Chimney sweeping certificate:
when is it required and how can you get one?
Practical guide · El Foc a Terra · Family business since 1990
More and more homeowners are asking about the chimney sweeping certificate: it may be requested by home insurance, the residential community, or appear in the rental agreement. In this article we explain when it is legally required, what it should include and how to obtain it.
There is no single legal requirement throughout Spain, but your home insurer, residential community or landlord may require it after a fire or other incident. It is issued by a professional chimney sweep after cleaning and includes the date, technician and inspection result.
What is a chimney sweeping certificate?
It is a document issued by a professional chimney sweep certifying that the fireplace or stove was cleaned and inspected on a specific date. It includes the details of the technician, company, installation inspected and the result of the inspection.
📋 The certificate is documentary proof that you have complied with your installation's maintenance requirements. Without it, in the event of a claim, the insurer may refuse coverage.
When is it required?
1. According to your home insurance policy
Most home insurance policies include a clause requiring regular maintenance of heating installations. If a fireplace-related fire occurs and you cannot prove that it had been cleaned and inspected, the insurer may refuse all or part of the compensation.
Check your policy — many explicitly state that an annual inspection by an accredited professional is required.
2. In residential communities
In buildings with multiple owners, municipal bylaws in many Catalan towns regulate shared flues, and the residential community may require a periodic cleaning certificate to ensure the safety of all residents.
3. In rental agreements
The tenant is responsible for properly maintaining the installations during the tenancy. If the fireplace is part of the rented property, the tenant may need to prove that it was properly maintained when the agreement ends.
4. In buildings with centralised biomass heating
Collective biomass heating installations are subject to the Regulations on Thermal Installations in Buildings (RITE), and their maintenance requires an authorised maintenance company registered with RASIC — a different and more specific accreditation than the usual cleaning certificate. El Foc a Terra is not registered with RASIC; if this applies to you, ask your property manager which company holds the required registration.
What should a valid certificate include?
- Details of the company and technician carrying out the cleaning
- Company tax identification number
- Address and details of the inspected installation
- Type of fireplace or stove (wood, pellets, gas)
- Date the cleaning was carried out
- Description of the work carried out
- Condition of the installation after inspection
- Signature and stamp of the technician or company
How do you obtain the certificate from El Foc a Terra?
At El Foc a Terra we issue the cleaning certificate with all the necessary details at the end of each service. You can request it as part of the invoice or as a separate document.
If your insurer or residential community requires a specific certificate in a particular format, tell us what they need and we will adapt it.
However, it is a company document, not an officially approved certification. Here we explain exactly what it is and what it is not →
💡 Tip: Keep the certificate with your home documents (deeds, warranties, etc.). In the event of a claim, you will need it immediately.
Frequently asked questions
There is no single official register of chimney sweeps in Spain or a standard accreditation for this service (except RASIC, which specifically applies to communal boilers under the RITE regulations). The certificate we issue at El Foc a Terra is a company document detailing the work carried out; each insurer decides whether to accept it according to its own criteria. We explain it in more detail here →
Normally once a year, at the same time as the annual cleaning. Some policies or residential communities may require it every 2 years — check your specific documentation.
Preparing the report involves additional work for our team, so at El Foc a Terra there is a small additional charge on top of the inspection price. Ask us for the exact amount when you book your visit.
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