Asbestos certificate in Catalonia: owner's guide (Law 8/2026)

What does Law 8/2026 on asbestos say?

Llei 8/2026 of 2 July on the eradication of asbestos in Catalonia requires a certificate of presence or absence of asbestos when a property is sold or rented. It was published in the DOGC no. 9699 on 3 July 2026 and came into force three months later, on 3 October.

Article 21.2 says the certificate must be handed over when a property is sold or rented. Article 5.d gives the buyer or tenant the right to obtain it.

Does the asbestos certificate apply to me?

Yes, if you sell or rent a property in Catalonia. This table summarises the most common cases and their status.

Was my property built before 2002?

The Catalan Waste Agency (ARC) applies the certificate to properties built before 2002, because marketing asbestos materials was banned from that year. However, the text of the law does not set that year, and representatives of the Registrars' Association understand that it applies to all properties.

What to do: check the year of construction in the Cadastre (Catastro). If it is before 2002, the Agency requires the certificate. If it is later, its current criterion is that it does not, but that criterion may change when the regulation is approved. We review the year, any renovations and the criterion in force on the date of your transaction.

When do you need the certificate?

According to the Catalan Waste Agency, for now it is enough to have the certificate before the rental contract or the sale deed is signed. It does not need to be shown in the listing.

Our practical advice is to order it before you start marketing. A certificate ready in advance avoids last-minute delays in a sale or a tenant move-in.

What does the asbestos certificate include?

Until the regulation exists, it must show at least the visible asbestos, the condition of the materials and the risk to people (art. 21.3).

• It covers the individual unit in the transaction (home, office or premises), not automatically the building's common areas (FAQ §11). If several units are sold or rented, one document can cover them if each one is identified and inspected (FAQ §40).
• The Agency's basic model is an in-person visual inspection, with no samples or laboratory analysis. The technician must visit the property.
• A certificate based only on photos or a video call does not fit that model. The press has warned about unreliable offers of this kind.
• The building inspection (ITE) does not replace the certificate.

Who issues the certificate, what does it cost and how long does it last?

Who. Today architects, technical architects, engineers and technical engineers can issue it, within their competences (Llei 38/1999). There is not yet an accreditation or a specific register of professionals for issuing the certificate. Final provision 1(d) assigns to the regulation the task of setting who is competent to issue it, so what the Agency says today may be refined once it is approved.

Price. There is no official price. Quotes published by the sector range from €120 to €500 + VAT, and for an apartment the usual range is €150 to €300 + VAT. These are market references, not tariffs.

Lead time. It depends on the technician. Ask when hiring how soon the certificate will be delivered after the visit, so a delay does not cost you a transaction.

Validity. The Agency has not set a validity period. It confirms that the same certificate can be used in successive rental contracts if the property has not changed. For successive sales it is not expressly regulated. Forecast, unconfirmed: the regulation may set a time limit.

What happens if the certificate finds asbestos?

It does not stop you selling or renting. Asbestos in good condition does not block the transaction.

• If the certificate shows asbestos is present, additional provision 7 provides that it is recorded in the Property Registry when an onerous transfer of ownership is registered. The record includes the certificate and any subsidies obtained under article 26, under the contaminated-land rules.
• The certificate tells the buyer where the asbestos is, so any future works are carried out by an authorised company.

What happens if the certificate is not delivered?

Not delivering it is a minor offence (arts. 53.c and 54.1.a), with a fine of €100 to €3,000, payable by whoever must deliver it.

• The sanctions chapter comes into force when the corresponding decree is approved. Under final provision 7, until then the general environmental sanctions rules apply, so the exact amount depends on that decree.
• The bands of €3,001 to €30,000 and €30,001 to €100,000 are for serious and very serious offences. They are not the ones for failing to deliver the certificate.

If you are selling: what do notaries and registrars say?

The law does not expressly regulate what effect a missing certificate has on the deed, as the Catalan Waste Agency acknowledges. What exists are professional positions, which are worth distinguishing from the law:

• The Catalan Notaries' Association warns that not having it when signing will be a breach and may lead to an administrative penalty.
• Registrars say the certificate will be mandatory to register onerous transfers, but that its absence at signing does not prevent providing it afterwards. They accept signing in urgent cases with a commitment to deliver it after signing.
• Some notaries warn of a risk of the registry refusing to register. This is a professional warning, not a statement in the law.

What we do: we advise having the certificate before signing the arras (deposit agreement), and always before the deed. If the arras are already signed, or the deed is after 3 October, the timeline depends on your transaction and we coordinate it with the notary. See also our guide to the documents needed to sell.

If you are renting: what is the role of managers and agents?

Article 12 requires property administrators and other related professionals within the scope of the law to:

• tell owners and the Catalan Asbestos Census about the presence of asbestos;
• ensure that owners deliver the certificate to the buyer or tenant, and help them obtain it;
• inform them about grants and subsidies available for asbestos management and removal;
• cooperate with the authorities on awareness and inspections.

The Agency adds that when a company manages a property, what counts is the functions it has been given and its actual involvement in the transaction (FAQ §43). The owner is the one who ensures compliance.

• If you rent on your own, the certificate is your responsibility.
• If you rent through an administrator or manager, they should help you obtain it and include it in the contract.
• The rules do not say whether agents and seasonal-rental managers fall under “other related professionals”: it depends on each one's specific functions. That is why, in every rental, we put in writing who obtains and delivers the certificate.

More in our guides to rental management and the tourist licence.

Which points depend on your case?

The law is new and its regulation is not yet approved, so several points allow more than one reading. The right answer depends on your property, your transaction and the dates. This is where we help most.

What comes next. Final provision 1 requires the Government to approve the regulation within one year of the law's approval. Among other things it must set the characteristics of the certificate and who is competent to issue it. Meanwhile, keep a written record of what was requested and what was delivered. Forecast, unconfirmed: it is reasonable to expect the regulation to clarify the scope by year of construction, the official model and the authorised technicians. We will update this guide when anything changes.

Your roadmap

1. Check the year of construction in the Cadastre (Catastro).
2. Define your transaction: sale, long-term rental, seasonal or tourist rental.
3. Request a quote from a qualified technician and confirm they will make an in-person visit.
4. Keep the certificate and hand it over before the contract or deed is signed.
5. Include it in the contract (rental) or in the sale file.
6. If you already have contracts in force, note the renewal dates and follow the criteria as they appear.

How we can help

At Villas Mondragón, in Sitges, we review your case and make sure the certificate does not delay your transaction. We can:

• Review with you whether your property is affected.
• Request quotes from qualified technicians and coordinate the visit.
• Include the certificate in the rental contract or the sale file.
• Bring into the team whoever your case needs: technicians, lawyers and tax advisers we trust and work with regularly. Each professional is independent and quotes you directly.