Ciutat Vella is the historic heart of Barcelona, with centuries-old buildings. The high water table causes structural damp that calls for a specialist technical diagnosis. If we find no defects, we refund your money.
No ties to developers, estate agents or sellers. We work only for you.
Every part of Barcelona has its own typical problems. These are the ones we find most in Ciutat Vella:
Structural damp caused by a high water table — common on the ground floors of the Gòtic and the Raval.
Cracks in historic load-bearing walls — in medieval buildings with active movement.
Very old electrical installations — in buildings that have barely been upgraded since the 1960s.
Ciutat Vella brings together Barcelona’s oldest neighbourhoods: the Barri Gòtic, the Raval, Sant Pere, Santa Caterina i la Ribera, which includes the Born, and the Barceloneta. Most buildings are 18th- and 19th-century apartment buildings with load-bearing walls, floors on timber beams or Catalan vaults and narrow light wells, and among them are heavily altered medieval houses. The Barceloneta, laid out in the 18th century, has narrow blocks of small flats, many with storeys added over time.
Many buildings have no lift or have had one installed in the light well, so ask about the ITE, any approved works and whether the building is listed, because that limits what you can renovate. Check that the flat has a certificate of habitability (cédula de habitabilidad), which is required to sell it in Catalonia. The inspection adds a check of the timber beams, which may have woodworm or termites, of balconies and overhangs, of ventilation in interior rooms and of the shared downpipes.
Barri Gòtic — Old apartment buildings and altered medieval houses on narrow streets. Check the load-bearing walls, timber beams, ventilation and the building’s protected status.
El Raval — 18th- and 19th-century buildings, many without a lift and with little light. Check the ITE, the downpipes, the electrical installation and the certificate of habitability.
La Barceloneta — Narrow blocks with small flats and added storeys. Check the floor structures, corrosion of balconies due to the nearby sea, ventilation and the certificate of habitability.
The process in Ciutat Vella is simple and fast.
No small print. No travel costs in Ciutat Vella and the metropolitan area.
Chartered Architect
Report within 24h
Chartered Architects available in Ciutat Vella and every town in the metropolitan area.
The report saved me from a purchase that would have been a disaster. Structural problems nobody had told me about. I avoided a mistake of more than 40,000 €.
Very clear report with photos and the estimated cost of each defect. 100% independent, with no links to the seller or the estate agent.
A real Hausum inspection in central Barcelona: a 460,000 € flat with a full renovation just completed.
- How our architects work during a real inspection
- What defects we find and why they appear
- How much they can cost to repair
- Why it pays to inspect before signing
Other Barcelona districts:
Nearby towns:
Which defects are most common in Ciutat Vella?
It depends on the type and age of the building, but the most common are outdated installations, damp and cracks in façades. A technical inspection detects them all before you buy.
How much does the inspection cost?
From 345 € for under 100 m². From 100 to 199 m²: 395 €. From 200 to 299 m²: 445 €. From 300 to 399 m²: 495 €. VAT included, no travel costs.
Is the report legally valid?
Yes. It can be submitted as evidence in proceedings for hidden defects (art. 1484 of the Spanish Civil Code). The Chartered Architect can testify as an expert witness. See the legal service →
How long does the inspection in Ciutat Vella take?
Between 1.5 and 3 hours depending on the size. The full report is delivered in less than 24 hours.
The Hausum report goes far beyond a technical document.
- Private document admissible in court
- Claims for hidden defects (art. 1484 of the Spanish Civil Code)
- The Chartered Architect testifies as an expert witness
- Useful at the notary and the land registry
- Valid before and after signing
- Claim defects discovered after the purchase
Save money and avoid surprises. In less than 24h you have an architect assigned and the full report.
No commitment · Pay only if you confirm · Money-back guarantee if we find no defects