When buying property in Spain, it might not be immediately clear where to turn for support. In the UK, there are obvious steps to take – find a trustworthy estate agent, speak to your bank about mortgage funds if you need them and generally make sure you know the area that you plan to move to.

However, there is no reason why similar rules should not apply when buying property in Spain. Some organisations do exist to help you find out more about the process itself, while the UK provides support to its people even after they move overseas.

Researching property in Spain through AIPP

The Association of International Property Professionals is a membership organisation that covers the real estate sector worldwide. It can provide you with a list of legitimate and trustworthy operators in whichever area you hope to move to.

AIPP also has some top tips to give to people planning to buy property overseas, starting with getting an independent lawyer to deal with the estate agent – an area where costs should not be cut.

Specialists should also be consulted on issues such as exchange rate fluctuations, as the AIPP warns that a small shift could significantly affect the real-terms cost of a property when purchased in pounds sterling rather than euros.

The group also warns large-scale investors against buying properties with the intention of selling them on before having to meet any repayments on money borrowed.

If you do have a problem with a Spanish estate agent, one course of redress could be to approach the Spanish Ombudsman, or El Defensor del Pueblo. This independent body acts with impunity and can pursue the rights of citizens against organisations that have unfairly treated them.

Complaints to the Ombudsman can be made online, by fax, through regular post or in person at the offices in Madrid; these are open between 09:00 and 14:00 local time on weekdays and from 16:00 to 18:00 Monday to Thursday, apart from during August.

Keeping in touch with UK authorities

UK nationals have the right to buy property in Spain as part of the European Economic Area; however, this does not mean giving up on the protection that the UK government puts forward to its citizens while they are overseas.

The Foreign & Commonwealth Office LOCATE service can help to find a British Consulate in Spain. There are ten in all, including the British Embassy in Madrid and the British Consulate General, also in the Spanish capital.

A British Consulate in Las Palmas and one in Ibiza help to serve travellers visiting or relocating to the Canaries or the Balearics respectively.

Travellers are advised to register with their local embassy or consulate on arrival in their new home, to ensure that, if they need assistance, they are able to get it promptly.

Legal assistance while in Spain

There are two ways to get legal assistance while living in property in Spain, depending on who is representing you. The Law Society’s International Division provides support for solicitors and law firms conducting business abroad and has an office in Brussels dedicated to ensuring compatibility between developments in the EU legal system and the UK’s own systems of justice.

Depending on where your property is in Spain, a provincial branch of the Ilustre Colegio de Abogados should also be available to assist in legal matters. The Madrid branch provides information covering alternative dispute resolution and arbitration, professional fees and legal aid.

Like the Law Society, it also works to make sure that lawyers in Spain are aware of developments across Europe, including any significant verdicts from the European Court of Human Rights.

Consumer support for Spanish residents

Spain’s own Instituto Nacional del Consumo (English translation via Google) provides consumer support functions to residents of the country. Its functions are governed by the 1978 Constitution and, in particular, Article 51 which calls for the health and safety of consumers to be protected.

The INC works to ensure that products on sale or imported into Spain are safe to use, as well as to provide compensation for any damage or injury suffered.

Its remit also covers contracts, where it is considered a basic right for consumers not to be subjected to unfair terms, as part of a wider commitment to upholding social and economic protection.

When complaining about a bank or financial services provider, you should first complain to the bank itself. If this does not work, you can escalate the process by turning to the relevant Ombudsman service. The final option is to complain directly to Banco de Espana, the central bank of Spain with responsibility for overseeing the financial services sector in the country.

Complaints should be made in writing and include full contact details of both the complainant and the organisation against which the complaint is lodged, a clear description of events and declaration that no court proceedings relating to the events are currently underway, a location, date and signature.