Catalonia activates mandatory registration for large property owners: are you required to register?
The Catalan government has launched a new portal to report the status of large property owner, a measure that becomes mandatory for certain property owners under the Decree-Law 2/2025 of 25 February, of urgent measures regarding housing and urban planning.
The activation of this registry represents a further step in the Catalan government's policies for controlling and regulating the residential market, particularly in areas considered to have a strained housing market. The main objective of this measure is to improve traceability regarding property ownership and usage, as well as to facilitate the identification of vacant or underutilized properties.
Who is considered a large holder?
The regulations broaden the definition of a large-scale asset holder and no longer limit it exclusively to large investment funds or financial institutions. According to current regulations, individuals and asset-holding companies may also be affected.
Currently, any individual or legal entity that meets any of the following requirements is considered a large property holder:
- To be the holder of 5 or more urban properties for residential use located within an area declared as a stressed residential market in Catalonia.
- Or, have more than 10 dwellings or of a built-up area for residential use exceeding 1,500 m². within Spanish territory, excluding garages and storage rooms.
This point is especially relevant for owners with assets distributed among different companies or with shares in different properties, since the interpretation and calculation of the properties can have direct consequences on the obligation to register.
Mandatory registration
All owners who meet the established conditions must compulsorily communicate their status to the Administration through the new Register of large housing owners of the Generalitat.
The purpose of this register is to allow the Administration to identify potentially empty homes or homes with a use considered inappropriate, thus promoting measures aimed at increasing the available residential supply.
Registration is not voluntary. In fact, the regulations stipulate significant penalties for non-compliance. Failure to submit the required notification may be considered a violation. serious infraction, with fines ranging from €9,001 and €90,000.
For this reason, it is advisable to carefully review the financial situation of each owner and verify if there is a legal obligation to register.
How should the procedure be carried out?
Communication must be carried out exclusively electronically through the portal provided by the Government of Catalonia. To complete the procedure, you must identify yourself using one of the accepted official systems, such as:
- idCAT
- Electronic ID
- Digital certificate
Access to the official procedure can be obtained from the following link:
Once the communication has been submitted, the Administration may incorporate the data into the corresponding register for its monitoring and administrative control.
Source of information
This news item is based on information published by the Barcelona Urban Property Chamber, an entity that has disseminated the details of this new administrative obligation affecting the real estate sector in Catalonia.
📞 Where can I request official information?
For specific queries, doubts about the application of the regulations or assistance related to the registration procedure, the Generalitat recommends contacting the Agència de l'Habitatge de Catalunya, the competent body in housing matters and responsible for the management of this register.
More official information is available at:
👉 https://habitatge.gencat.cat
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