some useful info perhaps for those looking to buy

http://www.illegalvillasspain.com/index.html

DID THEY USE LAWYERS???

Yes of course they did.

They used the nice friendly English speaking lawyer recommended by the estate agent/developer.

What could possibly be wrong with that?

Sometimes the lawyers are in league with the developer or estate agent, or just incompetent.

No, really, you do surprise me!

What is that supposed to mean, I didn't see your reply before I posted

its just this has been discussed time and time and time again and we all agree

NEVER to use a solicitor recommended by the agent, always find someone independent

I think it comes back to a observation i made months ago ,
ie;

Why buy off plan ? go for resale then lands sorted and no hidden skeletons etc..

Well I do apologise, I don't come on forums much and don't have time to read all the previous threads.

yes after hearing come of the horror stories I tend to agree with you there Pete

but saying that near us there are some nice houses over looking the orange groves.....heard last week they are building 750 new houses right at the back of them - will change their views for sure

Well that can be a bugger for sure , nothings safe ,,

I am sorry to dig up an old post. Its not every day you get the person behind the web site mentioned join a web site especially to say thank you for the comments about it

In answer to the comments about using a lawyer, yes we did
And we are again now, fighting to save our home. We are at present at the second letter stage from Valencia.

If anyone can add any ideas on how the web site could be improved or further information added to it, to help save other falling into the same trap as us and the other 150,000 illegal home owners in Spain, I am all ears.

Thanks again Lee G

Was it an independent lawyer just out of interest?

We used a lawyer recommended by the estate agent.
Like many others. Saying that I have heard of one couple using a lawyer recommended by their embassy and still ending up with an illegal house.
Others we have heard have their lawyers put guarantees that the houses will be legal in writing, on illegal houses

we did the same when we bought our first place here - I think most people would go with the estate agents recommendation as they ar e the people "in the know" and trusted" its only after that you find out if it all goes pear shaped

our sale was fine and we had no problems after so it was ok for us but in future I would now always use an independent solicitor