The estate agent works for the seller.
We work only for you.
A full legal package for buying property in Gran Canaria, from the first viewing to the Land Registry — run by an independent lawyer who is also a chartered property administrator and a court-appointed insolvency practitioner. Three professions, one firm, one fixed written quote.
One package, six phases — nothing left to chance
Everything a foreign buyer needs between "I like this apartment" and holding a registered title deed.
1. Pre-purchase due diligence
Before you commit a single euro we verify title and charges at the Land Registry (nota simple), planning status and building licences, and whether the property is occupied or tenanted — plus the community debt certificate under article 9.4 of the Horizontal Property Act.
2. The community audit nobody else offers
We are chartered property administrators as well as lawyers: we read the community of owners' minutes, accounts and budgets BEFORE you sign. Approved-but-unexecuted special levies, community arrears, a pending building inspection (ITE) or ongoing litigation — the costs no estate agent will mention.
3. Paperwork without travelling
We obtain your NIE (foreigner identification number) by power of attorney, assist with opening a Spanish bank account and represent you throughout the process — so you only fly to Gran Canaria if and when you want to.
4. Reservation and deposit contracts
We review or draft the reservation and the arras (deposit) contract and negotiate its terms. Penitential arras let either party walk away at a price; confirmatory arras can force completion. Signing the wrong one is an expensive mistake.
5. Completion, taxes and registration
We accompany you at the notary — or sign for you by power of attorney — then settle the taxes (6.5% transfer tax on resale in the Canary Islands; 7% IGIC plus stamp duty on new builds) and register the deed at the Land Registry.
6. After completion — and beyond
We transfer the utilities into your name, recommend and prepare a Spanish will for non-residents, and handle your non-resident tax position (IRNR, Form 210). If you plan to rent the property out, our rental management team can take over from day one.
What no estate agency will tell you is written in the community's minutes
A special levy approved last year but not yet billed. A community where a third of the owners are in arrears. A building inspection endlessly postponed. None of this appears in the Land Registry or in the standard debt certificate — it lives in the minutes and accounts of the community of owners. We manage communities as chartered property administrators: reading those documents is our daily work, and in this package we read them for you before you sign.
Standard conveyancing vs. the ALY full package
The difference is not the paperwork — it is who the paperwork protects.
| Situation | Standard conveyancing | ALY full purchase package |
|---|---|---|
| Who your lawyer answers to | Often the agent's or the seller's recommended lawyer — a built-in conflict of interest | Fully independent: engaged by you, paid by you, answering only to you |
| Community of owners | Debt certificate requested shortly before completion, nothing more | Minutes, accounts and planned levies audited by chartered property administrators before you sign |
| Deposit contract (arras) | Agent's standard template, signed as-is | Penitential vs confirmatory arras explained, drafted and negotiated in your interest |
| Buying from abroad | You travel to Spain for the NIE, the bank and the notary | NIE, bank account and completion handled by power of attorney — no travel required |
| Seller in insolvency proceedings | Deal abandoned, or risk simply not assessed | Audited by a court-appointed insolvency practitioner: we know exactly what to check |
| Fees | Hourly billing, surprises at the end | Fixed written quote before we start — no surprises |
Buying remotely from abroad
Most of our international clients buy their Gran Canaria property without a single flight before completion.
NIE by power of attorney
We obtain your Spanish foreigner identification number without you travelling — the power of attorney is signed at a Spanish consulate or apostilled in your home country.
Spanish bank account
We assist with opening the account you need for the purchase funds and future bills, and coordinate the bank-certified cheques or transfers for completion day.
Completion without travelling
Under the same power of attorney we sign the deed at the notary on your behalf, pay the taxes and register the property. You receive the keys and the registered deed — from home.
Before you sign anything
Why do I need my own lawyer if there is a notary?
Spanish notaries are impartial officials: they certify the deed, but they do not investigate hidden levies, planning problems or contractual traps, and they do not negotiate for you. The estate agent is paid by the seller. An independent lawyer is the only professional in the transaction whose sole job is to protect the buyer.
What exactly is the community minutes and accounts audit?
The minutes and accounts of the community of owners reveal what a debt certificate never shows: special levies (derramas) approved but not yet billed, heavy arrears, a pending building inspection (ITE) or ongoing lawsuits. As chartered property administrators we read these documents every day — and we audit them for you before you sign.
What taxes will I pay when buying in Gran Canaria?
On resale property, the Canary Islands transfer tax (ITP) is 6.5% of the price. On new builds you pay 7% IGIC (the Canary equivalent of VAT, lower than the mainland 10%) plus stamp duty (AJD). Add notary, registry and legal fees. We give you a complete written cost breakdown before you commit.
Can I buy without travelling to Spain?
Yes. With a power of attorney — which can be signed at a Spanish consulate or before a notary in your country with an apostille — we obtain your NIE, open the bank account, sign the deposit contract and complete at the notary on your behalf. Many of our clients first see their property after collecting the keys.
What happens if the seller or developer is in insolvency proceedings?
Buying from a seller in concurso de acreedores (Spanish insolvency) is possible, but the sale may need court approval and a badly structured purchase can later be clawed back. The head of our firm acts as a court-appointed insolvency practitioner, so we can audit that specific risk instead of walking away from a good deal.
How much does the full package cost?
We work with a fixed written quote issued before we start, based on the property and the scope you need — never open-ended hourly billing. The first consultation is free: tell us about the property and you will receive the quote in writing, with no obligation.
General information, not legal advice. Tax rates cited (6.5% ITP, 7% IGIC) are the Canary Islands rates in force in 2026 and may change; every purchase depends on its own circumstances and no outcome can be guaranteed. Ask us about your specific property — the first consultation is free.
Get your fixed written quote
Tell us about the property you have in mind. English-speaking lawyer, answer within 24 hours, no obligation.