Can someone out there give me some advice please? We have been searching the Net for suitable properties in the Alcoy/ Cocentaina/ Ayora valley region, and some properties we like are without swimming pools.

We thought it would be a simple thing to have one built once we got the property, but a friend of ours has told us that there are very strict regulations about installing pools on properties.

Does anyone know anything about this please? Should we limit our house search to one com-lete with pool, or have we been given duff info here?

Perhaps it is something that is restricted to a particular area? Any advice??

You would need to get planning permission for a pool, and with the water shortages currently in Spain I suspect that they are not that keen on granting permission. Someone near here has just had to demolish his pool due to the regulations not being followed exactly.

Thanks for that Mike!
Perhaps we should stick to properties with pools?

And make sure they had the proper permissions for their pool!

Maybe it´s a regional thing, but I have never heard of anyone having problems applying for a swimming pool.

If you saw a place you liked that didn´t have a pool, you could always stipulate in the contract that it is subject to a successful application for a pool.

I was advised as long as you have the ground space , putting a pool in isnt a problem , the water you buy in and can even go for a salt water one which comes from the sea , so i wouldnt worry

exactly, as said, as long as you have the land available cant see why there would be a problem - a pool being demolished was probably because permission wasnt applied for

it varies from place to place but the position is something you might want to consider too - think the limits are something like 3m from the boundary and 5m from the road

water shortages are in the over populated areas

once you have found a property you like you could always go along to the town hall and speak to the architect who will give you an idea of what would be allowed and what the restrictions are