FAQ
Do I need a boletín (electrical certificate) to sell a flat in Spain?
No, a boletín is not required to sign the sale of a flat before a Spanish notary. But the buyer will need one if the distributor asks for it to put the contract in their name, if they want more power or if the installation is over 20 years old. Having it ready speeds up the sale.
Not for the sale itself
For the sale itself, no. What is compulsory when you sell or rent a home in Spain is the energy performance certificate (certificado de eficiencia energética, Royal Decree 390/2021), a different document issued by a qualified technician. The boletín, or electrical installation certificate (CIE), is not required at the notary’s office.
Why the buyer will ask for it
- Changing the name on the electricity contract: if the boletín is old, the distributor may ask for a new one before making the change.
- More power: if the buyer wants to increase the potencia contratada (contracted power) and the installation does not allow it, a boletín will be needed.
- Peace of mind: an informed buyer knows that an installation with no boletín, or a very old one, may hide work costing several thousand euros.
A flat with an up-to-date boletín sells with fewer doubts.
If your installation is old
You have three options:
- Get a condition report before putting the flat on the market, so you know where you stand. As a rough guide, 70 to 100 euros.
- Make the minimum upgrades and get a new boletín: 100 to 300 euros in many cases.
- Sell without touching anything, telling the buyer, who will factor it into the price.
If you are the one buying
Ask for the boletín and its date. If there is none or it is very old, get the installation checked before signing: you will find out whether it has earthing (grounding), RCDs and suitable cables, and what bringing it up to standard would cost. That information is worth money in the negotiation. We do this in Seville, Spain, as an electrical survey before buying.
Who usually pays
Normally the seller, if they decide to provide it. If you live abroad, it is easier to arrange before handing the keys to an agent than once the flat is on the market.
If you want to sell with your paperwork in order, or know what you are buying, see electrical certificate (boletín) and electrical inspection. Estate agents have their own service on estate agents.
Related services
Electrical certificate (boletín)
The electrical certificate in Spain, known by everyone as the boletín and officially the CIE (certificado de instalación eléctrica), is the document a registered installer company signs to confirm that your installation meets the regulations. You need it to connect the electricity, increase your power or change the account holder with an old installation. We inspect, certify and register it with the Junta de Andalucía in Seville.
Electrical inspection
A home electrical safety inspection in Seville, Spain tells you, with measurements rather than guesswork, what state your home is in: earthing, cable insulation, RCDs, fuse board and cable sizes. You get a report with what is fine, what is worth improving and what is urgent. Ideal before buying, renting or renovating.
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Need an electrician in Seville, Spain?
Call us or send a WhatsApp message with a photo of the job. You get a fixed quote before any work starts.