Illegal properties - Moving to Catral: tips and advice - Catral forum - Costa Blanca forum in the Alicante province of Spain
Expat Services
Car Key Solutions
Costa Blanca Building Specialists
ASSSA Insurance
Jennifer Cunningham Insurances SL
Airport Service Taxi Mil Palmeras  Torre de la Horadada
Thy Will Be Done
interior building work
Gentlevan Removals
Gran Alacant Insurances
Espana Dream Properties
AA Free English TV
James Spanish School
Blacktower Financial Management

Join the Catral forum

Join the Catral forumMy name's Alex and this is my website all about Catral in Spain. Register now for free to talk about Moving to Catral: tips and advice and much more!

Illegal properties

Posted: Sat May 5, 2018 6:37pm
67 replies4786 views20 members subscribed
Gil6066

Posts: 12

7 helpful points

Location: Catral

Joined: 5 May 2018

Thinking of moving to catral but I'm a bit concerned about illegal properties in the area.are there any specific areas that should be avoided so I can discount certain properties.thanks for any info regards Dave.

jimtaylor

Posted: Sun May 6, 2018 4:39am

jimtaylor

Legendary helpful member

Posts: 5612

8738 helpful points

Location: Mudamiento

Joined: 2 Feb 2017

Posted: Sun May 6, 2018 4:39am

I don't think it's possible to define an area. Just tell whichever agent you use that you're only interested in properties that are fully legal, and that if you do a viewing you want to see the habitation certificate.

swcoulthurst

Posted: Sun May 6, 2018 6:43pm

swcoulthurst

Very helpful member

Posts: 1148

915 helpful points

Location: Mutxamel

Joined: 11 Nov 2015

Posted: Sun May 6, 2018 6:43pm

Never understood the 'illegal properties in Catral. In order to buy the property you have to sit down with the abogado, sign the documents and pay the taxes etc to the council. HOW CAN THEY POSSIBLY BE ILLEGAL.

jimtaylor

Posted: Mon May 7, 2018 4:23am

jimtaylor

Legendary helpful member

Posts: 5612

8738 helpful points

Location: Mudamiento

Joined: 2 Feb 2017

Posted: Mon May 7, 2018 4:23am

Because Valencia years ago decided that the actions of Catral town hall were illegal.

And anyone can buy an illegal property. It's a case of caveat emptor.

Willy

Posted: Mon May 7, 2018 7:25am

Willy

Helpful member

Posts: 375

235 helpful points

Location: Benijofar

Joined: 26 Feb 2018

Posted: Mon May 7, 2018 7:25am

swcoulthurst wrote on Sun May 6, 2018 6:43pm:

Never understood the 'illegal properties in Catral. In order to buy the property you have to sit down with the abogado, sign the documents and pay the taxes etc to the council. HOW CAN THEY POSSIBLY BE ILLEGAL.

It is quite simple in an area like Catral on a 10000 meter plot you could only build 200 meters of accommodation, however unscrupulous   builders built 5 house each having only 2000 meters of land which was illegal but they got away with it with bent officials!  A lot of which went to jail! but that still left the properties illegal! this is an ongoing saga as Jim says you can buy them but would have no comeback or warranty.

Basically you need a very good independent solicitor as the ones involved with the agent will say it is only a little bit illegal but there is no such thing! as a little bit illegal, ILLEGAL is what it says on the tin!

I am not saying all are like this but as with any property you need good legal advice even if you ask the agent to show you only legal properties they will show you ones that are illegal we know this for a fact but our solicitor spotted it straight away.

Buyer Beware.

Good luck in your search

Advertisement - posts continue below

Basil brush

Posted: Tue May 8, 2018 9:33am

Basil brush

Helpful member

Posts: 275

223 helpful points

Location: Almoradí

Joined: 9 Apr 2018

Posted: Tue May 8, 2018 9:33am

Gil6066 wrote on Sat May 5, 2018 6:37pm:

Thinking of moving to catral but I'm a bit concerned about illegal properties in the area.are there any specific areas that should be avoided so I can discount certain properties.thanks for any info regards Dave.

