Domino

these are what the BH and I call "properties with potential", if they have a roof then they are "opportunities"

quite honestly, get on the land and have a look at the "property", many are no more than shelters for the land workers they are not real live in homes as we would define in the UK

you will then find that they are literally a pile of stones dug out of the ground and made into an outer wall, there are no foundations, no flooring, and as already identified - no utilities. worry about access - does the track to the building give you access to a road or is it over someone else's land.

friends of ours bought a newer habitable property out in the olive groves, it looked good, didnt do a survey but knew it would need a a new roof - just that when they started taking the roof off the walls started to bow and buckle, because the roof was all that was keeping the walls in place they only went a few inches below the soil, there was no foundations and the floor was just a concrete pour onto the soil....

if you can live for 2-3 years in a caravan whilst making this the place of your dreams then fine, but you really will have to consider flattening and rebuilding to "proper" standards.

I say good luck to you if you succeed, but consider talking to one or two of the TV companies to see if you can get some coverage from them - along with a couple of grand feed money.

best regards

fionamw

Yes but the OP is still at sea about escrituras, etc..... Iḿ sure they'd be more than happy to restore or even rebuild one of the many buildings to be found.
As to whether an agent raving about how wonderful it would be gives the full story about the likelihood of permissions being granted, or those permissions being legal even if granted, is another story. As would be the obtaining power, obtaining water, ensuring legal access, and so on.
At the moment the OP needs clear steering about where to get proper info about the LEGAL stuff about house buying, building, reforming, and using.

punoo

Thanks again everyone.

Fionamw...you are so right!!! I am lost! I am talking to the agents who are registered but have no idea what to ask. I dont want that we buy something and renovate it and after few years it gets knocked down by the gov or we are not allowed to live in it or rent it out as a holiday home. Phewwwww

snikpoh

OK. here's my two-penny-worth;

1. Make sure it has an escritura (deeds) detailing exactly what is there
2. Make sure IBI is being paid - look at the cadastral record
3. Make sure it has a habitation licence
4. Check it has been registered (land registry)

JLFS

And no outstanding debts or loans on the property, and water, electricity etc.

mikelincs

Just remember that a lot of people who appear on the 'Homes from Hell' TV series did just what you are planning, and didn't get good, independent legal advice, and also didn't check the building rules and regulations. In Spain you have to get Town Hall permission for any alterations, and, if they wish to nit pick, even painting your house outside. It's a minefield. Most Spanish properties are passed down in the family, and divided evenly between the inheritors, so it's not impossible that there could be 10 or 20 joint owners of old houses.

Rosemary

Plus get a licence for every piece of work you undertake for the renovation, which is a type of tax. We have more paperwork for the work that we have done ourselves and the work that we have had tradepeople in to do than we thought possible.

Rosemary

pwwm

One other thing, make sure you will be able to get access in winter when it rains, have seen a few here ignore that advice and lose their access.

Also had someone tell me they didnt need mains water, didnt take long when they were trying to wash sheets etc to realise big boo boo.

For me, had to have phone line, electric and mains water. take note of what others have said re permissions etc. Is the property legal, you have been given excellent information do listen.

Rotor

Thats another minefield stiffled with legislation If you need to rent it out dont assume it will be straight forward just because the house is legal..

fionamw

Everyone having said what they've said, I'd just pipe up again PLEASE believe we're not being unnecessarily cautious, or trying to put you off the idea, or the dream. Just attempting to help you avoid the pitfalls so many have had.

Domino

that advice should come from someone who is legally bound to provide the correct advice, advice on forums - including business and legal forums is at best tenuous, at worst Dangerous.

even England footballers can and have come unstuck, with all their money to buy the right advice.

Fred James

And who would that be?

In Spain even lawyers often give the wrong or biased advice and in reality there is no recompense if they do.

The advice given by forum members that have actually had experience of the situation may often be a better source.

mikelincs

That's true, at one area we lived there was a block of apartments totally empty, a professional footballer had bought the penthouse apartment, but had never lived in it because no other apartments had been sold, and they couldn't get a habitation license, so no utilities. The garden area was overgrown etc. The owner would do nothing as he didn't need the money, and was waiting for the right people to get back in power then he could use his influence to get it sorted out. There were 4 blocks in the same position, all owned by the same person and only one, in the time we lived there had any inhabitants, and that was just for a holiday fortnight.

COWBOY_BUILDER

Hello Punoo.

The other thing you need to consider is ,when you've renovated the house in the Campo or in the Mountains usually a long way from other people what are you going to do about security , there are a lot of thieves about and they are likely to pay you a visit if it's a holiday home or you are away for any length of time and sometimes that is just the trip to get shopping if you're a creature of habit and go on the same day every week for a few hours .
Alarms are almost useless in the campo ,you can't have guard dogs if you're not there to look after them and the way most Rejas (security grills)are fitted are a joke as they can be removed with little effort if you know how ...It's a big problem in Spain .
I know of a house in the Campo up for sale for €1 million that has been stripped of everything over a three week period ,the Guardia just said "they can't watch every house thats empty" ..and these people are Spanish .
We came to Spain 12 years ago when you could leave things outside for weeks and no one would touch them , but thats all changed .
Our plan was to live up a little track away from everyone but when we saw what that meant we opted for a village house with Spanish neighbours and are so glad we did as were forced to learn Spanish and when we travel our house is secure ......this is just something to bare in mind and listen to the people on here .....Good luck with your plans .

Domino

Its only a couple of weeks ago I read about someone who had over £20k of panels and generator stolen from his house, it was up a track, no one else around.

caveat emptor, as even a security system wouldnt stop that from happening.