Lenox

Five years ago Tuesday 8th January, Helen and Len Prior watched aghast as their house was demolished outside Vera (Almería). Five years later, they are still living in the garage that somehow escaped the demolition order. Spain will have lost billions in unsold properties, cars and money transfers thanks to this well-publicised idiocy. Plus thousands of jobs, of course.
Meanwhile, spare a thought for Helen and Len: it's a hell of a punishment to mete out to some elderly Britons who never did anything wrong and only wanted to live their remaining years in peace.

Mitzyboy

Thanks for reminding us Lenox

Lenox

Seems that a group of British home-owners in Albox are planning an appeal in the European Court of Human Rights against their homes being demolished (there are 300,000 'illegal' homes in Andalucía - about the same number as apartments in the entire City of Málaga. Funny how nobody noticed until the cheques had all cleared). See La Voz de Almería. The lawyer mentioned, Gerardo Vázquez, is British (despite his name).

Domino

Sur in English is available as a .pdf at http://services.surinenglish.com/virtual/20130104/

on page 2 - 12 Developments legally escape demolition - refers to Marbella

also page 2 - Antonio Banderas gives up part of the garden at his home - So how the hell did he manage to end up with an illegal property.!!

on page 4 - Decree still has no effect in La Axarquia - refers to there being an estimate 20,000 illegal properties in that area

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Fredbargate

From the article he appears to have purchased it two years after the construction licence was approved.

Or to put it another way he was screwed by a bunch of honest Spanish lawyers and politicians like a lot of other people.

Domino

and now as part of the deal with the same council that issued the original permission he gives up land to allow a footpath infront of his property ??
not seen it but not for me

Lynn R

Well, if nothing else it gives the lie to those people who go around saying "it wouldn't happen if we were Spanish".