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Duquesa Chambers
Property law · Manilva

English-Speaking Property Solicitor
in Manilva

Independent, fixed-fee conveyancing for UK and Irish buyers across Puerto de la Duquesa, Sabinillas, Casares Costa and Manilva pueblo. One lawyer, plain English, thirty-year guarantee.

Book a free 15-min call View pricing
  • Fixed conveyancing fees
  • Independent from agents
  • 30-year guarantee
Puerto de la Duquesa marina, Manilva
What we do

Three services that cover 90% of what UK buyers need in Spain.

Deep specialism beats a scattergun practice. We only take work we can do exceptionally well.

Property conveyancing

Fixed-fee purchase or sale of resale, new-build and off-plan properties in Manilva. Full due diligence, escrow handling and completion at the notary.

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Spanish wills

Spanish will drawn up and registered in Madrid to protect your Manilva property and spare your family a two-year probate ordeal.

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Non-resident tax (Modelo 210)

Annual non-resident tax filing for owners of a second home in Spain. Late? We regularise past years without triggering an inspection.

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Manilva-specific

Why local matters here, more than most.

Manilva is not Marbella. The town plan (PGOU) approved in 2018 reclassified large sections of Puerto de la Duquesa and Casares Costa, and some older buildings still carry paperwork from the previous regime. What a lawyer in Marbella will treat as "normal" may need extra steps here — and vice versa.

We know which Duquesa communities have their Libro del Edificio up to date and which do not. We know that a "casita" on Casares Costa rustic land is not always the bargain the estate agent claims. We know the Registro de la Propiedad de Estepona — where every Manilva title is recorded — and the people there.

That local knowledge is the difference between a purchase that closes cleanly in eight weeks and one that unravels in month three when a hidden lien or missing licence surfaces.

Neighbourhoods we know

Puerto de la Duquesa · Sabinillas · Casares Costa · Manilva pueblo · La Duquesa Golf · Bahía de las Rocas

The problems we routinely catch
  • · Community debts not disclosed on the nota simple
  • · Off-plan deposits without a bank guarantee (Ley 57/1968)
  • · Rural plots that cannot legally hold a house
  • · Missing first-occupation licence on new-builds
  • · Boundary disputes between Manilva and Casares municipalities
How we work

A five-step process, in plain English.

Boring is a feature. Our process rarely surprises anyone — which is exactly the point when hundreds of thousands of pounds are moving across borders.

An English-speaking Spanish lawyer walks a British couple through their Manilva property documents.
01

Free 15-minute call

You explain what you are buying and where. We tell you honestly whether we are the right firm for it. No commitment.

02

Fixed-fee engagement letter

One clear fee. What is included, what is not, and exactly what happens next. Signed by email.

03

Due diligence + reservation

Nota simple, catastro, licence, IBI, community fees, encumbrances. If anything is wrong we tell you before you commit money.

04

Deposit contract + POA

Arras contract negotiated in your favour. Power of attorney granted so completion can happen without you flying back.

05

Completion at the notary

We attend the notary, pay taxes, register with the Land Registry and hand you the keys — often before you are back on the plane.

Clients

What buyers say after completion.

Bought a townhouse in Duquesa off-plan and had cold feet after paying the deposit. They stepped in, forced the developer to include the bank guarantee we should have had from day one, and completion went through without a single surprise.
James H. · Puerto de la Duquesa ·2025
Two other lawyers told us the rural plot in Casares was fine to buy. This firm was the only one that pulled the urbanism report properly and stopped us walking into a mess. Worth every penny.
Margaret & Peter B. · Casares Costa ·2024
Straightforward, no jargon, always answered within a day. Made the whole thing feel less foreign. I'd recommend without a second thought.
Sarah T. · Sabinillas ·2024
Questions we hear every week

Frequently asked.

Do I really need an independent lawyer in Manilva?
Yes. In Spain the notary certifies the transaction is legal — they do not check whether the property has hidden debts, illegal extensions, unpaid community fees or a lien. That is your lawyer's job. In Manilva specifically, many older Duquesa apartments have opaque community accounts and several Casares rural plots sit on land that cannot legally hold a house. An independent lawyer — meaning one not chosen by your estate agent — will catch those before you sign.
How much does conveyancing cost in Manilva?
Our fixed fee starts at €1,500 + VAT for a straightforward resale purchase up to €400,000. Off-plan, rural, inherited or complex properties are quoted separately after we see the paperwork. Fixed fee means you know the number before you engage us — no billable-hour surprises.
How long does the whole process take?
From accepted offer to keys in hand: typically 6 to 10 weeks for a resale, 3 to 6 months for a new-build depending on the developer. Faster than a UK purchase, in most cases.
Can you handle everything if I am not in Spain?
Yes. We prepare a Power of Attorney which you sign at a Spanish notary in the UK (there are notaries in most cities) or at the Spanish consulate. We then handle every step — deposit, mortgage coordination, completion at the notary, NIE application, utilities, town hall registration — remotely.
What is different about buying in Manilva vs. Marbella or Estepona?
Manilva has a specific PGOU (town plan) from 2018 that reclassified several urbanisations. Some Duquesa buildings need updated licences before they can be sold. Casares Costa properties often sit on the boundary between two municipalities — Manilva and Casares — with different tax rates. Local knowledge saves you weeks and, sometimes, the transaction itself.
Are you SRA-regulated?
No — we are Spanish lawyers, registered at the Colegio de Abogados de Málaga (Málaga Bar). Only Spanish lawyers can practice Spanish property law. The SRA regulates solicitors in England & Wales. Choosing a "UK solicitor" for a Spanish purchase means they still need to instruct a Spanish lawyer — you pay two firms for what one can do.
What if something goes wrong after completion?
Our work is covered by a 30-year professional guarantee. If an error on our part causes you financial loss, we make it right. That is why we do thorough due diligence up front rather than relying on the notary's certification.
Do you speak proper English?
The entire client-facing team is fluent in English. Every document you sign will be explained to you in English before you sign it. If a clause matters, we will translate it verbatim so there is no ambiguity.
Ready when you are

Buying property in Manilva? Start with a free 15-minute call.

Speak directly to the lawyer who will handle your conveyancing — no clerks, no callbacks, no obligation.

Book a free consultation +34 951 870 569 Email us