The habitability certificate in Catalunya
It is the document that proves a home meets the minimum conditions to be lived in. After a new build or a major renovation, it is the last step before moving in.
What it is
The habitability certificate (cédula de habitabilidad) is the Generalitat de Catalunya document that proves a home meets the minimum habitability conditions: floor area, ceiling height, ventilation, lighting, services. It is governed by Decree 141/2012 on the minimum habitability conditions of homes and the habitability certificate, and it is processed by the Agència de l'Habitatge de Catalunya.
The three types
| Type | When | What you provide |
|---|---|---|
| First occupation | New-build homes | Completion certificate and the professional’s declaration |
| First occupation for restoration | Major restorations, complete new layouts, changes of use to housing, more homes than before | Completion documents |
| Second occupation | Existing homes that have not undergone a restoration of that scope | Certificate from a qualified professional after visiting the home |
The first-occupation certificate, both for new builds and for restoration, is filed electronically.
After a renovation
This is where the most common confusion lies. If you renovate an apartment and the renovation does not essentially change the home described in its certificate, the second-occupation certificate remains valid until it expires. But if the renovation changes the home substantially (a complete new layout, a change of use to create a home or an increase in the number of homes), you must apply for a first-occupation certificate for restoration.
A typical case: premises or an office that become a home. In CO38, an Eixample apartment that had been used as an office returns to domestic use; in MO23, a craft workshop becomes a three-level house.
A common mistake
You cannot apply for a second-occupation certificate if one is already in force: the application is filed away and the fee is not refunded. Before applying, check whether the home already has a valid one.
In a new build
In a new-build house the sequence is: completion certificate signed by the site supervision team, first-occupation licence when the City Council requires it, and first-occupation certificate. With the certificate you can sign the permanent utility contracts. We explain it in building a house in Sant Cugat del Vallès.
We include it
In the projects we supervise, the completion documents needed for the certificate are part of the work. If you are starting a renovation in Barcelona or a house in Vallès or Girona, the first visit is free.
This article summarises public regulations for information purposes. Every case depends on its plot, its building and the current wording of the rules: check before deciding.
