the sale. For differences in area or description, please send the underlying plan or document and explain the calculation. If something is unavailable, please say what is missing and who holds it. Please also confirm the proposed payment and signing deadlines.”

Then ask your adviser: “Which differences remain unresolved, what evidence is still needed, and should any of them change the timing or terms of my commitment?”

The notary provides impartial advice and performs substantial checks, including title, registered charges and cadastral comparison. You can seek advice before signing a private contract. Agree the timing and scope of any separate work you commission for your own questions. Consejo General del Notariado: role and checks

Request a nota simple online or in English

You can request the extract directly from the official registry service, which also offers English translation. That may meet your need if you only require the document and can interpret it. Official ordering service

Finca Claro’s Property Check helps buyers understand the agreed records before a deposit. It explains findings, compares documents and identifies questions that need further evidence. Before ordering, confirm the document set, who obtains it, the responsible reviewer and the delivery terms. The basic report excludes a signed legal opinion, building survey and confirmation of rental permission. It cannot certify that a purchase is safe.

If you already have a lawyer, compare the agreed scope first. Ask whether this comparison and explanation are already included. There is no reason to pay twice for the same work.

Use the records for your next decision

Use the nota simple explainer for individual entries. Organise outstanding questions with the pre-deposit checklist. The property lawyer comparison helps define the work to commission. Read the Property Check scope before ordering a report.

Sources updated 30 September 2026. Ask your lawyer to assess legal questions about your property.

Sources