oooh, thats the billion dollar question!! I know the programme you mean and altho there was a certain ammount of sensationalism by the programme makers, demolitions have happened thru no fault of the owners, more to do with the laws constantly changing, greedy developers and greedy mayors!Can I just quickly check something: on TV last night here there was a TV programme that talked about houses that were illegally built and so could be knocked down.
Is this something that is easy to avoid when buying a house in Spain?
Im afraid I feel that to be a little bit of a generalisation.s.
Furthermore, don't buy 'off-plan' as many of these houses will never be built.
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Yes. Basically check that the property is registered fully in the Registro de Propriedad and in Catastro. You should use a gestoria to check these as they will ensure that proper notary deeds, references etc are registered and are fully certified by Registro de Propriedad (akin to Land Registry in the UK).Can I just quickly check something: on TV last night here there was a TV programme that talked about houses that were illegally built and so could be knocked down.
Is this something that is easy to avoid when buying a house in Spain?
You don't say why the roof fell in. If it was due to a "natural disaster" - severe storm, lightning etc then your insurance company should have pointed you in the direction of the ConcorcioWe tried to avoid any question of possibly buying and losing a home by buying an old townhouse in the centre of town. We're losing the house anyway because the roof fell in and the insurance won't pay anything even though we had buildings and contents insurance.
I'm sorry to hear of your nightmare ... what were the circumstances of the roof collapsing. Can it not be repaired?Personally, knowing what I know now I would never buy a property in Spain. For me the dream has begun turning into a nightmare, after 6 years. Having said that there are people, I know, that have bought and lived in their homes for years and they haven't had any problems at all....... yet!
I'm not a political animal but my experience of things round here (Arboleas area) is that the local authorities have indeed recognised that the economy relies heavily on immigrant ('cos that's what we are) money and are trying to sort out the problem of illegal builds.I think that the problem is one that Spain has to face. Whether a larger or smaller proportion of foreign home-owners have been, in some way, gypped, the point is that Spain's reputation as a retirement destination has been shattered. The Spanish seem largely unaware of this (their newspapers don't discuss the problem) and jobs and foreign money are stiffled.
I suppose, in some way, my indignation is for the plight of the Priors, who bought in good faith with town hall permits and so on only to have their house pulled about their ears two years ago. An elderly couple living in a garage for no good purpose whatsoever.
I would certainly like to see the Spanish authorities acknowledge this particular source of income from the millions of wealthier foreigners who own homes here, bringing in funds from abroad, Perhaps an agency which protected, advised, defended and compensated well-meaning Europeans who sought/seek to live here.
I'm not a political animal but my experience of things round here (Arboleas area) is that the local authorities have indeed recognised that the economy relies heavily on immigrant ('cos that's what we are) money and are trying to sort out the problem of illegal builds.
One of the main problems they have though is Brit expats working against them instead of with them. We all know what's happened but there's only one way all this will be sorted and that's by everyone working together to achieve, what is after all, a common goal
I'll probably get shot down for this but I can only tell it how I see it.
Doggy
Well, I won't be loading my gun as I think you are right.I'm not a political animal but my experience of things round here (Arboleas area) is that the local authorities have indeed recognised that the economy relies heavily on immigrant ('cos that's what we are) money and are trying to sort out the problem of illegal builds.
One of the main problems they have though is Brit expats working against them instead of with them. We all know what's happened but there's only one way all this will be sorted and that's by everyone working together to achieve, what is after all, a common goal
I'll probably get shot down for this but I can only tell it how I see it.
Doggy
Using funds from the generality of Spanish taxpayers?to compensate losers in the property market? Smacks of socialism.I would certainly like to see the Spanish authorities acknowledge this particular source of income from the millions of wealthier foreigners who own homes here, bringing in funds from abroad, Perhaps an agency which protected, advised, defended and compensated well-meaning Europeans who sought/seek to live here.
It was a torrential rain storm - it was raining when we left for the airport and we arrived in England during the early hours. When we all got up in the morning and my husband turned his mobile on he had numerous voicemails from our neighbour and the townhall. The firebrigade and police had been called because some of the roof tiles had slid forward and crashed into the street. The firebrigade then covered the hole with plastic but rain was still getting inside and doing more and more damage.You don't say why the roof fell in. If it was due to a "natural disaster" - severe storm, lightning etc then your insurance company should have pointed you in the direction of the Concorcio
The role of the Spanish Consorcio de Compensación de Seguros
My experience with them was excellent - i.e. they paid up - assessor came to see my collapsed wall and agreed a figure within 15 minutes for storm damage and I had the cash € 1500 within 2 weeks.
Mind you if the roof was rotten/woodworm etc .............
I just checked the Consorcio website again just to be sure there's nothing I've missed and it seems the reason they told us the insurance should pay is because they don't actually coverYou don't say why the roof fell in. If it was due to a "natural disaster" - severe storm, lightning etc then your insurance company should have pointed you in the direction of the Concorcio
The role of the Spanish Consorcio de Compensación de Seguros
My experience with them was excellent - i.e. they paid up - assessor came to see my collapsed wall and agreed a figure within 15 minutes for storm damage and I had the cash € 1500 within 2 weeks.
Mind you if the roof was rotten/woodworm etc .............