Do you need a housing adequacy report for a family reunification or another immigration procedure in Spain? The housing adequacy report — in Spanish, the informe de adecuación de vivienda, and sometimes called the adequate housing certificate or housing suitability report — is a document that certifies your home meets the conditions needed to accommodate your household for the relevant immigration file. It is most commonly required for general-regime family reunification, and it is governed by article 67.2 of the new Immigration Regulation (Real Decreto 1155/2024, in force since 20 May 2025).
This page explains, in plain English, what the report is, who needs it, which authority issues it, what is checked, the documents you’ll need, the deadlines that matter, and how long the report stays valid — so you can prepare properly and avoid delays. If you want support, Lexmovea can help you assemble a consistent file and get you ready for the appointment or inspection.
Who needs it
The report is for people legally resident in Spain who must show their home can adequately house their family for an immigration procedure. The most common situations:
- Family reunification: bringing a spouse or partner, children, or dependent parents to Spain under the general regime. See our page on family reunification in Spain, where this report is part of the file.
- Renewal of a reunification permit — but only if you have changed address since the last authorization. If you have not moved, the report is generally not required again.
- Regularization of minors not born in Spain (and, in some communities, adult children with a disability) who are in Spain with a legally resident parent.
- Other cases where the Immigration Office specifically requests proof of adequate accommodation.
What the report is, and who issues it
The report certifies that a specific home is suitable to house the applicant and the family members included in the file — confirming it meets basic habitability and space conditions for the declared household. It is issued by social services of the place where you live: in most cases the Autonomous Community, or the City Council (Town Hall) where the community has delegated the task. The Basque Country, for example, issues it through its immigration directorate rather than the town hall.
This is exactly where many applicants get stuck: they know they need the report, but not which authority is competent or what the local appointment and inspection workflow looks like. Confirming the right body for your address before you request an appointment or pay any fee is the quickest way to avoid wasted time.
What is checked
Criteria vary by community, but the assessment — often including a home visit — focuses on whether the property suits the declared household. In practice that means:
- Habitability basics: a functional living space, sanitation and hygiene, ventilation, and active basic utilities. Have the home in normal “lived-in but organized” condition and key documents to hand.
- Occupancy vs. space: the report links how many people will live there to the home’s rooms and usable space. Because minimum thresholds differ locally, the safest approach is a clear, consistent declaration of who will live in the home, backed by your lease or deed and the census.
- Room use: the number of rooms and what each is used for, which feeds directly into the overcrowding assessment.
Most delays are avoidable. The usual triggers are a census (padrón) that does not include everyone who actually lives there, a rental contract without a clear term or without the landlord’s authorization where needed, mismatches between rooms, square metres, and real occupancy, or simply missing or outdated documents. Aligning the facts across every document is the single most effective way to reduce delays.
Documents you’ll need
Exact requirements vary by administration, but most applicants go through two stages. Preparing everything in advance is the easiest way to speed things up.
To start the process
- The official request form for your community or town hall.
- Proof of payment of the corresponding fee, where one applies.
For the interview or home visit
- DNI or NIE of the applicant (original and copy).
- Passport of the family member to be reunited (copy).
- An up-to-date collective census certificate (empadronamiento) that includes everyone living in the home.
- Title to the property: lease agreement or deed of sale (original and copy).
- Recent utility bills (electricity, water, gas).
- In some communities, photographs of the rooms, and for minors abroad, proof of the legal guardian’s authorization.
Renting, owning, or sharing
If you rent, the file relies on the lease and proof of lawful occupancy, with rent receipts or the landlord’s authorization where needed. If you own, the deed (or a registry nota simple) and recent utilities show the home is in active use. Shared flats and room rentals are the high-friction case: be ready to show who holds the main lease, how occupancy is structured, and that your right to live there and the household size are clearly documented. The key risk is inconsistency — if the paperwork does not clearly support both your occupancy and the number of people living there, the process slows down.
Process and timeline
- Confirm you need it and identify the competent authority for your address.
- Prepare the file so documents are current, consistent, and aligned with the household you will declare.
- Request the appointment and pay the fee where required.
- Attend the interview or home visit, presenting originals and copies as requested, with the home and documents matching the declared occupancy.
- Receive the report, or proceed with alternative proof if it is not issued in time (see below).
