At Intlaw, we advise individuals and owners’ associations in Barcelona on disputes relating to building works, renovations and construction. We help you make claims regarding construction defects, hidden defects, delays and breaches of contract, combining legal and technical advice with a friendly and personalised service.
First assessment free and without obligation · Response in less than 24 hours
Specialized in construction defects, delays and latent defects.
Cracks, humidity, leaks, delivery delays and damage to common areas.
Regular collaborators with whom we prepare the report and the claim at the same time.
Office in Barcelona and network of collaborators in the rest of the territory.
Fixed-fee quote and engagement letter before starting.
Conflicts related to construction can appear during construction or after receiving a home. Each situation requires reviewing obligations, possible responsibilities and different deadlines.
We help you understand what legal options you have and what your next steps might be.
The developer, construction company or contractor of your renovation does not meet the agreed deadline, and you continue to bear rent, accommodation or other damages while you wait. The same thing happens when you are the one who has commissioned the work on a self-promotion basis.
We review the contract and the circumstances of the delay to assess what you can claim and against whom.
You have detected cracks, humidity, leaks, insulation problems or other defects that affect your home, whether you bought it off plan or if the problem has appeared after the renovation or rehabilitation of an old apartment.
We analyze the origin of the problem, when it appeared and what responsibilities could exist to file a claim.
In your building, damage has appeared on the façade, roof, structure, facilities or common areas.
We advise owners’ associations to determine possible responsibilities, organize documentation and prepare a coordinated claim.
Our construction lawyers in Barcelona advise owners, buyers and owners’ associations in disputes related to the execution of works, damage to homes and the responsibilities of professionals involved in a building.
Not all problems are claimed in the same way. Before starting actions, we review what was contracted, what has happened, who can respond and what evidence we need. When the case requires it, we coordinate the legal analysis with technical professionals.
When you buy a home and discover cracks, moisture or leaks that were not noticeable when you visited it or when you signed the deed, there may be a legal basis to complain to the seller.
We analyze the contract, the condition of the property, the delivery date and when the damages were detected, and we differentiate these assumptions from construction defects, subject to other guarantees.
Construction defects can affect the structure, the habitability conditions or the execution of the finishes. Some are detected upon delivery; others appear later.
We claim for cracks, leaks, insulation failures, foundations, pavements and defective installations, and we coordinate the technical assessment when appropriate.
When a developer or construction company misses the delivery date, you can continue paying rent, assume additional expenses or change your travel plans.
We review the agreed deadlines, the causes of the delay and the penalty clauses to assess whether it is appropriate to demand compliance, claim damages or terminate the contract.
A reform or rehabilitation that is not completed, work other than what was agreed upon, or a budget that increases without justification generate conflicts between owners and contractors.
We review contracts, budgets, schedules and communications to determine what obligations were assumed, what changes were accepted and what can be claimed.
Defects in facades, roofs, structures or common facilities can affect many neighbors and require a coordinated response from the community.
We study the building documentation, the relevant dates and the responsibilities of the parties, and we coordinate the necessary reports to prepare the claim.
Professionals with different functions intervene in a building. Identifying a defect does not mean that it is obvious who should respond.
We review contracts, project, execution and technical documentation to analyze the intervention of each party and the liability rules that are applicable.
Much construction conflict can be prevented with clear contracts and proper documentation during execution and delivery.
We review construction contracts, budgets, payment conditions, guarantees and modifications, in addition to reservations and pending defects in the acceptance certificate.
In many conflicts, technical documentation is necessary to demonstrate the origin of the damage, its severity and the cost of repair.
We coordinate architects, engineers or experts and assess what should be documented before repairing, to integrate the technical evidence into the legal strategy.
Buying a home, building it or carrying out a renovation is a significant investment. When defects, delays or non-compliance appear, the problem can have economic consequences and affect the use of the property.
Different professionals are involved in a construction: developers, contractors, architects, engineers, manufacturers and installers. Determining which of them should respond requires analyzing the contracts, the circumstances of the work and the intervention of each agent.
