24 Jul 2010 10:34 PM:

Be very very careful before handing over any cash.  I would use an independant Lawyer who is working for you and not for the seller or Agent.  I have a friend who bought a piece of rustic land with the Mayors agreement that it could be used as a building site.  Permission was given for an Almacen (Barn) but told he could build a house.  He is now being told by the Reginal Govenment that it is illegal he has been fined by them more than the cost of the initial purchase of the land and building and he also has to demolish the building.   When he looked at the Catastro registration it is classed as Rustico land with a Residential building on it and the year it was built.  But it is still illegal.  The Catastro register is just so they can collect taxes the Hacienda altered the registration and then informed the owner.  As mentioned earlier in other posts different areas have different views on what is and is not allowed.  Ask to see the actual building licence for the building, not the project done by the architect but the actual licences issued to build - if in any doubt keep your money and just rent.

Thread: Buying rustic property with alterations

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20 Mar 2010 10:48 PM:

Dont believe anything that Agents or sellers tell you.  We bought land which we were told we could build a house on.  Permission given by the Mayor  - everyone was happy, the farmers were getting inflated land prices for non urban land, the Mayor was getting his permission fees, the architects were getting their fees, the builders merchents were selling lots of bricks etc and we though we were doing everything right - all was going well until we finished the build.  We now have a demolition order on it and have spent several thousands of euros trying to fight this case.  We are in Catalunya near the Ebro so dont let anyone tell you Catalunya is different and not like Spain.  Most rural land can not be built on.  Previously the Mayors let you do anything and then along comes Urbanismo (government department) and the Mayor washes his hand of you and you are left with a very hefty fine and a demolition order. If you really want to come to Spain then get a good Spanish lawyer and make sure the building is registered as residential and has a habitation certificate.  Dont let anyone sell you a farm shed that has been converted to a house, it is not legal and never will be, and if you buy a ruin you still have to get permission to bring it back to a habitable building just like the planning laws in the Uk.

After saying all this most Spanish are very nice helpful people.

 

Thread: Looking to buy rural land to site holiday cabin or caravan

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22 Jan 2010 12:00 AM:

I am interested in contacting anyone in Catalunya who has been mislead by corrupt mayors, estate agents, notaries etc and is now in dispute with Urbanisum - I am hoping we can get together to help each other.

Thread: Illegal licences

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