Discover what the Catastro is and how it works.

Are you a tenant interested in renting a property or, on the contrary, an owner looking to rent or buy? Whether you are a landlord or a tenant, it is essential that you are informed about the Catastro for any queries related to real estate. In this article, we will provide you with all the key information about this administrative body, which reports to the Ministry of Finance.

The Catastro is a valuable source of both economic and referential information on real estate. Knowing its data will allow you to make more informed decisions, optimising time and resources. Below, we explain in detail what the Catastro is and how you can benefit from its use.

What is the Catastro and how does it work?

According to the information provided on its web page, the Real Estate Catastro is defined as an administrative register dependent on the Ministry of Finance, in which rustic, urban and special characteristics real estate is described.

In simpler terms, the Catastro is an extensive public register managed by the Ministry of Finance, which includes the description of all land and buildings (real estate) existing in the country.

It should be noted that this entity does not act in isolation, but complements and operates in parallel with other public registries, such as the Land Registry. However, it is important to clarify that the Catastro does not detail whether a property has encumbrances, such as mortgages or liens.

To find out whether a property is subject to encumbrances, such as mortgages, liens or tax liens, it is essential to consult the Land Registry. This is the only official register that provides accurate information on the legal status of real estate.

The Land Registry is where acts and contracts relating to real estate are registered, while the Urban Catastro provides detailed graphical information on plots of land and buildings.

What types of real estate exist and what information do you keep on each?

Real estate is classified into three main categories:

1. Rustic: These are those mainly destined for agricultural, livestock or forestry activities.
2. Urban: These include land and buildings located in urban areas, such as dwellings, commercial premises, buildings, among others.
3. Special characteristics: These are properties with special characteristics that distinguish them from the two previous categories, such as ports, airports, industrial installations and others with specific characteristics.

For each real estate, the Catastro classifies and registers a series of relevant data, including:

• Location: Exact address of the real estate, including municipality and/or province, among other details.
• Surface area: Indicates the size of the land, property or built-up area, expressed as a figure.
• Catastro reference: A unique code that uniquely identifies each property.
• Catastro value: An estimate of the economic value of the property. Although indicative, this figure does not always coincide with the market value. In another article we have explained in detail how to calculate the cadastral value and the differences with the market value.
• Use: Classification of the use of the property. For example, the use of a private dwelling is different from that of a commercial or industrial building.
• Catastro owner: Natural or legal person who is listed as the owner of the property.

Why is it important to know this entity?

Imagine this entity as an extensive book or register in which the details of every property, be it a flat, finca or any other type of property in the country is stored. Each property has its own dedicated ‘page’ or ‘episode’ detailing all relevant information.

On these pages, key data such as those mentioned above are recorded: location, surface area, physical characteristics, Catastro value, and the registered owner, among others.

This information is fundamental for the correct valuation of the properties and ranges from their location and size to their ownership.

The use of this information is varied and valuable for both owners and tenants, as well as other interested parties. For example, in the case of an inheritance or succession, the Catastro allows you to know which real estate is part of the estate of the deceased, facilitating its distribution among the heirs.

How to use this entity and who regulates it?

The Catastro is regulated by the Texto Refundido de la Ley del Catastro Inmobiliario, approved by the Real Decreto Legislativo 1/2004, de 5 de marzo. Registration in this register is compulsory and free of charge, which distinguishes it from the Land Registry.

In addition, anyone can access the Catastro information of a property free of charge through the Sede Electrónica del Catastro.

The steps necessary to carry out a Catastro enquiry are as follows:

1. Obtain the Catastro reference number: This unique code identifies each property. You can find it in various documents, such as the IBI receipt of the municipality (please note that the bank receipt is not valid), in the title deed of the property or in the Electronic Headquarters of the Catastro .
2. Access the Catastro e-Office: Log in to the web portal and access using your electronic DNI, electronic certificate or Cl@ve PIN.
3. Select the option ‘Consultation of Properties “: In the main menu, look for the section ”Consultation of Properties’ and click on the corresponding link.
4. Enter the Catastro reference number: Add the Catastro reference number of the property you wish to consult and click on ‘Search’.
5. Access the Catastro information: Once the search has been carried out, the system will show you a file with all the Catastro information of the selected property. This information will include data such as size, characteristics, Catastro value, exact location on the property, surrounding dwellings and the registered owner.

Rights of Catastro titleholders in their relations with the Catastro

In their relations with the Catastro, Catastro titleholders enjoy the rights that tax regulations generally grant them.

As can be seen, knowledge of the operation and nature of the Catastro is very useful for making various enquiries. Moreover, this information is beneficial for both owners and tenants, and it is always valuable to know its fundamental aspects.