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The language you need to understand a Spanish property advert

Just like in English there is a totally unspoken language used within property adverts in Spain. Graham Hunt, a property expert in Valencia gives the lowdown on the lingo you need when house or apartment hunting.

Published: 16 September 2020 08:35 CEST
Updated: 13 January 2021 11:35 CET
The language you need to understand a Spanish property advert
Photo: AFP

Where in English you need to read between the lines and understand that “bijou”, “compact” and “cozy” all mean “Oh my god never mind a cat you couldn’t even swing a hamster in here” Spanish Property Adverts have their own language and you need to understand it before making any decisions to view.

Therefore below we have ten examples of what to look out for, the actual translation and what they really mean.

“Luminoso” as in “Piso muy luminoso”

Literally it means with a lot of light. The reality is that it means “With a lot of light as long as you turn every light in the flat on even at midday”. Luminoso is another way of saying that you will be living in the equivalent of a cave and will step out blinking into the light whenever you venture outside asking what is that yellow orb in the sky.


A genuinely “muy luminoso” apartment. Photo: Valencia-property.com

 

“Espacioso” as in “Piso muy espacioso”. 

Spacious taken in its literal sense. Small when used in a property advert. Beware of the variable, “Una sensación de espacio”. The only way any property described as such will feel spacious is if you remove all of the furniture, paint it white and add on an extension that effectively doubles the size.

“Con mucho estilo” as in “Un ático con mucho estilo”.

Well style is a matter of opinion of course but I have noticed that every single apartment that claims “con mucho estilo” means that it has a white leather sofa and black shelving units with a large flatscreen television dominating the “espacioso” room.

“Impresionantes Vistas” literally “Incredible views”.

However what this really means is that your view is not blocked out by a brick wall on the other side of the street just yards from your main living room window. When you see “Impresionantes vistas” in an ad think about what an impressive view actually is. As I have said before do you live in the spectacular facade or opposite the good looking building in a plain 70’s block?


A real “Impresionante Vista” In a Spanish city. Photo: valencia-property.com

 

“Reformado” 

You'll know this means modernised of course.  What this usually means is that the flat has been freshly painted and possibly a new cheap Leroy Merlin kitchen has been badly installed. “Completamente reformado” means completely done up in a cheap way of course rather than just the kitchen.

“Ubicación inmejorable”

It means really well positioned (Beware of “bien situado” too). However as we know what is written usually doesn’t really correspond to reality. There is a difference in mindset between the average Spanish person and the usual foreign buyer. “Ubicación inmejorable” will often mean it is above a bus stop, metro stop and a main road and even better above the loud and late opening bar that the current owner works in meaning he never has to go far to get to work. Remember you probably won’t be working there.

“Primeras calidades”

Literally this phrase means “top quality materials”.  However this usually means that the windows are double glazed rather than just single pane and the tiles that were chosen for the bathroom were only the second cheapest available rather than the dog ends of production. It also invariably means that the taps are “Monomando” meaning there is not a separate hot and cold tap. Apparently that is the limit of top quality materials.

“Céntrico”

This means central of course.  However what it really means is, “not really near the centre…. actually half way to the outskirts but we don’t want to tell you where exactly” If an apartment for example is on the main shopping street or the most exclusive residential road the owner will let you know. “Centrico is much too vague.

“Muy cerca del pueblo”


Photo: PMRMaeyaert/CC/ Wikipedia 

 

This literally means “Very near to the town” and just like time, distance is relative. You would assume this means you could amble into town and stroll back to your house in the country after a nice meal and a couple of drinks but what it really means is fill up your tank in the car just in case you run out of fuel on the journey back or more realistically don’t expect to be able to walk home with the groceries because you would die on the side of the road in a trough of heat exhaustion and dehydration.

“Terraza amplia”

Again literally means “Ample or good sized terrace”. However as we know that is not exactly the case. What this means is that you can stand looking out over the street on the balcony and on a good day two of you might be able to stand there. What it does not mean is room for a table and four chairs and room to move around overlooking the Mediterranean. Believe you me if the terrace is a good size in Spain the actual square metre size will be mentioned. Anything into double figures is the usual cut off point for this consideration, ie 10m2 and above. If the words used are “Terraza amplia” expect a balcony…. maybe.

So there you have your dictionary of terms used in Spanish Property Adverts and what they really mean… usually. There may be some agents out there telling the truth but after 15 years doing this job I have never seen a “Luminsoso” flat that actually does have a lot of light and all of those places described as having a “Terraza amplia” have been sore let downs.

Remember to read between the lines.

If there are other typical examples of “estate agent speak” you have noticed let others know in the comments!

Graham Hunt is a real estate agent and relocation expert based in Valencia. Originally from just outside Liverpool he came to Spain as a student and never left. Read more at his blog or follow him on Twitter. If you want him to show you around some properties in Valencia, drop him a line.

