legal

What are community rules and can they affect my property use?

Community rules (estatutos de la comunidad) govern how properties within a community of owners are used and managed.

They can significantly affect your property use, including restrictions on: short-term holiday rentals (many communities in Spain have banned or restricted them), pet ownership, noise levels, modifications to external appearance, use of communal areas, parking, and business activities.

The rules are legally binding on all owners.

Before purchasing, your lawyer should obtain and review the community statutes and recent meeting minutes to identify any restrictions that could affect your plans.

Community decisions are made at annual general meetings where votes are proportional to each owner's participation quota (cuota de participación).

Some changes require unanimous agreement, others a simple majority.

WOW-Estates advises buyers to understand community rules before committing to a purchase.