How to ask about conflicts of interest

Where conflicts of interest arise

A conflict of interest exists when the person advising you receives money or another benefit from a party their advice affects: the seller, an agency, a bank, a lawyer, a surveyor, a contractor. That is not always unlawful. But you need to know about the tie before you decide.

Catalan housing law (Ley 18/2007) requires estate agents to act with professional independence and bars an agent from being paid by both parties for the same transaction unless the parties expressly agree. When registering in the Registre d'agents immobiliaris de Catalunya, an agent undertakes to follow codes of conduct whose principles include transparency on remuneration.

How to phrase the question

A general statement such as "we are independent" does not answer it. Ask about your specific transaction and request the answer in writing.

• Do you receive any payment, commission or other benefit linked to this transaction from anyone other than me?
• If so: from whom, what amount or basis of calculation, and when is it paid?
• Do you have a fee-sharing arrangement with the seller's agency?
• Are you connected to the bank, broker, lawyer, architect or contractor you are recommending?
• If there are no such ties, will you state that in writing for this transaction?

Who you can choose yourself

If one particular specialist is being pushed, ask about the connection. Some choices the law expressly leaves to the buyer.

How to record the answer

Put the disclosure in the contract or an annex and update it for every transaction, because ties change. If a new tie arises during the deal, you should hear about it before deciding on the point concerned, not afterwards.

At ReloVictory, each transaction records who the client is and who pays for the service; whether there is any payment from the seller, an agency, a bank, a lawyer, a surveyor or a contractor; the amount or basis, your consent and your option to choose another specialist. Where there is no such payment, that is stated expressly.

If the answer does not satisfy you

Ask for a different specialist, get an independent quote to compare, or pause until the question is resolved. A lawyer can explain the legal consequences of a specific contract; tax questions go to a tax adviser.

An agent who is not a member of a professional college must have official complaint forms. If a company does not reply to a written complaint within 30 days, or the reply is unsatisfactory, the Agència Catalana del Consum advises contacting your municipal consumer service.

How to choose a notary and what makes up the bill is covered in escritura and the notary and notary costs when buying. On valuations and bundled bank products, see mortgages for non-residents.

Last updated 26.10.2026.