Court of Accounts orders probe into Madrid regional government's 6.3 million euro penthouse

Court orders an investigation

Spain's Court of Accounts has ordered an investigation into the purchase of a penthouse on General Martínez Campos street in Madrid by Planifica Madrid, a public company under the Community of Madrid. The court found indications of a possible loss of public funds in the 6.3 million euro deal. Its counsellor, María del Rosario García Álvarez, rejected a request from the regional government and Planifica to close the file. Instead, she referred the case to the court's prosecution section, which is to propose an investigating delegate to establish whether the facts could lead to accounting liability. Reports differ on whether that delegate has already been named, so the step is described here as the referral.

The court's ruling, as quoted by El Periódico, puts its concern in these terms:

“a priori and without assessing the merits, they may constitute an outflow of public funds of 6,300,000 euros, entirely lacking legal justification”

Purchase without prior paperwork

Planifica formalised the purchase on 14 April 2026 of a residential penthouse on the top floor of number 35, measuring about 485 square metres, of which around 199 are terrace. According to the ruling, the operation went ahead without an initial formal order from the regional government and without a justifying report on the need for the property. That report was drafted on 2 July 2026, almost three months after the sale, and the regional administration later cited it to justify the flat's institutional use. The court also pointed to an apparent lack of a prior declaration of need, and said the flat appears objectively unsuitable for government administration. The court's counsel noted that Planifica acts only on prior assignment from the regional Governing Council, according to LaSexta.

Gesvalt appraisal (13 Feb 2026)6,242,884.19

Purchase price (14 Apr 2026)6,300,000

Gesvalt appraisal (13 Feb 2026)

6242884.19 euros

Purchase price (14 Apr 2026)

6300000 euros

Data from the article text

Appraisal, complaints and the government's defence

A first appraisal by Gesvalt, dated 13 February 2026, valued the flat at 6,242,884.19 euros, against the 6.3 million euros paid. Complaints put the possible damage at at least 437,058 euros, and the court is weighing whether an overpayment occurred. The court also considered a second appraisal from October, indications that the terrace was enclosed illegally, and the failed sale. Seven complaints were filed, with PSOE and Más Madrid named as complainants in reports by El Confidencial and eldiario.es. The Madrid government and Planifica argued that the operation complied fully with the law and with the company's statutes, and that it did not represent an economic deterioration for public funds. The court nonetheless rejected their request to archive the case.

Intended use and sale

According to RTVE, the flat was meant to serve as offices and a workplace for Isabel Díaz Ayuso while the Puerta del Sol building was under renovation. It was later put up for sale after the lack of a licence for that use, and RTVE reported that the sale had not yet gone through. The first tender drew no buyers, the second time the property has been left without one. Planifica then offered it permanently at 6,694,201 euros plus taxes, after no offers came in within the period that ended on 21 October.

What happens next

The investigating delegate will examine the alleged irregularities and determine whether they could lead to accounting liability. The case rests on the seven complaints and on the court's preliminary assessment of the documents. The ruling opens a formal procedure but does not establish wrongdoing. The court has not yet decided whether any liability exists.