Mortgage appraisers in Spain have called an indefinite strike since December 15 to protest the precarious conditions in their profession. The Spanish Association of Mortgage Appraisers (AETH), representing 75% of the roughly 3,000 self-employed workers, denounces up to 80-hour workweeks for pay below the minimum wage of 16,576 euros annually, frozen since 2008. They demand a collective agreement setting minimum fees and realistic deadlines.
The strike by mortgage appraisers, a key group in Spain's real estate market, aims to highlight precarious conditions affecting around 3,000 self-employed professionals. According to the AETH, these workers—30% architects, 65% architectural technicians or surveyors, and the rest other qualified professionals like agronomic engineers—face pressure from financial institutions to deliver reports in under 48 hours, increasing error risks.
Francisco Riaza, AETH president, states: “We have been trying to reach some kind of agreement for many years. Even two years ago we presented a draft proposal that is now in a drawer, and we must not forget that appraisal is a citizen's right.” Remunerations, set by appraisal societies with non-negotiable fees, rarely exceed the minimum wage and have been frozen since 2008. An appraiser performs fewer than 35 appraisals per month on average, earning a percentage of the 250-500 euros each report costs, paid by the buyer.
Appraisals are legally required for mortgage applications, ensuring the property's real market value and allowing banks to finance up to 80% for primary residences or 60-70% for secondary ones. The AETH demands minimum fees tied to actual costs, equivalent to about 30,000 euros gross annually adjusted by CPI, realistic deadlines, payments within a month, travel compensations, and the right to reject unviable assignments, plus a joint commission for conflict resolution.
Meanwhile, the Spanish Association of Value Analysis (AEV), a major employer group, respects the mobilization but clarifies it cannot negotiate labor issues. Jorge Dolç, its general secretary, says: “The activity of these workers is framed in a regulated and demanding model,” emphasizing the need for rigorous appraisals to safeguard the mortgage market. The strike, hard to gauge due to the self-employed nature of the profession, could last up to a month without progress.
