Help & Advice re; New Anti Fire Risk Laws for Gardens & Fields in Oliva?!

Posted: Tue Jul 28, 2026 9:26am

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Joined: 6 Feb 2024

Hello! We are a retired couple living up in Cataluña. We have an old villa with land in the campo near Oliva and Oliva south beach which is empty and we want to sell it. We need help because it is difficult for us to get down to Oliva thesedays. A tradesman who we have cause not to trust has contacted us with a quote of approximately 1000 Euros to cut a 50m x 3m strip of canes which he says need removing. This person has tried to pressure us to act immediately within 24 hours. But we need a trustworthy second opinion. We are aware of the laws requiring land owners to cut and remove canes that present a fire risk but need an honest person to advise about this. Of course, we want to comply with the law and we already need a landscaper to clear a large area of Bamboo on our land. But we have been cheated many times by rogue trademen. Can anyone advise us or tell us of any professional who can? Thanks for you time. Soultrain.

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Posted: Tue Jul 28, 2026 10:33am

Badger1234

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Posted: Tue Jul 28, 2026 10:33am

Soultrain wrote on Tue Jul 28, 2026 9:26am:
Hello! We are a retired couple living up in Cataluña. We have an old villa with land in the campo near Oliva and Oliva south beach which is empty and we want to sell it. We need help because it is difficult for us to get down to Oliva thesedays. A tradesman who we have cause not to trust has con...

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...tacted us with a quote of approximately 1000 Euros to cut a 50m x 3m strip of canes which he says need removing. This person has tried to pressure us to act immediately within 24 hours. But we need a trustworthy second opinion. We are aware of the laws requiring land owners to cut and remove canes that present a fire risk but need an honest person to advise about this. Of course, we want to comply with the law and we already need a landscaper to clear a large area of Bamboo on our land. But we have been cheated many times by rogue trademen. Can anyone advise us or tell us of any professional who can? Thanks for you time. Soultrain.

First off, I would immediately disregard anything said by someone who pressures you with a time limit. He sounds like an out and out crook and that sort of thing is just typical tactics.

If I were you I would try and get in touch with the local Fire dept and see if you can get some guidance as to what you would actually need to get done.

Posted: Tue Jul 28, 2026 11:05am

RonTT

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Posted: Tue Jul 28, 2026 11:05am

Badger1234 wrote on Tue Jul 28, 2026 10:33am:
First off, I would immediately disregard anything said by someone who pressures you with a time limit. He sounds like an out and out crook and that sort of thing is just typical tactics.
If I were you I would try and get in touch with the local Fire dept and see if you can get some guidance as to what you would actually need to get done....

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Would agree, disregard anything said by someone who pressures you, are there no farmers round about, this is a task they would have to carry out regularly alternative is ask neighbours for advise

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Posted: Tue Jul 28, 2026 11:11am

Villas

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Posted: Tue Jul 28, 2026 11:11am

First off ( if haven't done so). Contact your ayuntamiento. The town hall monitor land vegetation (via air-craft helicopters planes & now drones). They will quite often issue a direction for the landowner to restrict or cut back, overgrown borders or within, in a certain time. Certainly NOT 24hrs. ( I had a such request many years ago & complied via a local farmer. V

Posted: Tue Jul 28, 2026 12:57pm

Soultrain

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Location: Oliva

Joined: 6 Feb 2024

Posted: Tue Jul 28, 2026 12:57pm

RonTT wrote on Tue Jul 28, 2026 11:05am:
Would agree, disregard anything said by someone who pressures you, are there no farmers round about, this is a task they would have to carry out regularly alternative is ask neighbours for advise

Hi Badger, Ronn & Villas.... thank you all so much. You are very kind! Our finca is only 1.5km from Oliva town in the oranges near the beach, but it might as well be the Wild West. In the past we have had okupas, various mafiosa types who have threatened us, set a fire to the canes, burned tires next to a our fence and generally abused any body who goes there to help us. The police have not been interested and say that they can only take denuncias in person. And no professional is interest in sorting problems like this for us. Secuity companies charge 1000´s just for a "drive by" service. The place is safe now because of a full Securitas Direct package. But we have never found professional to help us sort things out in person. We are in our late 70´s and are giving up! We want the to improve the place a bit and sell. We have found a good solicitor but no estate agent nor gestor or DiY person that would be prepared to be our eyes and ears on the ground and help sort out problems and incidents like this for a reasonable fee. So if anyone can recommend a good Estate Agency that will go the extra mile to help distant clients with the process and maybe have honest tradesmen working for them, please let me know! Thanks Agian !!

Soultrain

On the specific problem, I have found that the presupuesto I received was not from a landscape company but a parcels delivery company! The local Guardia civil office that I ring appears to an answering machine! I have found a Oliva Desbrocidora/ Grua company called Olvia Grupo who will go round tomorrow, whether they will honestly tell me if the canes a safe safty risk or not, I don´t know.