Valuations
Surveying
Advice & consultancyProperty advice
4 February 2025
What to do if your property’s assessed value is too high
Have you recently built a new property or carried out extensive renovations on an existing home? If so, you will soon receive an updated assessed cadastral income (CI), also called the notification of CI. But what if the calculated CI is incorrect or too high? An inflated CI can have significant consequences on your annual property taxes. What can you do if your CI is too high, and how can you contest it?
At CC Experts, we handle this process for you. Acting as independent valuers, we can recalculate your CI.
If the recalculation confirms that your CI is too high, we assist you in filing a formal objection.
What is Cadastral Income (CI)?
Cadastral income reflects the average normal net income of a property as of January 1, 1975. The indexed cadastral income serves as the basis for calculating property taxes and the taxable property income in personal income tax.
Notification Obligation
If you have built a new property or significantly renovated an existing one, you are legally required to report this to the General Administration of Patrimonial Documentation (AAPD)—the cadastral office—within 30 days of completing the works. Based on this notification, the cadastral office calculates your CI. If you disagree with the cadastral office’s calculation, you can file an objection.
Important: Failure to notify the completion of works can result in administrative fines or even criminal penalties.
The three conditions for a successful objection
You may object to a calculated CI in the case of a new valuation (for new construction) or a revaluation (for renovations). However, it is not possible to object once the final CI has been established and the objection period has passed. For example: if you purchase an existing property, you can no longer challenge the final CI—unless you subsequently undertake substantial renovations or, in exceptional cases, if a material error was made by the cadastral office.
To submit a valid objection, you must meet the following three conditions:
1. Deadlin
Your objection must be filed within two months of the cadastral income (CI) being calculated.
2. Procedure
The objection must be submitted by registered mail to the Surveying & Valuations department of the AAPD, also known as the cadastre.
3. Substantiated Proposal
Along with your objection, you must provide a solid counterproposal for the CI. This is best supported by a detailed valuation report prepared by an independent expert.
A carefully prepared objection significantly increases the chances of having the cadastral income revised.
Why work with CC Experts?
At CC Experts, we have built a strong track record of successfully challenging incorrectly high cadastral incomes. We take full ownership of the process, from valuation and documentation to direct negotiations with the cadastre. Our results speak for themselves:
- For a renovated home, we lowered the CI from €1,054 to €754, saving the owner about €380 per year in property tax.
- For a renovated townhouse, we reduced the CI from €2,244 to €1,888, cutting yearly costs by roughly €400.
- For a new apartment, we achieved a reduction from €2,218 to €1,934, leading to annual savings of around €330.
An adjustment of the CI not only offers immediate financial relief through lower property tax and personal income tax but also ensures long-term savings throughout the entire period of ownership, since the CI is indexed for tax calculations.
Our approach
Our approach is based on the comparative valuation method, where we analyze and compare the technical and structural characteristics of similar properties with a definitive cadastral income. This includes factors such as:
- Type of construction
- Number of floors
- Surface area
- Facilities
- Other key property characteristics
These findings are compiled into a clear comparison matrix, forming the basis for a detailed, objective CI valuation. With our extensive experience and technical expertise, we prepare a comprehensive valuation report to strengthen your case. In addition, we remain available to guide you throughout the entire process, including any negotiations with the authorities.
Want to know more about challenging an excessively high cadastral income?
Every case is unique, which is why we tailor our services to your specific needs. Get in touch with one of our experts for a no-obligation consultation and discover how we can help.