With the completion of a real estate project, it is essential to present the Final Construction Certificate verifying compliance with the regulations. To make sure you comply with all that is requested, it is necessary that you know its characteristics and who must sign it.

Avoid inconveniences in your damage expiration deadlines and other procedures that depend on the date of issuance of the final certificate. The Law of Building Ordinancewhich regulates the terms of guarantees for damages, uses such a certificate as the basis for calculating the validity; therefore, it is essential that you take care of its details.

What is the Final Construction Certificate?

It is a set of documents with which the parties involved in the construction contract, i.e. the project managers, formalize its completion. They must show that they have complied with the provisions of the Building Permit issued by the corresponding municipality.
The same must be signed by the architect in charge of the direction of the work and the technician in charge of the execution. Thus, the validity of the information provided will be guaranteed, which must contain:

• The technical documentation of its development and the standards of good construction; certifying that the quality standards and quantities established for the project have been complied with.
• Complementary technical documentation that explains the instructions for use and maintenance of the installations.
• Description of changes or adaptations made during the start-up of the work, provided that they are compatible with the conditions granted in the initial license.
• Controls and results that have been made during the execution.

This document cannot be signed by an architect, engineer or technician other than the one who executed the work, otherwise it will be invalid. The general regulations will be subject to the legislation of each municipality, so it is essential that you check the requirements in your locality.

What is needed to achieve this?

This certificate is requested at the town hall that granted the Building Permit upon completion of the work. According to the Consejo Superior de los Colegios de Arquitectos de España, these are the requirements for you to be able to present it:

• Building and order book.
• Final construction drawings, including modifications.
• Signatures of the directors, authorized by the association.
• Proof of payment of the corresponding real estate tax, according to the municipality for the type of work.

In order to avoid inconveniences in the approval of the same, it is important to present it within the terms of the license for the execution. The corresponding documentation with the visas of the directors must be gathered and presented at the town hall.

What are the disadvantages of non-compliance with this request?

Failure to comply with or misrepresent any of the above points may result in penalties to the project managers. By signing the certificate, they assume full responsibility for compliance with the regulations for the work.

Likewise, if any incident occurs in the use of the property within the warranty period, the warranty may be invalidated due to inconsistencies in the documentation. The same procedure will be followed if there is no certification of the end of the work.

It is imperative that you have proper legal advice before submitting the requested documentation. The security of your investment depends on its correct issuance, once it begins to be used for the purpose for which it was built.

Any discrepancy with the original project or failures in the documentation will incur penalties to the responsible parties and will always be resolved in favor of the final purchasers. If you want legal advice for your project, do not hesitate to consult with the law firm of Carlos Baño León.