Nerja · Property law · International clients
Your property lawyer for Nerja
Buying, selling or planning changes to a home in Nerja? Understand the legal position before you commit.
You can contact us before choosing a property, including from abroad.
Velasco Lawyers helps international clients with property purchases, sales, renovations and extensions in Nerja. We bring together independent legal advice and a local architect’s assessment where planning or technical questions need to be resolved.
An independent Spanish law firm founded in 1993, serving Nerja from our office in nearby Almuñécar.
Your property, your next step
Legal support from the first offer
to the next chapter.
The right enquiries depend on whether you are buying, preparing to sell, or changing a property you already own.
Know what you are buying
We investigate ownership, charges, contracts and the property’s documented position. Where alterations or development potential matter to your purchase, we coordinate the legal enquiries with a local architect’s technical assessment.
Discuss a purchasePrepare before a buyer asks
We help you prepare the legal documentation, review sale terms and address questions that may hold up completion. Tell us about extensions, enclosed terraces or other changes so that gaps in the paperwork can be investigated early.
Plan your saleCheck the potential first
For a renovation, extension or new building, we help establish the legal questions and work with a local architect on the current planning and technical position before you rely on a proposed design.
Understand the checksFor the wider purchase and sale process, see our Spanish property-law services.
Why the address matters
One town.
Different planning questions.
A house in Nerja’s historic streets can raise different issues from a villa in a residential development. A neighbourhood name alone cannot tell you what may be built or changed.
Nerja’s historic streets
The published plan has distinct historic-centre provisions for Nerja and Maro. They consider the relationship between buildings, street frontages and internal patios or gardens.
For your property: before relying on plans to alter a façade, roof, building depth or courtyard, establish the mapped planning area and any protection affecting the building.
Other residential areas
Nerja also has different provisions for attached and detached housing. An extension that appears possible on a neighbouring plot may not be available on yours.
For your property: the architect checks the applicable plot and building conditions; we investigate permissions and the legal documentation for the existing house and additions.
Maro and the surrounding landscape
For properties towards Maro–Cerro Gordo, the exact location may bring separate natural-area or landscape protections into the assessment. These controls do not apply in the same way to every property in Nerja.
For your property: check the relevant boundaries and restrictions for the address and intended works before assuming development potential.
Renovation, extensions and building records
Permission to build.
Paperwork that reflects the building.
These are connected questions, but they are different checks. A contractor’s description of the job does not settle either one.
Obra mayor and renovation works
New construction, extensions and structural alterations can require a technical project and the appropriate municipal authorisation. The scope of the work determines the route. Calling a job obra menor (minor works) does not automatically mean that no project or other permission is needed.
Licence or declaración responsable?
The applicable procedure depends on the works, the property and current rules. Some work may follow a responsible-declaration procedure rather than a prior licence, but that is not a general exemption from planning requirements or any other consent that applies.
Declaración de obra nueva
This is the formal declaration of a building or extension for its deed and Land Registry record. It is a separate question from permission to carry out the works. Recording a building does not, by itself, make unauthorised work lawful.
Two questions worth asking early
“Can I add a roof terrace or another room?”
Have the specific proposal assessed before the purchase depends on it. Existing appearance, neighbours’ alterations or an agent’s description are not confirmation of permission.
“The extension is there, but the documents differ.”
Differences between the building, deeds, Land Registry and Cadastre need investigation. We identify the legal enquiries and coordinate any technical work needed to understand the position.
People you can speak to
A Spanish legal team.
A clear conversation.
Maria Teresa Velasco provides the firm’s legal leadership. She is bilingual in Spanish and English, with an understanding of Swedish, Danish and French.
Our team can assist in English, Swedish, Danish, French and Spanish. Emmy coordinates our Scandinavian department, and Rebecca supports English–Spanish communication and client services.
Meet Velasco LawyersFrom a property client · Google review
“Their service has been very professional, efficient and helpful.”
Start with your plans
Tell us about your
Nerja property.
You do not need a complete file to make the first enquiry. Tell us whether you are buying, selling or planning works, and mention any offer, deposit or completion deadline.
- We review your enquiry.Share the location and a short outline of what you need.
- We clarify the next steps.Our team discusses the legal questions and whether technical input is needed.
- We explain the proposed work and fees.You can decide how to proceed with a clear scope.
Prefer to speak to us?
+34 958 630 114[email protected]WhatsApp +34 687 307 756Monday–Friday, 09:00–14:00, Spain mainland time. For a time-sensitive matter, please call during office hours.
Your first enquiry
How can we help?
A short outline is enough. All fields are required unless marked optional.
Our team will review your message and contact you to discuss how we can help.
Before you get in touch
Your questions,
answered.
Do you have an office in Nerja?
Our office is in Almuñécar. We assist clients with properties in Nerja and work with local architects when planning and technical input is needed. You can begin by phone, email or the enquiry form.
Can you help before I pay a deposit?
Yes. Contact us before signing or paying so that we can discuss the proposed terms and the enquiries your purchase needs. If you have already paid or signed, tell us what has been agreed and any deadlines.
Can I buy or sell while living abroad?
You can start the process from abroad. We will explain the documents and identification needed and discuss whether a power of attorney would be appropriate for your circumstances.
Can you confirm whether I can extend a particular house?
That requires the address, the proposal and current property-specific checks. We coordinate the legal enquiries with a local architect’s assessment; the relevant authority determines any permission required.
Can you help with inheritance as well as property transactions?
Yes. The firm also advises on wills and inheritance and wider Spanish legal matters. Tell us if your proposed sale or purchase involves an inherited property.