Courts decide!!!!!

Last week in one of the Catalan newspapers "Diari Ebre", the front page article was about 3 houses which had been built illegally.
One was an English couple near Gandesa, the second was a Spanish family near Tortosa, and it didn't specify the third family but the building was near Alcanar.
All 3 properties are in the area known as "Terres del Ebre" which basically means soil or land of the Ebro.
It said that the first family have to pay 16400 Euros fine, and take their house down. The same outcome for the Spanish family but with a slightly smaller fine, and again demolish the house and a fine for the third family.
The authorities also requested custodial sentences for the offenders ranging from 4 years down to 18 months.
Now, imagine that you have pumped all of your life savings into this dream home in Spain, or you have taken a mortgage to do it.............what happens?
I'll tell you what happens.......................you've lost the lot, and more besides, because you now have a fine to pay, and probably you will need to hire a demolition company to take down your beautiful home............................and why?????.........because unfortunately when most of us "Brits" come to Spain, we leave our brains on the airplane.
Don't believe everything some of these estate agents tell you, ask them if you can speak to people who have actually bought from them. Do they have a testimonial page or guest book on their website with letters from genuine people WITH EMAIL ADDRESSES?

My heart goes out to these poor people who were sucked in by nothing more than "cowboys" lining their own pockets. But in all fairness, would anyone in their right mind buy a piece of land in the UK from an estate agent, and just build what the hell you wanted, without planning permission, without Architects plans...........without nothing official!!!.....No of course you wouldn't, so why do it here???????????????

In total contrast to these horror stories, more and more families are buying in Aragon, people are starting to build and or renovate houses legally, with permission from the local town halls and also from the Government of Aragon....................none of our clients are looking over their shoulders, wondering when the next official or bulldozer is coming to knock their houses down.

Also, Mark from Holland, who I mentioned in my last posting has finally been given a date in July to appear in court about his building near El Pinell de Brai. So when I know what the outcome is, I will write it on here......................keep looking.