Nota Simple Mallorca: How to Get Your Land Registry Extract Online

Before you wire a reservation fee for a property on Mallorca, it's worth taking a look at the land registry. The nota simple from the Registro de la Propiedad shows you who is registered as the owner, how large the property is according to the registry, and whether there are any mortgages, liens, or other charges attached to it. You request it online from the Colegio de Registradores, and it usually arrives by email within one working day. This post walks you through the application step by step, explains the document's three sections, and lists the warning signs that should make you stop before you commit to anything. The nota simple is just one piece of the whole buying process, which our guide to buying property on Mallorca covers in full.

The nota simple is an official extract from the Spanish land registry, the Registro de la Propiedad. It lists the registered owner, a description of the property, and any registered charges such as mortgages or liens, but it only has informational value and carries no legal guarantee.

It's not only buyers who order a nota simple. Banks require one before approving a mortgage, heirs need one to register an inherited property in their name, and sellers often order one themselves to give their agent an up-to-date listing.

What's in the Nota Simple

Every nota simple is split into three sections. Titular names the registered owner or owners, and, if there's more than one, their share of the property. Descripcion describes the property itself: location, size, boundaries, and, for an apartment, its share of the common areas. Cargas lists any registered charges, such as mortgages, liens, rights of way, or usage rights.

The nota simple doesn't prove that the seller is actually entitled to sell, and it won't show any charges that haven't been registered yet. Before the deed is signed, the notary always pulls his own up-to-date nota simple for the final check, as described in our post on the notary appointment in Spain.

How to Request a Nota Simple Online: Process, Cost, Timing

You apply directly through the Sede Electronica of the Colegio de Registradores. For the simple online request you don't need a digital certificate, just a working email address the document can be sent to.

At 9 to 11 EUR, the nota simple is a small expense compared to the rest of the buying costs. For a full overview of ITP, notary, and gestoria fees, see our guide to property purchase costs on Mallorca.

Three Warning Signs to Check Before Paying a Reservation Fee

Three things in the nota simple deserve a close look before you pay any reservation fee.

1. An anotacion de embargo in the Cargas section means a court or the tax authority has seized the property over the owner's debts. Unless that entry is cleared first, you won't be able to register the property in your name free of charges later, even if the notary certifies the sale.
2. If the size listed in the nota simple doesn't match the size in the Catastro extract from the Sede del Catastro, that often points to an unregistered renovation or extension. The difference is worth checking against the building permit before you agree on a price.
3. If a visible extension, pool, or garage has no matching obra nueva entry in the land registry, that part of the property hasn't been legally recorded yet. That can cause problems later with a resale or a mortgage, and it should be resolved before you reserve, with a local lawyer if needed.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is a nota simple valid? Officially it has no expiry date, since it only reflects the status at the time it was pulled. But banks and notaries generally only accept a nota simple for a purchase or mortgage if it's no more than three months old.

Can I request the nota simple directly from the Registro de la Propiedad? Yes, you can also request it in person or by mail from the relevant Registro de la Propiedad. Applying online through the Sede Electronica is usually faster and cheaper.

Is the nota simple enough on its own to buy safely? No. It tells you about the owner, size, and charges, but it doesn't replace the checks a notary and lawyer carry out, for example on building permits, inheritance issues, or outstanding community fees.

What does it cost to have a gestor or lawyer order the nota simple for you? The authority itself charges around 9 to 11 EUR. A gestor or lawyer typically adds a fee of their own, usually 20 to 50 EUR, in exchange for handling the search and review for you.

Conclusion

The nota simple is the fastest way to check, before you pay a reservation fee, whether the seller is really the owner and whether there are any mortgages or liens on the property. For around 10 EUR and within one to two working days, you get clarity on the owner, size, and charges. If the extract shows an anotacion de embargo, a size mismatch with the cadastre, or a missing new-build registration, it's worth talking to a local lawyer or notary before your next payment. After that, nothing stands in the way of the next step in the buying process.