Licences

Not sure which section this goes under.

Could anyone tell me please how long it takes to get minor works licences through?

Replacement windows, damp treatment, painting and new kitchen units and bathroom units.

No expansion of the original building.

Ta

Laury

Depends on your town hall. Go to the "urbanismo" dept. and ask. I recently got a "licencia de obras menores" from Torremolinos town hall - much the same kind of stuff you're planning. Took about a week. You'll probably have to complete a form detailing the work planned, plus an estimate of the cost. Put down as small a figure as you think you can reasonably get away with (minimum cost of materials - no labour cost because you're doing it yourself, right?) because you will be charged a percentage of the estimate. I paid €67. Don't forget, if you need a skip, you will need separate permission from the "vias publicas" to put it on the road, and you'll probably be told you have to remove it at weekends.

Hope this helps.

Thanks Roberto.

We have a Spanish bloke doing that for us and we were told that it would be 3% of material costs for the licence.

I didn't realise it was that quick.

It's inland costa blanca area.

Laury

That was how long it took for mine - but it will really depend on your town hall. Only way to be sure is to ask. And don't be afraid to hassle them a bit, or tell your Spanish mate to do so. There was a thread where I posted my own experience http://www.eyeonspain.com/Secure/ForumPosts.aspx?thread=386&dev=FB11&name=General+chit+chat It went a little off topic at times, so you'll have to trawl through a lot of chit chat, but you may find it interesting.

Best of luck with yours!

Thanks Roberto. interesting reading.

Our house isn't on an urbanisation and has an acre of land to put skip and rubbish on and so there shouldn't be a problem there.

The locals say there is no problem in obtaining the licence and we just need the written details of work and material costs for the town hall.

I also found it interesting that people often start work as soon as the licences are applied for. Would this be very risky?

Laury

Oh and it's classed as urban on  the register,  not rural. Although it's a finca.

At the urbanismo desk in our town hall, there's a big sign up (in Spanish) that says "the application for permission is NOT the permission, you must not commence work until permission is granted", and I guess it's safe to assume that is true wherever you are. HOWEVER.......as you no doubt read on the other thread, I am working in a very fussy community - your circumstances are different, and when in Rome.....I think as long as you are not bothering any neighbours with your power tools at 6am, you probably shouldn't worry too much. Then again, if you get your permit as quick as I did, you'll probably still be sitting on the patio, sangria in hand, contemplating getting stuck in, but thinking, this is Spain, why do today what I can reasonably put off until tomorrow?