Legal advice for estate agencies and property developers
The real estate sector handles some of the most significant financial transactions in the life of a company or an individual, and that multiplies the legal exposure of the agencies and developers that broker or carry them out. An ambiguous deposit agreement, a planning condition that was not checked in time or a breach of money laundering prevention obligations can turn a good transaction into a serious problem. At BBM Abogados we have been providing legal cover to estate agencies and property developers in Santander and Cantabria since 1990.
The sale and purchase is the heart of the business. The deposit agreement, the conditions precedent (for example, obtaining financing), the penalty clauses for breach and the guarantees must all be perfectly defined. We draft and review your deposit agreements and the rest of your contracts and obligations, and we check title, encumbrances and the property’s status before signing, so that no transaction turns into litigation.
Planning, tenancies and debt recovery
In property development, planning conditions everything. Land classification, the planning framework, licences and planning enforcement can accelerate or completely halt a project. Before investing, we verify the land’s planning viability and, during development, we handle the licences and appeals needed; our experience in construction and building law allows us to accompany you from the land to handover.
When the business involves managing tenancies, unpaid rent and disputes with tenants arise. We claim the rent owed and, if necessary, bring eviction proceedings for non-payment, acting through the fastest route to recover both the property and the debt. And when faced with defaulting buyers or clients who fail to comply, we act swiftly to recover the debts; since 2025, before bringing a civil claim you must first attempt an appropriate dispute resolution method (MASC), which we handle for you. We also assist you in transactions involving encumbered properties and in mortgage enforcement proceedings.
Money laundering prevention: an obligation you cannot neglect
Many estate agencies are unaware that they are obliged parties under the money laundering prevention rules. This means identifying clients, applying due diligence measures, keeping records and reporting suspicious transactions. Non-compliance is penalised with fines that can be very high, and inspections are increasingly frequent in the sector.
We help you implement your compliance and money laundering prevention procedures: internal manual, client identification protocols and a system for detecting and reporting transactions. This turns a legal obligation into an orderly routine that protects your company against penalties and against high-risk transactions.
Do you need to review a deposit agreement, check the viability of a plot of land or bring your money laundering prevention up to date? Tell us about your case with no obligation or call us on 942 36 10 48.
