How to Check if a Spanish Tradesperson is Registered and Legitimate
Anyone can call themselves a builder in Spain
There is no single national register that covers every trade, no licence card that every tradesperson carries, and no central database an expat can search in thirty seconds to confirm someone is legitimate. That is the honest starting point, and it is why so many expats on the Costa del Sol end up hiring someone who turns out to be unqualified, uninsured, or both.
The good news is that verification is possible. It just requires knowing which body regulates which trade, what to ask for, and where to look. This guide walks you through it trade by trade.
Why registration matters - and what it actually means
In Spain, certain trades are regulated by law. Electricians, gas engineers, and plumbers carrying out work on fixed installations must hold specific certifications issued by the regional industrial authority (ConsejerÃa de Industria). Builders and contractors involved in structural work must either hold or work under someone with recognised professional qualifications.
Registration is not just a piece of paper. It means the tradesperson has met minimum competency standards, is legally entitled to carry out the work, and can be held accountable by a professional body if something goes wrong. An unregistered tradesperson has none of those constraints, and you have far less recourse if the job goes wrong.
It also affects your insurance. If damage occurs during unregistered work on your property, your home insurance policy may refuse to pay out. That is a risk most expats do not realise they are taking until it is too late.
How to check an electrician's registration in Spain
Electricians in Spain must be registered as an Instalador Eléctrico Autorizado with their regional ConsejerÃa de Industria. In Andalusia, this is managed by the Junta de AndalucÃa. There are two categories:
- Instalador de CategorÃa Básica - authorised for standard domestic electrical work
- Instalador de CategorÃa Especialista - authorised for more complex installations
To verify an electrician, ask for their Carnet de Instalador, their installer certificate, and the name of the company they work for or own. You can then contact the Junta de AndalucÃa's industry department directly to confirm the registration is current. A legitimate electrician will hand over this information without hesitation.
Any electrical work completed by a registered installer should come with a Certificado de Instalación Eléctrica, an electrical installation certificate. If a tradesperson cannot or will not provide this on completion, the work is not compliant.
How to check a gas engineer's registration in Spain
Gas work is tightly regulated in Spain and for good reason. Anyone working on gas installations must hold a Certificado de Instalador de Gas, issued by the regional authority. In Andalusia this is again the Junta de AndalucÃa.
There are several categories of gas installer licence depending on the type and complexity of work. For standard domestic gas appliances and connections, look for a Category A or B licence. Ask to see the certificate and check the expiry date, these licences require periodic renewal and an expired certificate is as useful as no certificate at all.
Never allow unregistered gas work on your property. Beyond the legal exposure, the safety risk is serious.
How to check a plumber's registration in Spain
Plumbing is less tightly regulated than electrical or gas work in Spain, but plumbers carrying out work on drinking water installations or connecting to the mains supply should be registered with their local ayuntamiento or regional water authority.
Ask for their company NIF and check they are registered as an autonomous worker (autónomo) or limited company (sociedad limitada) with the Spanish tax authority. A legitimate plumber operating as a business will be registered and able to provide a proper invoice. Anyone who insists on cash only and cannot produce an invoice is operating outside the system, with all the risks that brings.
How to check a builder's credentials in Spain
General building and construction is where verification gets most complicated, because the term "builder" covers everything from a one-person handyman to a large contractor managing a full renovation project.
For significant structural work, the project should involve a registered arquitecto técnico or aparejador, a technical architect responsible for overseeing the build. These professionals are registered with the Colegio Oficial de Aparejadores, Arquitectos Técnicos e Ingenieros de Edificación (COAATIE). You can verify membership directly with the local colegio.
For smaller building work, at minimum ask for:
- The company name and NIF - then search the NIF on the Agencia Tributaria website (agenciatributaria.gob.es) to confirm they are registered as a business
- Proof of liability insurance - the seguro de responsabilidad civil — with the policy number and expiry date
- Evidence of previous work - references, photographs, or ideally a completed job you can visit
The one check that applies to every trade
Regardless of which trade you are hiring, one check applies universally: ask for their NIF (Número de Identificación Fiscal) and confirm they can provide a proper invoice with it on. A registered business, whether an autónomo or a company, is legally required to invoice for work done and to include their NIF on that invoice.
If a tradesperson cannot or will not provide a proper invoice, they are working in the shadow economy. You have no paper trail, no proof of what was agreed, and no mechanism to pursue them if things go wrong. Cash-only, no-invoice jobs are not a bargain, they are a liability transfer from the tradesperson to you.
What to do if you cannot verify someone
If a tradesperson cannot provide registration details, a certificate, or a NIF, do not proceed. Contact your local ayuntamiento or the relevant ConsejerÃa de Industria and ask how to find a registered professional in your area. Your local OMIC (Oficina Municipal de Información al Consumidor) can also advise.
It is also worth checking expat community groups and forums, not for recommendations, but to search the tradesperson's name and see whether any complaints have been raised. A bad reputation travels fast in expat communities on the Costa del Sol.
The straightforward alternative
Verification takes time, and if you are new to Spain it can feel daunting in an unfamiliar language. SpainTrades does the checking for you. Every tradesperson listed on the platform has been verified, registered, insured, and reviewed by real expat clients after actual jobs. You can search by trade and by location across Málaga and the Costa del Sol, and read what other expats have said before you make contact.
Start your search at www.spaintrades.es