Therefore, a construction claim needs more than just identifying the defect. We must understand what has happened, what its cause may be, what regulations are applicable and against whom we should act.
At Intlaw we approach these conflicts from a legal and technical perspective, with advice adapted to the client’s circumstances and attention to the particularities of Catalan civil law.
At Intlaw we understand that each conflict requires its own assessment. We combine legal experience, collaboration between professionals and a close relationship with the client to define the appropriate actions.
More than 15 years dedicated to construction law, together with hundreds of individuals and owners’ associations, in preventive advice and defense in court. It is a technically demanding matter: the deadline that applies and who must respond change depending on where the damage comes from and when it appeared.
We regularly work with the same collaborating architects, engineers and experts, so the technical report and the legal strategy are prepared at the same time and not separately. This avoids a mismatch between what the opinion says and what the claim needs to prove.
Ignacio Jové Rius, founding partner of Intlaw and director of the Litigation department, will be your reference legal interlocutor. He will review the contract, damages and documentation of the work with you, coordinate the necessary actions with the team and keep you informed of the relevant steps of the claim.
The first assessment of your case is free and without obligation. If you decide to go ahead, you receive a fixed-fee quote before contracting and an engagement letter signed by both parties, stating what work is included and what actions are planned.
We commit in writing to always answer you within that period, both in the first consultation and during the procedure.
The lawyer, the expert and the technicians travel to the site: it is the best way to understand what has happened. In the metropolitan area of Barcelona it is included in the price; Outside that area we value it and budget it separately.
We can intervene before starting a work, during its execution or when a conflict already exists. We assess the possibilities of prevention, negotiation, claim or judicial defense depending on the case.
Our work is not limited to filing lawsuits. We also advise on preventing conflicts and documenting contractual obligations, and we value out-of-court solutions when a dispute already exists.
We advise before and during the execution of a work to reduce risks and record the relevant obligations and decisions.
WE CAN INTERVENE THROUGH
When there is a conflict, we study the possibilities of claim, negotiation or judicial intervention.
WE CAN INTERVENE THROUGH
When the facts show signs of a possible criminal offense, we also assess whether it is appropriate to study that route.
Do you have problems with a construction company, have you found defects in your home or do you need to claim a non-compliance with the work?
Tell us what happened, where the property is located and what documentation you have. We will review the initial information to explain how we can study your case and what the next steps could be.
Not all defects in a home or all non-compliance with work are claimed in the same way.
Before initiating a claim in Barcelona, we must distinguish whether the problem arises from a sale, responsibilities related to the building or unfulfilled contractual obligations. This difference can affect who responds, what evidence we need, and what deadlines apply.
When the defect comes from the purchase of the home. The Catalan non-conformity regime sets its own periods and remedies, different from those of the building.
When the damage derives from the execution of the work. The Spanish Building Act (LOE) provides for different liability periods depending on the nature of the damage.
When what fails is the construction or renovation contract: deadlines, unfinished work, cost overruns or modifications not agreed upon between the parties.
In sales subject to the Catalan regime of lack of conformity, article 621-23 of the Civil Code of Catalonia contemplates, in the cases it regulates, a period of three years from delivery for the lack of conformity to manifest.
This period must be differentiated from the period to exercise legal remedies, regulated in article 621-44, whose calculation depends on the circumstances provided for by the norm.
Before making a claim, we review the contract, the delivery date, the moment in which the defect appeared and the applicable legal regime.
The Spanish Building Act (LOE) establishes different liability periods depending on the nature of the damage: ten years for certain structural damages that compromise the mechanical resistance and stability of the building; three years for certain defects affecting habitability requirements; and one year for certain execution defects that affect finishing or finishing elements and for which responsibility corresponds to the builder.
These periods must be distinguished from the limitation period for liability actions provided for in article 18 of the LOE, which is two years from when the corresponding damages occur.