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PROPERTY

BBQs, nudity and plants: What are the balcony rules in Spain?

Though many people hang laundry, plants, and flags from their balcony, in Spain the rules on what you can and can't do on 'el balcón' are not well-known.

Published: 8 May 2024 17:13 CEST
Updated: 11 May 2024 08:31 CEST
BBQs, nudity and plants: What are the balcony rules in Spain?

Imagine the scene: you’ve just bought or signed the lease on your dream apartment. It’s bright and airy, with plenty of space, and even has a nice-sized balcony to get some fresh air on. You can do whatever you want there, right? 

Not exactly. In Spain the rules on what you can and can’t do on a balcony (even if it’s private) depend on a few factors, namely the regional and local rules, as well as getting the approval of the building’s homeowner’s association – known in Spain as la comunidad.

Some of them might just surprise you.

READ ALSO: ‘La comunidad’: What property owners in Spain need to know about homeowners’ associations

There are four main things or activities on balconies that could potentially put you on the wrong side of the local rules and even get you fined: barbecues, plants, laundry, and flags.

In all cases (even if you don’t think you’re breaking any rules) you’ll generally need to consider two things: firstly, does this affect or change the building’s façade? And secondly: will la comunidad allow it?

Barbecues

In Spain there is no national law prohibiting barbecues on private property, so in principle it is legal as long as the barbecue is lit in a private space such as your own balcony, garden or terrace, and not a shared space.

Often in Spain, the roof (usually referred to as la terrazza) is a shared space people use for storage and hanging their laundry, so be sure to check with the comunidad.

In terms of your own balcony, however, although there’s no law saying outright you can’t have a barbecue, you’ll need to take into account the rules and regulations in force in each locality or region. There may also be specific rules within the building that long-term homeowners have developed over the years.

As we will see, many of these low-level regulations are delegated to local governments and town halls in Spain, so the answer to these sorts of questions is usually: it depends where you are.

However, according to Article 7 of Spain’s Horizontal Property Law, “the owner and the occupant of the flat or premises are not allowed to carry out in it or in the rest of the property activities prohibited in bylaws, which are harmful to the property or which contravene the general provisions on annoying, unhealthy, harmful, dangerous or illegal activities.”

This basically gives your neighbours the right to complain about noise, smells, smoke and any possible fire risk in or around their building, which barbecues could plausibly fall under.

As with co-living anywhere in the world, regardless of the regional or local rules, employ some common sense: be reasonable, listen to neighbour’s concerns and take up any disputes with the President of la comunidad.

READ ALSO: What you need to know before having a barbecue in Spain

Plants

Again, with plants the responsibility falls on each local authority to set the rules. In Spain, most regions and town halls state that, as long as the architectural or structural elements of the building are not changed or weakened in any way, putting plants on your balcony is permitted.

However, note that many terraces and balconies do have maximum weight regulations that must be respected in order to guarantee their safety, which is 200kg per square metre. If this figure is exceeded (and it can be proved) you could theoretically be fined.

Laundry

Laundry lines criss-crossing the streets might be one of the more picturesque images of Spanish life, but the people doing it might actually be breaking the rules.

How do you know? You guessed it, it depends where you. You’ll need to check with your local authority on this one, though municipal regulations in Barcelona, Madrid and Valencia all regulate hanging laundry from your balcony, which is again outlined in the Horizontal Property Law.

This principally seems to be because it affects the façade of the building (a common theme when it comes to balcony rules in Spain).

In places with rules about hanging laundry from balconies, you could be fined up to 750 euros if you don’t comply with the rules.

However, according to Foto Casa, even if you live in an area where there are no bans or penalties against hanging laundry on the balcony, you’ll still likely need the permission of la comunidad.

READ MORE: Spain’s weirdest laws that foreigners should know about

What about flags?

Whether it be the Spanish flag, the Catalan, Valencian or Andalusian flags, or LGBT, trade union or football team flags, flags proudly hanging from balconies is another mainstay of Spanish life.

It’s also one of the more controversial ones too, especially within comunidad meetings. Hanging flags on the balcony, as well as allegedly altering the aesthetics and security of the building (the same concern as with laundry) often has ideological connotations that can cause conflict.

Again, as with laundry, hanging flags on the balcony will require the approval of all the owners within the community, something that must be agreed at a meeting, as per the Horizontal Property Law.

However, if the flag is placed inside the property, as it is a private property, fellow homeowners cannot oppose it, even if it is visible from the street, according to Foto Casa.

Nudity 

Article of 185 of Spain’s Penal Code only considers being naked at home to be obscene exhibitionism and sexual provocation if it affects minors, in which case it is punishable with a fine or up to a year in prison.

Therefore, you could technically sunbathe shirtless or naked on your balcony in most cases without getting into trouble, although it won’t necessarily go down well with your neighbours and/or flatmates and you be reprimanded for it.

READ ALSO: Can you go shirtless or wear a bikini in the street in Spain?

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