Keys handover sounds like the simplest part of buying a Spanish property — until you realise nobody actually specified when, how, or from whom.
When it typically happens
Keys are usually handed over at or shortly after the notary signing, once the deed is executed and the seller has confirmed receipt of payment. The precise timing, though, is a matter of what buyer and seller agreed in the purchase contract, not a fixed legal rule.
Who actually manages the handover
Rather than an informal, direct exchange, it is common for the estate agent or the parties’ respective lawyers to coordinate the handover — particularly useful when the buyer is not physically present and is represented under a power of attorney.
Change the locks — immediately
Changing the locks on the day of taking possession, or within the first week at the latest, is standard practice. There is no reliable way to know how many sets of keys already exist or who has held copies over the property’s history.
If the seller cannot hand keys over personally
The handover can go through the estate agent or another nominated representative, but it should be clearly documented as part of the completion process — so there is a clear record of exactly when possession transferred, which matters if any dispute arises later.
Keys are possession, not full legal completion
Holding the keys means you have possession of the property, but it is registration of the deed at the Land Registry afterwards that gives you full legal protection as the recorded owner — a related but separate step in the process.
Call us today on +34 919 499 342 or email marialuisa@costaluzlawyers.es to make sure your keys handover and completion paperwork are properly coordinated.
Frequently Asked Questions
When are the keys actually handed over?
Normally at or shortly after the notary signing, once the deed is executed and payment is confirmed — though the exact moment depends on what buyer and seller agreed in the purchase contract.
Should the keys change hands directly between buyer and seller?
It is common for the estate agent or the parties’ lawyers to coordinate the handover rather than an informal exchange, particularly when the buyer is represented by power of attorney and is not physically present.
Should I change the locks after taking possession?
Yes — changing the locks on the day of possession, or within the first week at the latest, is standard practice, since there is no way to know how many sets of the existing keys exist or who holds them.
What if the seller is not present to hand over keys personally?
The handover can be arranged through the estate agent or a nominated representative, provided it is clearly documented as part of the completion process so there is no dispute about when possession actually transferred.
Does receiving the keys mean the purchase is fully finalised?
Receiving the keys means you have possession, but registering the deed at the Land Registry afterwards is what completes your full legal protection as owner — the two are related but distinct steps.
Taking possession is not the end of the process — see the post-completion obligations a Spain property buyer must handle next.
This content has been prepared with the assistance of artificial intelligence and reviewed by María Luisa de Castro, a lawyer specialising in Real Estate Law and founder of CostaLuz Lawyers.
The information provided is general and indicative in nature. It should not be used as the sole basis for making professional, legal or investment decisions, and CostaLuz Lawyers assumes no responsibility for decisions taken solely on the basis of this content.
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