The administration has a maximum of 30 days from your request to issue and notify the report (article 67.2 of RD 1155/2024). In practice, appointment availability and workload affect the real timeline. Many applicants search for a “same-day” report, but the authority’s availability is the limiting factor — what you can genuinely speed up is your own preparation: an inspection-ready home, a complete file, and a clear occupancy narrative avoid repeat appointments.
If the report is not issued within 30 days
This is the point that protects your immigration deadline. If the administration does not issue the report within 30 days, the law lets you prove adequate housing by any other admissible means, as long as you attach a copy of your registered request for the report. The most common substitute is a notarial act of statements (acta notarial de manifestaciones), which should set out the title of occupancy, the number of rooms, the use of each room, the number of occupants, and the habitability and equipment conditions. Other supporting evidence — the lease or deed, the census certificate, utility bills, cadastral data, and photographs — strengthens the case.
How long the report is valid
Once issued, the housing adequacy report is generally valid for three months from its date of issue, and as a rule it should be no more than six months old when you file your immigration application. Because of that short window, the timing matters: request the report so it is still valid when you submit your reunification file, not months before. We help you sequence the report with your filing date so you do not end up with an expired document and have to start again.
Cost
There are usually two cost layers: any administrative fee charged by the authority (which varies by community, and some do not charge one), and professional support if you hire help to prepare the file. The price of support depends mainly on your location, the urgency of your immigration deadline, and the complexity of the case — shared flats, room rentals, unclear paperwork, or a tight deadline all add work. If you want a quick quote, send us the basics: your city or province, whether you rent or own, the number of occupants, and your immigration deadline.
How we help
Our support makes the process more predictable: we confirm the competent authority for your address, organise a consistent document pack, prepare you for the appointment or home visit, and help you avoid the common reasons for delay. We also keep the report aligned with your immigration timeline so it is valid when you file. We set clear expectations — the authority issues the report, and outcomes depend on meeting the requirements, so no one can guarantee approval — but careful preparation significantly improves the chance of a smooth process. And if the report does not arrive in time, we prepare the notarial-act route so your immigration deadline is protected.
Frequently asked questions
What is a housing adequacy report in Spain?
It is a document that certifies a specific home is suitable to accommodate the household for an immigration procedure, most commonly family reunification. In Spanish it is the informe de adecuación de vivienda, and you may also see it called an adequate housing certificate or housing suitability report.
Do I need it for family reunification?
Yes, in general-regime family reunification the file must show your housing can adequately accommodate the relatives you are reuniting, so the report is part of it. At renewal, it is generally only required again if you have changed address.
Who issues it?
The social services of your Autonomous Community, or the Town Hall where the community has delegated the task. The competent body depends on where you live, so confirm it before requesting an appointment or paying a fee.
What documents do I need?
To start: the request form and fee proof. For the interview or visit: your DNI or NIE, the passport of the relative to be reunited, an up-to-date collective census certificate, the lease or deed, and recent utility bills. Shared-flat cases may need extra proof of lawful occupancy.
How long does it take?
The authority has a maximum of 30 days to issue and notify the report. Real timing depends on appointment availability, workload, and how complete your documents are. Missing or inconsistent documents are the most frequent cause of delay.
How long is the report valid?
Generally three months from its date of issue, and it should normally be no more than six months old when you file your immigration application. Align the report request with your filing timeline so it does not expire before you submit.
Can I get one for a rented apartment?
Yes — many applicants rent. The key is proving lawful occupancy and ensuring the documents support the declared household. A clear lease with a valid term, plus supporting evidence, keeps the process moving.
What if I share a flat or rent a room?
It can work, but it needs extra care. The main risks are unclear proof of occupancy and mismatches between the census certificate and the declared household. A clear explanation and consistent documents reduce the friction.
What if the report is delayed or the result is negative?
If it is not issued within 30 days, you can provide alternative proof — typically a notarial act — together with a copy of your report request. If the result is negative or the process stalls over documentation, the usual next step is to correct the deficiencies and resubmit what is missing, clearly and consistently.
Need help with your housing adequacy report?
Contact Lexmovea. We offer English-language support, document review, and practical guidance for the appointment or home visit — so your file is consistent, inspection-ready, and aligned with your immigration timeline, with the notarial-act route prepared as a backup if the authority runs past its deadline.