A Reforma on Gran Canaria: How a Renovation Unfolds
In Spain, almost any renovation is called a reforma, whether it is a new bathroom or a complete refurbishment. Before work starts, settle the scope, permits, quote and responsibilities.
Last updated: 6 August 2026
Planning: scope first, price second
Define exactly what is to be done before collecting quotes. Otherwise you will compare apples with oranges later. An on-site visit is always part of it.
Budget a reserve. Much of the island’s housing stock dates from the 1960s to 1980s. Opening a wall or floor can reveal work that nobody could price beforehand.
Permits: the town hall decides
Whether work merely has to be notified (comunicación previa) or needs a building permit (licencia de obra) depends on its scope and is regulated by the municipality (ayuntamiento). Ask there before work starts.
The usual distinction is by scope: smaller work that does not touch the structure often runs as an obra menor in a simplified procedure, larger work as an obra mayor with a permit and frequently a signed project. Where exactly the line sits is up to each municipality.
In an apartment complex the owners’ community (comunidad) comes on top: work touching the façade, shared pipes or common property needs its consent. Ask the firm which paperwork it will handle and what remains your responsibility.
Quote and contract
The basis is a written presupuesto with itemised positions, taxes and a payment schedule. Our guide on estimates explains this in more detail.
Agree on payments tied to progress and fix the timeframe in writing. For larger projects it pays to also settle who opens the site each day and where the rubble goes.
During the works
Stay reachable. Small decisions come up constantly on a building site; if you are not available, the firm must decide alone or pause the work.
Changes and extra work belong in a written supplement. Visit the site regularly, especially before anything is clad or tiled over. Checking becomes much harder afterwards.
Living there during the works
Whether you can stay in the home during the works depends on the scope. A bathroom can be bridged; an open kitchen and dust in every room hardly. Talk to the firm about the order of the rooms, and line up somewhere to stay for the loudest weeks.
Acceptance and warranty
Walk through the finished work together and record defects in writing. The payment schedule should make the final instalment due only after those defects have been fixed.
Keep the presupuesto, supplements and invoices. They are the basis for warranty claims. They also show a future buyer what work was done.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a permit for a new bathroom?
Your municipality decides. Much of it runs as a simple notification (comunicación previa), some needs a permit; each town hall draws the line itself. Ask there before the work starts.
Do I need an architect?
Usually not for smaller jobs. As soon as load-bearing parts, the façade or the layout are affected, municipalities often require a project signed by an architect or engineer. The town hall or your contractor can tell you whether that applies.
How long does a reforma take?
There is no honest general answer. The time comes from permits, material lead times and whatever appears when walls are opened. Get the timeframe in writing and plan a buffer.
Who removes the rubble?
That belongs in the presupuesto. Many firms include the container and disposal as a separate item; if the quote says nothing, ask before you sign.