What is the cadastre?

The cadastre is a public and official register that collects information on real estate (land, buildings, facilities, etc.) located in a given territory. The cadastre is managed by the governmental authorities of each country and its main objective is to know and control the ownership and use of land.

The cadastre is a fundamental instrument for territorial management, as it allows the identification and location of real estate, its description, the delimitation of its limits and the evaluation of its value. It also makes it possible to know who the owners of each property are, as well as their ownership, surface area, location, use and destination.

The cadastre is of great importance in different areas, such as urban planning, territorial planning, taxation, the environment and the management of public patrimony. In urban planning, for example, the cadastre is essential to know the availability of land in a given area and for the planning of new urban developments. In the fiscal field, the cadastre is used for the collection of real estate taxes.

What does it consist of?

The cadastre is made up of a series of documents and registers, which are regularly updated and completed. The main documents that form part of the cadastre include the following:

• The cadastral record: this is a document that contains the basic information on each real estate property, such as its location, surface area, use and destination.
• The property description: this is a document that describes the ownership of a property, indicating who owns it and what its ownership is.
• The cadastral map: this is a map showing the location and boundaries of real estate, as well as its classification according to its use and destination.

The cadastre is a very useful tool for land management, as it provides detailed information on the location and use of land. Thanks to the cadastre, it is possible to carry out effective land management, plan new urban developments, guarantee environmental protection and, in general, improve the quality of life of the population.

What is the cadastre for?

The cadastre has multiple functions and uses that are important for the development and management of territories. Some of the main utilities of the cadastre are:

• Identification and location of real estate: The cadastre makes it possible to identify and precisely locate all the real estate (land, buildings, facilities, etc.) found in a territory. This is fundamental for the management of the territory, as it allows for a complete knowledge of the available resources.
• Registration and updating of information: The cadastre registers and periodically updates the information of each real estate, including its surface area, location, use, ownership, among other data. This facilitates decision-making in relation to land use, as well as the collection of taxes and the management of public services.
• Valuation and appraisal of real estate: The cadastre is used for the valuation and appraisal of real estate. This is important for determining the cadastral value of each real estate, which is used for tax collection.
• Land and urban planning: The cadastre is a fundamental tool for land and urban planning. It provides information on the availability of land in a given area and the current land use, which allows for sustainable urban and territorial development planning.
• Management of public assets: The cadastre is also used for the management of public assets. It makes it possible to know which immovable property is owned by the State, and therefore to ensure its conservation and protection.
• Environmental protection: The cadastre is used for the protection of the environment, as it makes it possible to identify and protect the natural spaces and natural resources of a territory.

Difference between cadastre and land register

The main differences between the two are as follows:

• Purpose of registration: The land registry records the ownership and rights to real estate, while the cadastre records the physical and legal status of real estate.
• Information recorded: The land registry records all information relating to the ownership of a property, such as the name of the owner, the description of the property, encumbrances and encumbrances, among other data. The cadastre, on the other hand, records the physical and legal information about the property, such as its location, area, use and destination, among others.
• Purpose: The purpose of the land registry is to protect the property rights of the owners, guaranteeing legal certainty and publicity. The cadastre has the purpose of land management and territorial and urban planning, as well as the collection of property taxes.
• Compulsory nature: Registration in the land register is compulsory in order for the rights to a property to be enforceable against third parties. In contrast, registration in the cadastre is not compulsory, although it is recommended in order to avoid problems with the identification and location of properties.
• Responsible authority: In most countries, land registration is the responsibility of land registrars, while the cadastre is managed by the relevant government authorities.

What is recorded in the cadastre?

The cadastre records the physical and legal information on immovable property, i.e. land, buildings and facilities located in a given territory. The information that is recorded in the cadastre includes:

• Location: The exact location of the property is recorded, including its address and location on a map.
• Surface area: The surface area of the property is recorded, both the total surface area and the surface area of the different parts of the property (plots, buildings, common areas, etc.).
• Use and destination: The use of the property is recorded, i.e. whether it is used for housing, commerce, industry, etc., as well as its specific destination, e.g. whether it is a single-family dwelling, commercial premises, industrial building, etc.
• Physical characteristics: The description of the physical characteristics of the property is recorded, such as its age, state of conservation, construction materials, among other data.
• Ownership: The ownership of the property is recorded, i.e. who is the owner or owners of the property, as well as how the ownership was acquired.
• Charges and encumbrances: The existence of charges and encumbrances affecting the property is recorded, such as mortgages, embargoes, easements, among others.
• Cadastral value: The cadastral value of the property is recorded, which is the value used for the liquidation of property taxes.