We analyze the dates of reception of the work, appearance of damages and actions carried out to determine what regime can be applied.
When a developer or construction company fails to meet the agreed delivery time, it is necessary to study the contract, the causes of the delay and its consequences.
We can assess whether it is appropriate to demand compliance, claim damages or request contractual termination, depending on the circumstances.
We also review the deadlines for taking the corresponding actions, which depend on the regulations and the legal basis of the claim.
Different professionals are involved in a job and it is not always easy to determine who caused the damage.
The LOE contemplates certain cases of joint liability when the cause cannot be individualized or specific circumstances occur. It also establishes the developer’s responsibilities towards the purchasers.
We study the intervention of each agent and the technical and contractual documentation to identify who should act.
In buildings subject to the mandatory guarantees provided for in the LOE, ten-year insurance can offer coverage against certain structural material damage.
When there is a problem with the solvency of any of those responsible, it is advisable to analyze whether there is an applicable policy, what risks it covers and who the insured are.
The existence of insurance does not mean that all construction defects are covered.
Not every poorly executed work is a crime: the vast majority of construction disputes are resolved through civil proceedings.
There are behaviors, however, that can go beyond contractual breach, such as receiving amounts on account and not allocating them to the work, falsifying certifications or technical documentation, or having funds delivered for a purpose other than the agreed upon one.
When the facts show signs of a possible criminal offense, we assess whether it is appropriate to file a complaint in addition to the civil claim, and we explain what each avenue entails before deciding.
When you directly contract a work or renovation, it is advisable to check that the company has its workers registered and is up to date with Social Security, and request the corresponding certificate before starting.
In certain cases of contracts and subcontractors, labor and Social Security regulations provide for responsibilities for the person commissioning the work, in addition to obligations regarding the coordination of business activities.
We review the contract and contract documentation to define that risk before it appears.
Modifications during a project can generate conflicts when it has not been clearly defined what additional work is accepted, what its cost is or how it affects the delivery time.
We recommend documenting in writing the relevant changes, their scope, the budget and the parties’ acceptance.
This documentation can be especially useful if there is a contractual discrepancy later.
The handover record documents the delivery and acceptance of the work, possible reservations and other relevant circumstances.
In the LOE regime, the receipt of the work, express or tacit in the legally provided cases, is important to determine the beginning of the liability and warranty periods.
We review this documentation to establish the relevant dates and circumstances of each claim.
If cracks, leaks or other damage are repaired without first documenting their condition, it may be more difficult to later prove their origin and extent.
Depending on the case, it may be advisable to obtain photographs, estimates, expert reports or technical reports before intervening.
When necessary, we coordinate these actions to preserve evidence and prepare the claim with greater foundation.
Ignacio Jové coordinates the legal assessment of your claim and the team’s actions. When the conflict requires a technical analysis, we organize the intervention of the corresponding professionals to incorporate their conclusions into the claim strategy.
We begin with an assessment of what happened: what work was contracted, when it was executed or delivered, what damages have appeared and who participated. Ignacio reviews relevant legal information and determines which contracts, communications, budgets or documents should be studied before moving forward.
We study the obligations that may have been breached and the possible liabilities. If the case requires it, Ignacio coordinates the intervention of architects, engineers or experts to assess the defects, identify their possible causes and prepare the technical evidence.
Ignacio explains the legal options available, the risks and the recommended actions. We define the next steps and prepare the corresponding requirements or claims, assessing the possibilities of negotiation when appropriate.
If it is not possible to resolve the conflict out of court, we analyze the feasibility of going to court. Ignacio directs the procedural strategy and coordinates the necessary actions and tests with the team, keeping you informed during the procedure.
At Intlaw we address construction claims by combining the legal analysis of contracts and responsibilities with the technical assessment required by the damages of each work.
Ignacio Jové Rius will be the reference lawyer in construction law. As founding partner and director of the Litigation department, he coordinates the legal strategy, team intervention and monitoring of the procedure. Our boutique model allows us to offer direct care, without losing the multidisciplinary support of the office.
