First Occupation Licence?

Q.

TO register your property for short-term holiday lets under the new Andalucian law, the form to get the licence requires a copy of the First Occupation Licence. I have owned my home for 20 years and I cannot find this licence.

I believe it was issued by the town hall to the builder or developer so he could sell the property. Without it I understand services cannot be connected. Do subsequent purchasers of the property need it?

RP (Costa del Sol)

A.

Properly, yes, the First Occupation Certificate should be available on subsequent sales of the property.

Some municipalities have a Second Occupation Certificate to replace it. However, thousands of long-term Andalucian property owners are in the same situation that you are, without the certificate.

Your solution is to go to your town hall and request a copy of the certificate they originally issued, or a document which can replace it. Different town halls handle it differently, but this is the place to start.

Send your questions for David Searl through lawyers Ubeda-Retana and Associates in Fuengirola at Ask@lawtaxspain.com, or call 952 667 090.