It is no secret that prefabricated houses have become an attractive alternative for obtaining a home; they are undoubtedly becoming the talk of the town and for good reason.

The innovative designs they have, the quick and easy way in which they can be manufactured and, of course, the cost of their structures, have made this a good option for buying a home.

Of course, like everything else, this type of housing also requires a permit for its construction; otherwise, it is possible to run the risk of being fined for ignorance.

If you are about to opt for a prefabricated house, this content is worth reading. We will let you know all the information you need to be aware of what permits are required when building this type of house.

Permits required for prefabricated houses in Spain

In the context of Spain, the construction of prefabricated residences is regulated by a set of rules and regulations, similar to conventional housing. These provisions are stipulated in the Technical Building Code (Código Técnico de la Edificación, CTE) and the Law on Building Management (Ley de Ordenación de Edificios, LOE). These laws contain a set of requirements and obligations that must be fulfilled when building a prefabricated house, which are detailed below:

The first thing is to have a building project that is endorsed by the College of Architects in which compliance with urban, local and technical regulations must be specified.
Obtain the building licences, building permits, anchoring, certificate of developable land and possess the certificate of habitability.
To be framed within the Urban Development Plan of the locality.
When the prefabricated house is assembled, the application for habitability must be made in order to comply with the urban development permits.
All prefabricated houses must be registered in the land registry and must be up to date with the payment of the taxes established in the locality where it is located.
 

Can I build my prefabricated house on any land?

This is one of the most common questions that people have when thinking about this type of housing. Specifically, to build a prefabricated house you must have urban land, which offers permits and characteristics that allow you to build on it; in addition, you must have access to basic services.

However, this is not a rule, as it is also possible to build on rustic land, although this is not very common, and there are some limitations on the use of the house and its size.

When you choose a plot of land on which to build a prefabricated house, it is essential to be aware of the urban planning specifications for that land, as each locality has its own urban planning and laws governing the way of building, so it is necessary to seek advice from the local town hall.

In this file you will find the specifications of height, metres that can be built and other guidelines that must be considered before starting the construction. Having these permits up to date will prevent you from being considered an illegal dwelling and being penalised.

Do I have to comply with land surveys?

The concrete answer is yes, because before carrying out the construction of any house, whether conventional or prefabricated, it is necessary to have some land studies that will allow you to establish whether it is feasible to build in that space. Some of the studies that must be carried out are:

Geotechnical study: With this type of land study you will be able to determine the characteristics of the land as well as being able to design the foundations needed for the house.
Topographical study: It shows a complete description of the land where the house is going to be built.

Do I need a building permit to build prefabricated houses?

The building permit is not necessary, however, it is compulsory to present the planning permission. This type of permit can cost between 0.5% and 2% of the total cost of the house. At MisterWood, we will advise you on the legal formalities you need to comply with in order to build your prefabricated house.

Do I have to pay taxes to install a prefabricated or modular house?

Yes, it is essential to comply with a series of taxes, starting with the Tax on Construction, Installations and Works (ICIO), which is approximately 4% of the cost of the work.

Another tax you must pay is VAT, bearing in mind that, if you are a private individual who is building your house by your own means, the tax will be 10%, which must be paid month by month until the work is finished.

There is a tax that allows you to declare a new building which means the cost of 1.5% of the final value of the building and is known as the Impuesto de Actos Jurídicos Documentados (stamp duty).

In other cases you can count on the advice of the Technical Control Body (OCT) which determines if the work is being carried out correctly, this is not necessary if it is a self-promotion and the ten-year insurance is not going to be contracted.

Permits that must be processed once the construction of the prefabricated house has been completed

Once the construction of the prefabricated house is finished, some permits must be processed, such as:

Cédula de habitabilidad (certificate of habitability): This procedure allows the certification of all the urban planning permits for the construction site and the project, and also certifies that the house is suitable to be used as a residence. The cost of this permit is minimal and it is not processed in all localities.
First Occupancy Licence: This must be applied for at the local town hall office, and its cost is approximately 1% of the final cost of the work.
Registration of the property: This is a procedure that must be carried out in the same way as any other home. This ensures that the owner can sell or rent the property at a later date, this is a registry that allows anyone to access and know the characteristics of the property or if it has a mortgage.
Supplies: You must register for the different services such as water and electricity, in order to proceed to enjoy them.
Enter to live in a mobile home with Mister Wood
Discover the magic of living in a MisterWood house, where the warmth of wood meets the quality and comfort of a solid and durable construction.

Among all our models you will find the one that best suits your needs and tastes.

In addition, we offer you the services of a professional company so that the only thing you have to worry about is enjoying your new home. 

If you have any doubts, contact us and we will be delighted to advise you!