FOUNDING PARTNER · CIVIL LITIGATION AND CONSTRUCTION DISPUTES
Ignacio Jové Rius is a founding partner of Intlaw and director of the Litigation department. He specializes in civil law in the field of obligations and contracts derived from construction, and has experience in conflict resolution, contractual litigation, liability for damages and real estate disputes.
His procedural career includes the preparation and presentation of appeals before the Spanish courts, including the Supreme Court. In construction law, he brings this experience to the analysis of contractual breaches, liabilities and claims for construction defects.
He has a degree in Law with honors from the University of Barcelona, a master’s degree in Law from the ICAB and belongs to the Illustrious Bar Association of Barcelona, with membership number 32,205.
From our office in Barcelona we advise owners and communities that need to resolve conflicts related to works, renovations, rehabilitations and construction defects.
We pay special attention to the particularities of Catalan civil law when applicable, as well as its relationship with state regulations on building, contracts and liability for damages.
We answer queries about properties located in the metropolitan area of Barcelona, including municipalities such as L’Hospitalet de Llobregat, Badalona, Sant Cugat del Vallès and Sabadell, depending on where the work is located and what damage is present.
The advice also reaches the area of Catalan civil law and procedural action before the courts of Catalonia, which is where the majority of these claims are substantiated.
Our objective is to offer close legal advice, with a strategy adapted to the conflict and coordination with other professionals when necessary.
INTLAW OFFICE IN BARCELONA
Calle Aribau 175, Principal 1.º B, 08036 Barcelona
The office is in Barcelona, but the work does not need to be. We work with a network of collaborators that allows us to act in other territories, and in the metropolitan area of Barcelona travel by the lawyer, expert and technicians to the site is included in the budget.
The guarantees of the Spanish Building Act (LOE) are the same throughout Spain. What changes from one territory to another is the civil regime applicable to the sale and, with it, the deadlines and remedies available to you, so we review which applies in your case before filing the claim.
Claims for construction defects, latent defects, delays in delivery and breaches of construction contracts in Madrid and its area of influence.
Advice from Palma de Mallorca on construction defects, renovations, delivery delays and claims from owners’ associations on the island.
The opinions of our clients are part of the firm’s history and reflect the experience of those who have trusted our legal advice.
At Intlaw we work with a professional network that allows us to coordinate claims that touch on various areas of law, and act anywhere in Spain.
In construction law we also have a network of architects, engineers and collaborating experts with whom we work regularly to analyze damages, study responsibilities and prepare expert reports adjusted to the legal strategy.
When the case demands it, we coordinate these actions to integrate the technical assessment into the legal strategy and offer advice adapted to the circumstances of the conflict.
Do you have defects in your home, problems with a construction project or do you need to complain to a construction company in Barcelona?
Explain to us what happened, where the property is located and what documentation you have. We will review the initial information to tell you how we can study your query and what the next steps would be.
Book a meeting to tell us what has happened to your work or your home.
Tell us where the work or home is, what happened and what documentation you have in your possession. The first assessment is free and we will respond to you in less than 24 hours.
Response in less than 24 hours · Free, no-obligation assessment
Yes. We mainly serve properties located in the metropolitan area of Barcelona, and in that area travel by the lawyer, expert and technicians to the site is included in the budget.
The advice reaches the scope of Catalan civil law and actions before the courts of Catalonia. Outside that area we work with a network of collaborators, and in that case the trips are valued and budgeted separately.
A construction conflict may require additional advice in other areas of the office, especially when contracts between companies, the sale of property or the taxation of works and compensation are involved.
We advise on the purchase and sale of apartments, homes and premises: deposit contract, simple note, charges, deed and conflicts between buyer and seller.
We advise on commercial contracts, business relationships and disputes related to contractual obligations.
We advise on the taxation of the purchase, sale and renovation of properties, and on the tax treatment of the compensation received.
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