What do the agent, the lawyer and the notary each do?

Buying in Spain brings you into contact with three parties: the agent, the lawyer and the notary. Each has a distinct role. Knowing who does what saves confusion and tells you who to call.

The agent #

The agent helps you find a property and runs the front end of the process. They present properties and arrange viewings, negotiate on price and terms, explain the area and the market, and guide you through the reservation and the first steps.

Worth knowing: estate agency is not always a regulated profession in Spain. The agent usually works for the seller. That is not sinister, it is simply how the market is structured, and it is why independent advice matters.

The lawyer #

The lawyer is there to protect your interests, and is arguably the most important link in the chain. They check ownership, debts and permits, carry out the legal due diligence, draft and review contracts, handle the payments, and can represent you under a power of attorney.

Here is why this matters more than it would at home. In Spain the legal checking does not sit with the notary. It sits with your lawyer. Skip it and you take on risks that cannot be undone afterwards.

The notary #

The notary handles the official completion. They draw up the deed (escritura) and witness its signing, verify identity and authority, and register the transfer.

The important difference from a UK conveyancing solicitor: the notary does not act for you. They confirm that the formalities are correct, not that the deal is sound. Your lawyer does that.

CostaConnectUK tips #

A few things keep the three working smoothly together. Use an agent and a lawyer who are independent of each other. Put every arrangement and fee in writing. Choose a lawyer with real experience of foreign buyers. And make sure you know exactly who is responsible for what.

In short #

The agent helps you find the right property, the lawyer stops you making a mistake, and the notary makes it official. When those three are properly separated, the process is both clearer and considerably safer.