28 Jun 2009 10:36 PM:

I have been reading the messges with interest as I have a holiday home at El Pinet.    I was about to post my views when up popped the message from "psbhoy" and they said exactly what I was going to say.    I have always been extremely grateful to the committee for all they're doing and have paid everything that's been requested.   I feel we're "hanging on by our fingertips" to keep the water and electricity supplies going and I'm prepared to take a chance on our money being used for that intended purpose, or at least used as the committee/administrators deem necessary.   It probably is more than most of us will be paying when we eventually get our own meters but some of it is to cover bills in arrears.   I agree with previous comments that It does feel as if we are being held to ransom by the administrators and I feel as frustrated and angered as everyone else about the lack of information and the broken promises, but the last thing I want, particularly for the people living there, is for the supplies to be cut to the site (I gather it takes months to get them reinstated) and that is why I feel we should pay what we're being asked to at this time.   As for getting "legal advice", I'm no longer sure what that term means in Spain.    If it's "illegal" to occupy properties without the habitation certificate, why did all our solicitors not tell us this when we completed on our properties?   Maybe some people were told and took a chance on it, but I doubt if this is the case.  It certainly wasn't mentioned to me when I handed over my money and the fact that this large legal firm insisted on cash, perhaps rather speaks for itself.

Community thread: EL PINET BLOG

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05 Oct 2008 2:53 PM:

Julie Anne - I don't know where this latest information came from but I'd like to just add my comments/opinion.   As you probably know, two Spanish guys resident at El Pinet have arranged with SJ administrators that we all (that is, those who have the deeds to their property) pay 60 euros a month from September to December, to try to safeguard the supply of water and electricity.  This amount is regardless of whether you live there all year, part year or hardly at all and regardless of size of property.   I know some people are saying this is unfair, and of course it's unfair, but in order to support the guys who are acting on our behalf, to whom I am most grateful, and to keep the supplies going,  I feel we should all go along with this as it would be impossible at this stage, without meters, to work out who should be paying what.   I don't know what your situation is regarding El Pinet, Julie Anne, but if you are an owner, then all I would say is that 240 euros is a small price to pay to keep the utilities going until such time as we can all have our own meters or at least can work out a fairer way of allocating costs.    If you are still waiting for your property to be finished, then I sympathise with you and can understand your frustration, but that is a different scenario.    If SJ do go under, as you are saying they will, then ok we lose the first 60 or 120 euros or whatever we'll have paid, but hopefully would be able to set up the payments to go straight to the electricity and water companies direct.   All this is nothing to do with what we feel about SJ or what's legal or not, it's just common sense and trying to make the best of a bad job. 

Community thread: Be careful

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25 Sep 2008 3:01 PM:

We have now received the report of the meeting some residents at El Pinet had with the Administrators yesterday, which I will post below.    Regrettably this doesn't mention when building will start on the unfinished properties  but is concerned with keeping the water and electricity supplies to the finished properties until such time as the infrastructure is complete and Habitation Certificates are issued.  It is then that everyone will get their own meters.   I guess everyone who received the original letter about paying 120 euros a month will now get one requesting the reduced amount of 60 euros.   I personally believe it is imperative that we go down this route and all pay the 60 euros a month.  I know some people are saying that it's unfair that we all pay the same amount as obviously our usage varies enormously, but it would be impossible to work it out fairly at this stage and our priority must be to keep the supplies going for all concerned.     I'm sure we've all read in the Spanish press about other developments where supplies have been cut off -  where would we go from there if that happened at El Pinet?  

Meeting of 24th with:

 San José Inversiones y Proyectos Urbanísticos S.A. and the Administrators.

 As you know San Jose have Financial problems and are unable to pay their suppliers and they have asked the owner to pay 120. - Euros per month for water and electricity.     At the end of the meeting we agreed that we would ask owners to pay 60. - Euros per month for September to December. This have not to be paid immediately; we will let you know next week when, how and to whom. This amount is based on San Jose expenses divided by 293 registered properties. 

 San Jose with the Administrators have plans to implement a timetable for the roads and the lighting which will enable us both, the houses and the apartments to obtain our habitation certification. This is hopped to be finished as soon after December this year as possible. At the very least they hope to have started the work.

If these plans are not implemented then we will have to go back to San Jose and the Administrators for more discussions as to the future.

 We have seen bills from San Jose for August this Year, but as you know this is a busy month so San Jose have agreed to show as bills for three normal months. This will give everybody a better idea of the actual cost of the expenses that El Pinet has.     After December one possibility been investigated is the provision of water and electricity meter which will be a much more fair way for each  to pay only for what he uses; this will be especially important if this issue continues for a long time.

 We would recommend that everybody pays this amount until December as failure to be united will not give the right impression to the Administration and the Court. We also think that to pay this amount will benefit everybody as we hope to have a better living environment and of course Habitation Certificates. This benefits Residents, people who are Renting Properties and to people who wish to Sell.     For all the people who had paid recently an amount, this will reduce the 120. - Euros required early in October. Also to clarify we agreed not to pay the expenses of August.

Community thread: Info req

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19 Sep 2008 8:59 AM:

I have now heard from someone who lives at El Pinet and who attended the meeting yesterday evening of residents/owners and people from San Jose.   -

There were lots of angry people at the meeting.  Two Spanish guys who live at El Pinet are going to go to the administrators and request a meeting.   They will ask for a complete break down of where the money will go and will pass on our questions.  Basically most people who attended the meeting are prepared to pay for three months with the assurance that in writing it is stated that by the 4th month the site will be ready for inspection from the council for our certificates.  San Jose have had permission to continue the site since May but have not had the money to continue. The Administrators have just come to an agreement with a Spanish Bank to back them to finish El Pinet.  Until that time there is no money to pay for our water or electric.  This order/suggestion has come from the Administrators.  If they dont get some money from us then the utilities cannot be paid.
I think something will be sorted quite quickly.  The other suggestion was to get permission for everyone to buy a meter and have it fitted  to our homes.

When I hear anything further I will post it here.

 

Community thread: Info req

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17 Sep 2008 8:45 PM:

I too have received San Jose's letter requesting the 120 euros a month as I have a holiday home at El Pinet.   I gather from a friend who lives there that they're having a residents' meeting with San Jose representatives tomorrow evening at the site office.   My son is out there at the moment and plans to go to the meeting so if there's any news I'll post it here.   It seems that some people are refusing to pay as they say it's illegal.  I shall wait and see what comes up at the meeting.

Community thread: Info req

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