Land Grap
What the Spanish authorities trample over property rights in Spain (land grap), expats aren’t the only ones who suffer. Many ordinary foreigners, of all nationalities, have had their homes, businesses and livelihoods cruelly snatched from them by developers in cahoots with corrupt politicians in Spain. There are thousands of expatriates currently suffering the consequences of unjust expropriation. These cases are not an anti-British campaign by the Spanish, the small group affected has Spaniards and other nationalities as well as British.
Headlines and quotes from angry expats have suggested that a cruel Spanish system is kicking people off their land completely or forcing them to pay for infrastructures they don’t want and/or taking some of their land for private gain. The new Spanish CRIME of the Century!
The Spanish press has recently labeled 11 towns In the Malaga province alone, as ‘corrupt’; namely Marbella, Alhaurin el Grande, Estepona, Manilva, Gaucin, Competa, Torox, Ojen, Ronda, La Vinuela, Sayalonga and in the Costa Blanca area Denia, Benichatel, Javea, Teulada, Els Poblets, Benidoleig, Alfaz del Pi, La Nucia, Benissa down to Torrevieja.
Unfortunately, in the areas Costa Blanca and Costa del Sol the law was badly drafted, allowing a small number of developers and local authorities to exploit the situation against the interests of property owners, principally in coastal areas where land is in shorter supply and values are at their highest. As in the UK, notices of intent must be published, but just 15 working days are allowed to present an alternative urbanization plan or an objection. Since many landowners are absentee and foreign, this can cause a breakdown in the process.
Most importantly, this particular version of the law applies to the Valencian-, Andalucian and Canarian (islands) Communities. In practical terms this means the Costa Blanca, the Costa del Azahar, Costa del Sol, plus their inland areas, also in Tenerife and Las Palmas.
So, in summary, always use an independent legal advice by professional lawyers (not in the concerned area – mostly the lawyers and Real Estate Firms are connected with the corrupt authorities) continues to be the best way of protecting yourself when you are affected by the land grap, no matter what the property or location.
Note: This website is designed for general information only. The information presented should not be construed to be formal legal advice nor the formation of a lawyer/client relationship. You should not act upon this information without seeking professional counsel.
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