250 residents of the Colina La Zenia urbanisation in Orihuela (Alicante, Costa Blanca) have been left without water and electricity after being cut off by a developer seeking protection from its creditors.

Financial difficulties forced the developer of 140 properties in the Colina La Zenia urbanisation near Torrevieja to seek voluntary administration before completing the construction work. 250 residents who had already moved in, and were living off the builders supply, were cut off without warning.

None of the properties have a licence of first occupation (LFO) because of the outstanding building work. A town planning official explains that LFOs cannot be issued because the development is not finished. Without an LFO the residents cannot establish private contracts with the utility companies.

The town hall says it is powerless to help. “It’s a private matter between the builders and developers, and their clients,” explained a town planning official.

Similar situation exist in other parts of Orihuela Costa, admits the official, who refuses to rule out more cases in the coming months. “It all depends whether the banks start lending,” he said.