From first hand experience there is bargains to be had in Catral!

Just build in expected costs to legalize any house that you may like and be prepared for maybe 12-18 months to achieve this!

Definitely use an independent Solictor . Valencia and Catral town halls all want the past episodes put behind them and it’s benifecal to all parties to have a correct house with all the necessary legal paperwork in place.

Depending on weather you wish to take the risk or not....it’s your choice!

With regards to any warranty this is obviously out the window but then saying that most properties are ten years plus old anyway and we have friends who brought in la Zenia from a well known and respected developer who are still building there and after two years with many faults and problems they didn’t want to know and had no guarantee except for major faults( foundations walls etc)!

My advice would be if you see something and like it, weigh it all up and do your own diligence and see if the numbers add up, don’t be put off by an illegal property in the Catral area as it can be corrected and you could grab yourself a real bargain at the end of the day......they want last for ever!

Willy

Posted: Tue May 8, 2018 9:40pm

Willy

Helpful member

Posts: 375

235 helpful points

Location: Benijofar

Joined: 26 Feb 2018

Posted: Tue May 8, 2018 9:40pm

We have a friend that spent 15 years trying to legalize a property and he said he got it almost legal!!!

Shortiedouglas

Posted: Thu Oct 25, 2018 7:53pm

Posts: 18

2 helpful points

Location: Catral

Joined: 25 Oct 2018

Posted: Thu Oct 25, 2018 7:53pm

Hi We are about to put a deposit on a villa in Catral built in 1999. The villa is said to be illegal but the owners have everything done that was required to legalise them.

We have a lawyer from torrevieja who doesn't advise buying but the estate agent is saying that everything's ready to go it's just Valencia has stopped Catral issuing CH because they were over charging.

I cannot find any up to date info on this and would appreciate it if any one is in the same position or if any one has any positive up to date info in how this problem is to be resolved. Scared to loose our lives savings

Basil brush

Posted: Thu Oct 25, 2018 9:59pm

Basil brush

Helpful member

Posts: 275

223 helpful points

Location: Almoradí

Joined: 9 Apr 2018

Posted: Thu Oct 25, 2018 9:59pm

Hi,

I think the latest news is that Valencia has stopped issuing paperwork for the legalization of houses due to political reasons which apparently are being sorted out? 

I have been told this by a reputable source and assured that all will be back on track again......the Spainish way! 

So glad we have jumped through all the hoops and got ours done and dusted etc and I honestly think it’s always going to be an ongoing problem for some but my advice would be if you really want it...go for it but always do as much homework as possible and make sure you use a decent independent Solictor.

Shortiedouglas

Posted: Thu Oct 25, 2018 10:27pm

Posts: 18

2 helpful points

Location: Catral

Joined: 25 Oct 2018

Posted: Thu Oct 25, 2018 10:27pm

Thank you for this we did get an independent lawyer who told us it was illegal but the agent that sold it to us was up front about it. The current owner paid money to get a demolition order removed which our solicitor confirmed that there is no demolition order and no fines or debt associated with this property. The current owner has already installed the new eco tank and has all the other paperwork showing the house garage and pool is recorded. We don't want to extend but it's a bit tired on the inside so we need to do a bit of a refurb which means knocking a bedroom into the kitchen do we need planning permission to do this sort of work?

Sign up for free or login to reply to this topic

Want to reply to this topic? Login or register for free to post your message:

Find more Moving tips and advice topics from a particular area:


Register for free!

Login to your account

Expat Services
Car Key Solutions
Costa Blanca Building Specialists
ASSSA Insurance
Jennifer Cunningham Insurances SL
Airport Service Taxi Mil Palmeras  Torre de la Horadada
Thy Will Be Done
interior building work
Gentlevan Removals
Gran Alacant Insurances
Espana Dream Properties
AA Free English TV
James Spanish School
Blacktower Financial Management
Advertise your business here
Advertise your property
Help with my computer