Many Tenerife properties are owned jointly — between spouses, partners, siblings or investment groups. When one owner dies, the inheritance process can become more complex. This guide explains common title problems and how to resolve them.
If the Property Is Owned 50/50
This is the most common situation. When one owner dies, only their 50% share goes through inheritance. The other owner keeps their half automatically.
But problems can arise if:
- The surviving owner wants to sell but the heirs don’t
- The heirs want to sell but the surviving owner doesn’t
- Heirs live abroad and cannot coordinate easily
In these cases, negotiation is the simplest solution. A buyout or a shared sale agreement is common.
If the Property Is Owned by Several People
Some Tenerife properties have multiple owners — five siblings, three friends, or mixed family groups. When one dies, the new heir joins the group of owners, which can complicate decisions.
- More signatures needed
- Slower decisions
- Potential disagreements on selling or renting
What If the Title Doesn’t Match Reality?
It’s common in Tenerife to find:
- Missing names on deeds
- Old owners still appearing on the title
- Unregistered extensions to the property
- Divorced couples still listed as co-owners
These issues must be corrected before selling and sometimes before completing the inheritance.
Legal Solution for Deadlock
If co-owners cannot agree, Spanish law allows a process called “division of common property,” where a judge can force a sale. Most families avoid this by negotiating earlier.
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