[JLMN]

Hi

We’ve offered on a property which has been accepted but our lawyer (who is not from the area) has told us that there are issues regarding the boundaries and there is no building permit – basically she has told us the property is illegal, but cannot be pulled down.  My husband and I thought this was too risky to proceed with, but our estate agent said that we should employ a lawyer from the area who knows the local situation.  I spoke to a lawyer yesterday but, to be honest, I am still very confused – I thought the law was the law and it didn’t matter where the lawyer was based.  We don’t know whether we should pay for another lawyer to potentially come back to us with the same information.

Any advice/experience very gratefully received!

Many thanks

JLMN

[Aunty Val]

Err…what are you hoping for – another lawyer to say, yes go and buy it?  I wouldn’t touch it with a barge pole if a lawyer has said don’t.

After all the advice out there and with full knowledge of the pitfalls of buying in Spain how can you possibly consider buying the house if you lawyer has advised against it?

 

[Mark Stücklin]

Wise words from Aunty. Give it a wide berth. There’s plenty more to choose from.

[JLMN]

Thank you both – we shall walk away and yes, there will be another!

Much appreciated.

[Mark Stücklin]

Spanish properties with planning problems are best left to specialist buyers who understand the risks, know how to sort them out, and can add value by buying cheap, sorting out the problems, then selling on at a higher price to reflect the value of clean title and zero planning problems. It’s a great business for Spanish planning consultants, but potentially ruinous for non-experts.

[Author]

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