ES · Expiry & renewal tracking
Know when the seguro decenal cover ends
Buildings in Spain whose main use is housing must have property damage insurance, surety insurance or a financial guarantee covering structural damage from defects in foundations, supports, beams, slabs or load-bearing walls for ten years (Article 19.1.c and second additional provision of Law 38/1999).
Those involved in building work are liable for ten years for physical damage to the building caused by defects that affect the foundations, supports, beams, floor slabs, load-bearing walls or other structural elements and directly compromise its mechanical strength and stability. The period runs from the date the work was accepted without reservations, or from when the reservations were resolved (Article 17.1.a of Spain's Building Act, Law 38/1999, LOE).
For such damage the Act provides for property damage insurance, surety insurance or a financial guarantee covering compensation for ten years (Article 19.1.c). It is mandatory for buildings whose main use is housing (second additional provision, section one). It is not required of an individual self-builder of a single detached house for their own use; but if they transfer it within the ten years, unless otherwise agreed, they must take out the guarantee for the remaining time, unless they prove they have used the home and the buyer expressly waives it.
In property damage insurance the policyholder is the developer, and the insured are the developer and subsequent purchasers (Article 19.2.a). The premium must be paid on acceptance of the work (Article 19.2.b), the minimum sum insured is 100 per cent of the final cost of construction, including professional fees (Article 19.5.c), and once in force the contract cannot be cancelled by mutual agreement before the ten years have passed (Article 19.4). Deeds declaring a new building are not authorised or registered without proof of the guarantee (Article 20.1).
At a glance
| What it covers | Physical damage from defects in structural elements that compromise strength and stability (Article 19.1.c) |
|---|---|
| Duration | Ten years (Article 19.1.c); liability runs from acceptance of the work (Article 17.1.a) |
| Mandatory for | Buildings whose main use is housing (second additional provision) |
| Policyholder and insured | Policyholder: the developer; insured: the developer and subsequent purchasers (Article 19.2.a) |
| Time to claim | Claims are time-barred two years after the damage occurs (Article 18.1) |
| New-building deeds | Not authorised or registered without proof of the guarantee (Article 20.1) |
Who is responsible?
The developer takes out the guarantee and may agree that the builder is the policyholder on its behalf (Article 19.2.a of the LOE). If mandatory guarantees are not taken out, the party obliged to take them out is personally liable (Article 19.7). For owners and property managers, the key date is when the ten years end.
If the deadline passes
The guarantee covers the ten-year period in Article 19.1.c. Damage must be claimed in time, because claims become time-barred two years after the damage occurs (Article 18.1). Unless otherwise agreed, the guarantee does not cover, among other things, damage from misuse or lack of maintenance or from work carried out after acceptance (Article 19.9).
Why record the end of cover
The mandatory guarantee for structural damage covers ten years (Article 19.1.c). Inspecting the building before they end helps find damage within that period, and any damage must be claimed within two years of appearing (Articles 17.1.a and 18.1 of the LOE).
Tracking it with ExpirySuite
- Add each building or development with the end-of-cover date shown on the policy.
- Email reminders arrive 60, 30, 14, 7 and 1 day before and on the day itself. If you want to inspect the building with more notice, create a separate entry with an earlier date.
- Assign a responsible person, such as the property manager or the developer; emails arrive in each recipient's language.
- If a date passes, managers get further reminders 3, 7 and 14 days later.
Frequently asked questions
- How long does the seguro decenal last?
- Ten years (Article 19.1.c of the LOE). Liability for structural damage runs from the date the work was accepted without reservations, or from when they were resolved (Article 17.1.a).
- Is it mandatory?
- Yes, for buildings whose main use is housing. It is not required of an individual self-builder of a single detached house for their own use, with special rules if they transfer it within the ten years (second additional provision).
- Who takes out the insurance?
- The developer is the policyholder; the insured are the developer and subsequent purchasers (Article 19.2.a).
- How long do I have to claim for damage?
- Two years from when the damage occurs (Article 18.1).
Sources
Last checked: Sep 30, 2026 · This page summarises official sources for general information and is not legal advice. Check the linked sources for current rules and fees.
Made for 10-year structural defects insurance (seguro decenal) (Spain)
A ready template for 10-year structural defects insurance (seguro decenal) (Spain) with sensible validity defaults, so you enter less and track more.
Reminders on time
Email alerts at 60, 30, 14, 7 and 1 day before each 10-year structural defects insurance (seguro decenal) (Spain) expires, plus overdue escalation to managers.
Assign an owner
Give each 10-year structural defects insurance (seguro decenal) (Spain) an owner and let employees update their own via a secure link — no login needed.