Canyella

Hello all

I wondered if anyone could point me to a good website or thread about the process/cost/legal issues of buying (an old terraced town house - in Valencia province....)?? Or is this the million dollar question (like 'what will happen after borisbrexit?').

Also what would be your checklist to ask the agent before viewing an older property?

Cheers!
Canyella

spainrico

Start here

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/living-in-spain

https://www.pellicerheredia.com/en/real-estate

Do not rush into anything you need to know it is legal and has no debts. Use totally independent professional solicitors.

Canyella

thanks!

Canyella

I see a lot of mention of 'need to know it's legal' - presumably this is with new(ish) builds and any extension and so on, rather than an older property?

For an older property is permission required to update - wiring, plumbling, opening up rooms, adding an extra loo etc?

Moses2013

It has nothing to do with the age of property and you just never know. Sometimes it's better to just build a new property, rather than renovating an old property bit by bit. You need a licence for everything, for example minor works licence for tiling your patio and any extension will need a major works licence. The process of the extension would be nearly the same as a new build. You need a Spanish architect to submit plans to town hall.

Canyella

oh wow.

Canyella

Are the licenses difficult to get and cost a shed load??

Rosemary

Depends very much on what you are actually changing, renewing etc. We gained our licences very easily with our renovations but we were not tearing down walls or altering the size of the house at all purely ripping out everything in the two bathrooms and replacing with new. Costs were minimal for all of the minor works licences. We purchased all of the items necessary went to the town hall, filled out a form with the details of the work involved. They gave us a form to take to the bank to pay the required amount, returned to the town hall with the proof of payment and they issued the licence immediately.

I have had a look at the licence for when we employed a builder in 2012 to replace out roof terrace it cost 70 euros for the licence so even a more major job did not cost much.

One other thing is that you have to give an estimate of the time that the work will take. So there is no point in gaining a licence for work that will be completed some time in the distant future.

Hope that this helps.

Rosemary

Canyella

great. that's helpful.

I'm a brave soul, and ambitious with my vision of what i want (typical artist), but I also need to be realistic!

How's the cost of labour compare to uk/france? I'm assuming there may be a slower progress work ethic, but that's not a big deal to me. within reason. lol

Jill

Moses2013

Depends what type of work and what is allowed. Each area has different regulations and some people aren't even allowed to paint their house in a different colour. Since we bought land and are still in the process of finalizing a new modular home, I can only speak for our area. This is good information: Since you are planning to change the property (extension), you will need a major license and will have to pay fees for an architect too.

https://www.spanishpropertyinsight.c...erty-in-spain/

Canyella

thanks for the link.
i've no interest in extending or anything - but assume one needs to make sure anything that looks 'new' in an old house needs to have proof for permission.

Rosemary

No idea how the cost of labour compares. Regarding the speed of work I have found the Spanish to be fast workers but maybe that is because I live in a small town and only employed locals to complete any work that was needed so cannot speak for other areas.

Rosemary

el collado kid

hi canyella. in lliber,, jalon valley,you need a,licence for every thing you can think of.bath room 200 plus depends on size. you con not extend the foot print of the property at all.police and town hall do regular drive by,s most days we,ve had the police knock our door a few times checking.

Canyella

wow. i suppose it's fair enough to a certain degree if it's a means to keep things in hand as it were.

el collado kid

p.s average hourly rate 15 plus very good workers indeed.we use the same spannish builder all the time very pleased indeed