I have been reading on another site that a licence is required in some areas of Spain for a private swimming pool. Can anyone tell me if this is the case on Oasis (Hondon) please? Or can we just get on with it

You need a licence for almost every bit of building work you do, so definately you will need it for a pool, but I am sure the pool builders would sort it out for you.

Thanks for that Jdr. Something I would never have thought about, would probably have just got on with it had I not read what I did. Do you know if this adds much on to the cost and is it time consuming? Just shows how much there is to learn about rules and regulations over there!!

Not sure about pools but it is usually a percentage of the estimated cost of works.

One of the reasons we bought to retire to Spain was to avoid the amount of taxes we pay in the UK. But like you Linda, the more we find out the more it seems everything except breathing is considered taxable.

Probably explains the huge market for getting work done in cash! But for something like a pool, get it done properly, pay hte right taxes or it could come back and haunt you later on!

You will need a licence. Don't rely on the people you employ to install it to get the licence. Check with the town hall that it will be ok. There are a lot of people in Castalla on an urbanisation who have installed pools illegally and the town hall is now in the process of issuing large fines. Other illegal building work has been done also. Because of these works the certificate of habitation is being held back until all checks have been made and fines imposed. Some of the people thought the licence had been applied for but they were lied to by the pool installers. Have you got your certificate of habitation?

Great advice. Get it done properly or you may find a neighbour reporting you and you having to fill in your nice new pool.

It is a truth that some of those who find it cheapest to live in Spain are often "residential tourists" who don't have proper health cover, drive British reg cars without tax or valid insurance, do odd jobs for cash, etc., It would be very cheap to live in the UK living like that too!

Even putting up a garden shed will require some form of licence, and these can't be granted until all the paperwork has been completed on the house or you'll risk a large fine from the Town Hall and may jeopardise the granting of habitation licences to others on the urbanisation until the matter is sorted, and will still have to return your pool back to being a garden!

There seem to be a few builders putting pools into Oasis. As I think some others have commented - best to wait until you're here to get recommendations. There seem to be lots of 'jacks of all trades' working locally offering everything from air-con to pools to landscaping to satellite dishes to PC repair. I can't see how they can be 'experts' in all fields without compromising something!

Yes. Our Pool builder sorted it all out for us. We had to submit Architect drawings - This was included in the pool price but we did have to pay a tax once it was built - About 1 or 2 % of the cost - can't quite remember - it's peanuts compared to your pool cost though.

My advice is to wait until you get in the house, papers signed and here before you organise your pool as you won't be there to keep an eye on the building of it AND there various good deals around + MAKE SURE you speak to a few people who have already had a pool done (not just one). And there is one company touting around the Mi Casa Urb' who has had a lot of bad press here - so beware. They usually pounce on you when you arrive... very friendly, best mates and all. We never used them based on the feedback we got.

I'd certainly recommend ours but cannot name them here as I'll be accused of advertising unfairly. They check your garden and give you a presentation - lots of options. If you are way up the hill on Mi Casa (in the very rocky bit) you may not get a builder to 'dig' the hole or it may cost more. Contrimar were quoting silly prices for this (like they do it seems).

Thanks for all your answers. Lionda - not got habitation certificate yet - not got house!! lol Hopefully (big hope) next August/September

Without the habitation certificate you must hold back on any works you may want to do. Do not make any alterations to the property until you have all the paperwork.

you will need a licence and poss an architects project - but as with everything in Spain in varies from town hall to town hall

tax on the license can be anything up to 6% of the quote for the work - and doesnt include architects costs if a project is needed

we even needed a license for re-tiling our bathroom and as already has been said its best to speak to the town hall to save any hassle at a later date (especially with larger building work)

Without a habitation licence, you are not even supposed to be living there. Sadly, this 'minor detail' seems to be overlooked by solicitors / estate agents in the rush to get people to complete and not pull out of their contract which they would otherwise be able to do.

Some neighbours of ours have been living without a habitation licence for FOUR YEARS. Their property is questionable legally, so the builder / town hall are still fighting over whether it should even be there. Now the builder is fed up with providing them construction water / electricity and has decided to take them to court for the rest of his money. They can't pay him - because they can't get a mortgage without a habitation licence. They stand to lose their house + large chunk of money because under Spanish law they've gone and accepted a property without a habitation licence so therefore they have no protection.

Under the circumstances, they'd probably win if they fought the builder - but they get no automatic protection as they're as much in the wrong for living illegally, so it will need to go to court and with all the costs that they can't afford.

That's a very sad story because people come for a relaxing way of life and instead have had four years of stress and uncertainty. It is actually quite frightening to think just how many Brits live here without a a certificate of Habitation, many unaware of its importance.

I don't know where you are but there are actually now some town halls that will not even authorise you to have water for your pool, if you go about the process properly you will obviously find this out before getting to the building stage.
This tends to more in the smaller villages around the coast, even in Jubrique which has an abundantly flowing river you will have problems getting permission for water to fill a pool.