Developers & investorsEN · NL · DE · ESContact
The Orotava valley in Tenerife seen from above: banana terraces, white houses and church domes of the old town, with snow-free Teide volcano rising behind in clear morning light.
Home · Guides

What buying a home on Tenerife costs

Taxes, notary, registry and lawyer: what comes on top of the price, with two worked examples.

The taxes depend on what you buy

A resale home carries transfer tax (ITP), generally 6,5% of the price in the Canary Islands. Lower rates exist for some main homes.

A new build from a developer carries IGIC instead, generally 7%, plus stamp duty (AJD) of about 1%. IGIC is the Canary Islands’ version of VAT, and it is lower than the 10% VAT on new homes on the mainland. Reduced rates exist for some main homes here too.

Notary, registry and lawyer

Notary and land registry fees follow official tariffs and depend on the price. Together they usually come to between €1.000 and €3.000. An independent lawyer typically charges around 1% of the price, plus IGIC. With a mortgage, add the bank’s valuation, around €400.

Two examples at €400.000

A resale home: transfer tax €26.000, notary €600, registry €600 and lawyer €4.280, for a total of €31.480 on top, or 7,9% of the price.

A new build: IGIC €28.000, stamp duty €4.000, notary €600, registry €600 and lawyer €4.280, for a total of €37.480 on top, or 9,4% of the price.

The calculator on our Buy page does this for any price, and shows the cash you need with a mortgage.

What it costs to own

Every year you pay property tax (IBI) to the town hall and, in a shared building or complex, community fees. Rubbish collection is often billed separately. Each listing shows these costs when we have them.

Non-residents also file a yearly Spanish tax return on the home, even if it is never rented out. Rental income is taxed on top of that. A local accountant can handle this for a modest fee.

This guide explains how things generally work and was last checked in November 2026. It is not legal or tax advice: rules change, and your situation may differ. Have a lawyer or tax adviser confirm what applies to you.

Work it out for your price →

Questions

Are the costs lower on Tenerife than on the mainland?

Often, yes. New builds carry 7% IGIC instead of 10% VAT, and the 6,5% transfer tax is lower than in regions such as Catalonia or Valencia.

Who pays the costs, the buyer or the seller?

The buyer pays the taxes, the registry and most of the notary’s fee. The seller pays the municipal capital gains tax (plusvalía) and their own income tax on the gain.