Is there still such a thing as land grab in spain - we are looking to buy a home in the valencia region just north of alicante (Sax), my parents live close, but my derrier is twitching as we need some land (2000m2) but don't want it snatched by those nasty bureucrats........

Ta Ross

Haven't heard of any lately, but Spanish law can change rapidly without much notice.Make sure your land and buildings are legal. It's more difficult to grab if all is legal. Also check the history of the local ajuntament to see if they've been involved in land scams in the past. Local landowners can have a lot of influence when it comes to land rights.

Much like in UK, the easiest way they can now 'grab' the land is by compulsory purchase for something like a new road.

Even though you might employ an abogado (like friends of ours did) you should do your own checks at the town hall to make sure there is no planned development. Our friends subsequently found that a new road was planned to go right through there land and only 5 meters from the back of the house!

Land grab in Spain is not quite the same. In Valencia they are usually not paid and to add insult they are forced to contribute to the infrastructure of the stolen land.

As J2 says, it's nothing like Spain! In UK, you get the going rate for the land, In Spain, zilch, and just to rub it in, charge you a silly sum for the development of your land they have just stolen. At least 15,000 foreigners fell foul of this law, but Spain was ordered by the EU to cease, as it's been quiet lately, maybe they have. Maybe they haven't? Due to international pressure, some have been compensated.

Spain has discovered that it is no longer beneficial to grab the land. Land is currently worth very little, but as a property owner you are a captive target for recurring annual property taxes, energy taxes, permits, safety inspections, maintenance charges, etc.

Try telling the Priors that