Survey done in English. Is that OK?

I don't know the answer to your question, but I presume the surveyor has the survey saved on his computer, in which case it would take two minutes to run it through Google Translate and print off a Spanish version.

The agent uses a lame excuse and will do everything possible in (i.e. nothing) to keep your money. As I see it, he has part of responsibility and liability, but it will be very hard and stressy for you to get your money back. Taking the matter before a court can cost more than the amount in question and take years. An alternative could be appealing for a consumer arbitration, where you don't need a lawyer.

Thanks. I thought as much. Steer clear of Casitas Pego and don't listen when they say people are queuing up to view the deathtrap. Smoke from neighbour's chimney. And avoid Carrer Sant Pere and Carrer Sant Blas for antisocial noise issues. 1000€ out of pocket is better than 82,000€. Hard lesson learned. Next time NOTHING is being "reserved" by us.

Well done to you, move along and hopefully this lesson learned will put you in good stead, But if you can get a copy of the report in Spanish (Herefordjack) from your surveyor, Deliver it personally to the agent and demand your money back and then just walk away, good luck my friend and stand your ground for future reference, you are not the first and certainly will not be the last.  

Sorry to hear about this. 

Just out of interest, was the Casitas employee Spanish or English and if you don't mind telling, who is the surveyor? 

Hope you get at least something out of this. 

Writing it off to experience is probably not bad advice but I would add that as there is no legal requirement for a survey on a property logically there cannot be a requirement for one to be in any particular language.

Asking for the agents complaints book can't do any harm.

Hi,

Thanks for sharing your experience with us.  I agree with HJ and Darro - translate the survey into Spanish using Google, hand deliver a printed copy in both languages to the selling agent, ask them to sign a receipt to confirm they've received it, and then ask for the return of your deposit.  If they refuse, or come up with another excuse, ask for their "Hojas de Reclamaciones" (complaints book).  If they refuse to supply it, call the police - don't be alarmed at this suggestion, it worked for friends of mine who paid €600 when placing an order for tiles, but after 6 months they hadn't received them.  The police attended the shop, listened to both parties and then ordered the shop owner to refund the money to my friends.

Good luck!  And if you can bear it, do let us know how you get on  :o)

Kind regards,

Kim

Will do.

Thanks for valuable advice.

I don't mind a good ruck. How DARE Blasi take us for morons.

I think a lot may depend on the description of a property, if it says for reform then it means what it says and if this is the case I don't think you will have a very strong argument to demand a refund. ALL estate agents will do the same, everything is easy in their world and nothing is a problem because their job is to sell the property, end of.

Many older properties have not been professionally updated since the day they were built, things are patched up, covered over, bodged and most will need a full rewire at the very least. If you see part tiled walls they could well be covering up damp and the more you delve into it the more nasty surprises you will find. Even the very walls of the building could be made up of all sorts of things including stones, rocks, part bricks, paper or plastic bags stuffed in gaps, have a look out for buildings where the render has come off the walls, it is a real eye opener.