Inheritance in Madrid: what the house you inherit is really worth

In many inheritances the problem is not who inherits, but what the inheritance is worth. One sibling wants to keep the house and pay the others, another thinks it is worth twice as much, and the official cadastral figure is no use to anyone. Until there is a value everyone trusts, the estate stays blocked.

Why the value matters so much

• To divide the estate: if one heir takes the house, they must compensate the others according to its real value.
• To calculate forced heirship shares: to know whether an heir has received less than they are entitled to.
• For lifetime gifts: if a child received a property before the death, it may have to be taken into account at its current value when dividing the estate.
• For court proceedings: if there is no agreement and a judicial division of the estate is requested, the judge needs a valuation that can be tested.

The cadastral value is not the market value

The cadastral value and the reference value are set by the authorities for tax purposes. They do not say what a buyer would pay for that particular house, with its condition, its orientation, its land or its problems. In Madrid the difference can be large, either way: a home in need of renovation is not worth the same as a renovated one on the same street, and a rural estate with a legalised house is not worth the same as one without permits.

What a sound valuation takes into account

• The real condition of the property: renovations, defects, damp, installations.
• Planning status: whether what has been built is legalised, whether the land is rural or urban, and what can be done on it.
• Comparable properties in the area: actual sales of similar properties in the same town.
• Charges and occupancy: whether it is let, occupied or subject to easements.

Why an expert report

A rough estimate or a property portal price will not convince the heir who disagrees, nor the judge. The expert report reasons the value with a method, comparables and an inspection of the property, and it can be defended. It is often enough for the heirs to reach an agreement without going to court. If there is a lawsuit, we defend the report before the judge at the ratification hearing.

Valuation of inherited property across the province of Madrid

We value flats, houses, premises and estates in Madrid and in towns such as Pozuelo de Alarcón, La Moraleja (Alcobendas), Majadahonda or Las Rozas, with real comparables from each area. If there is a lawsuit, the report is filed with the courts of Madrid or of the relevant judicial district.

How we work

Send us the land registry extract or the deeds, the IBI receipt and photos of the property by email or WhatsApp. We review it and send you a fixed, no-obligation quote, replying the same day. If needed, we inspect the property in Madrid or anywhere else in the province.

More information on our real estate expert page.