Skip to content
BOE-A-2026-12834 ·13 June 2026 ·Resolution Low impact
Tax

Individuals: mortgage cancellation denied based on debt prescription if the mortgage remains in force

The Directorate General for Legal Certainty and Public Faith has dismissed an appeal seeking the cancellation of a mortgage based on the prescription of the personal action for the debt (Art. 82.5 of the Mortgage Law). The court ruled that even if the debt or the mortgage foreclosure has prescribed, the mortgage as a real right can only be cancelled due to expiry if the validity period of the registered mortgage itself has elapsed (Art. 82.5 of the Mortgage Law). In this case, the mortgage remains valid until March 2036.

In 2 key points

  1. Cancellation due to expiry requires the lapse of the mortgage term or the term set by applicable civil legislation (Art. 82.5 of the Mortgage Law) (art. 82.5)
  2. The prescription of the guaranteed obligation does not imply the automatic extinction of the mortgage real right (Art. 82.5 of the Mortgage Law) (art. 82.5)

How it affects those involved

For individuals (debtors), the prescription of the debt or the dismissal of a mortgage foreclosure does not automatically lead to the registration cancellation of the charge (Art. 82.5 of the Mortgage Law). The risk for the owner is maintaining a registered mortgage that, while unenforceable, remains on the Land Registry until its agreed or legal expiry date, preventing a full clearance of the property title.

Lifecycle

2026-06-13PublishedPublished in the BOE
Official text Based on BOE data (boe.es). Information, not advice.

Does this provision affect you?

The tax team reviews your specific situation.

Talk to the tax team
This analysis is informational only and does not constitute legal advice or create a client-adviser relationship. BM Consulting.
Email
Contact