Real estate

Energy label creates a schism between the professions

El Mundo, Juanjo Bueno, 26 February - Like water in May. Thus The final approval of the Royal Decree that will make it compulsory for all homes or premises rented or sold in Spain to have an energy certificate is awaited by professionals in the energy and real estate sector. 

Not in vain, thousands of jobs are expected to be created in the coming years to adapt this European regulation to the nearly two million properties that will be affected. But after years of delay, and when it seemed that the government was going to give the green light to the Draft RD in January, the lack of foresight forced the Ministry of Industry to submit a third draft to the Council of State on 31 January.

In this document, which awaits the opinion of this consultative body before being presented and approved by the Council of Ministers, there are two significant novelties: the date from which the 'energy label' will be enforceable, which has been updated to 1 June 2013and the definition of the qualifications required to issue and sign these certificates, being reduced to architects and engineers, both higher and technical.

Real estate

The sale and purchase of homes reaches the highest figure in six years

20minutos.es, Europa Press, 29 August - The sale and purchase of flats and houses has reached its highest level since 2011. According to the registrars, the number of property sales registered in the land registries reached 119,408. in the second quarter of the year. This figure is 10.7 % higher than in the same period of 2016 and the highest since 2011. Compared to the previous quarter, housing sales and purchases grew by 5 1Q03Q.

According to data from the real estate statistics of the Spanish Association of Registrars, in the last twelve months, the number of home sales and purchases totalled 429,624 transactions, which represents a rise of 11.9 1Q03Q and the highest year-on-year figure in the last six years. By type of housing, new home transactions fell by almost 2.1 1Q03Q compared to the first quarter, with 20,065 transactions, in contrast to the 99,343 transactions of used homes, the highest figure in ten years and 6.5 1Q03Q higher than in the previous quarter.

According to the registrars, in the second quarter, 13.1 % of registered sales and purchases were made by foreigners, with 15,600 operations, while on a year-on-year basis the proportion of transactions made by non-Spanish nationals stood at 13.2 %, remaining stable at record highs, with some 56,600 purchases per year.

Real estate

Default insurance: does it prevent rent arrears?

The economic crisis resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic is wreaking havoc on family economies. One of the main problems it is generating is the inability of some families to cope with rent payments. As a solution, an increasing number of landlords are opting for take out default insurance to avoid late payments.

This relatively new type of insurance has been undergoing a period of increases from 2019%, when they increased by 35 % according to data from the Observatorio Español del Seguro de Impago de Alquiler (OESA) (Spanish Rent Default Insurance Observatory)but in the pandemic season, recruitment has doubled, to the extent that the OESA estimates that in 2021 the 30 % of new rental contracts will include default insurance.

"The COVID-19 crisis has made landlords feel more insecure about possible non-payment."explains Emiliano Bermudez, deputy director general of donpiso. "The volatile context in which we live also makes it very difficult to foresee future delinquencies," he reasons.

For this reason, the expert believes that the best option to avoid situations of default is to take out these default insurances. "It's the best way to make sure that the money is going to arrive.This is the trend that society is following", says Emiliano Bermúdez, who adds that "it is the trend that society is following".

How does default insurance work?

"The insurance against non-payment of rental covers the rent agreed at the time of signing for up to 12 months of non-payment".explains Emiliano Bermúdez. In this way, the landlord secures his monthly rent and avoids situations of default by the tenant.

In addition to non-payment, these insurances offer other coverage. "Once insurance has been taken out," says Emiliano Bermúdez, "it is common to add protection for damage to the home or theft. Which in turn are the main cause of litigation between the landlord and the tenant," he adds.

For the expert, taking out insurance also has benefits for the tenant, as it provides financial relief in the event of not being able to meet the costs of the rent. rent payments. "With comprehensive coverage, the tenant avoid possible unpleasant situations. Like getting on the list of defaulters or even being evicted."He believes.

"Default insurance is a very convenient tool".he thinks. And he predicts that in the future there will be more and more policies in the rental sector. "Just like car insurance, for example, are likely to become a necessary condition for renting over time.", he ventures.

Real estate

Six reasons why build to rent is the future of real estate

Half of all new-build homes bought in 2020 have private outdoor spaces, according to AEDAS Homes' 2020 New Home Buyer Profile. This annual study, heavily marked by the COVID-19 pandemic, highlights a clear trend: buyers want homes with outdoor spaces and larger spaces after months of confinement.

The AEDAS Homes study shows that during the past year 2020, 21.8% of its customers bought a flat with a terrace; 11%, penthouses; 10.7%, detached homes; and 6.4%, ground floor apartments with a garden. In total, almost 50% of buyers opted for homes with outdoor spaces, a quality of AEDAS Homes homes that has become a priority in the market. This percentage is nearly three points higher than in 2019 (47%).

In addition, buyers also opted for homes with more rooms. The report shows that many of those who previously owned a home with one or two bedrooms (the so-called replacement demand) now prefer homes with more rooms. AEDAS Homes sales show that 77% of the transactions it closed in 2020 were for homes with three or more bedrooms, six points more than in 2019.