2010: Pain in Spain Continues
January 1st, 2010
Any hint that Spain’s horror stories would fade into the past were ruined last week, when three British expats in Almeria were served with demolition orders for their homes. In total, eight homes in the town of Albox may be facing the wrecking ball, according to media reports.
Throughout Spain, municipalities are wrestling with how to deal with homes built illegally in the boom years, usually at the direction of corrupt local officials. Two weeks ago, 10 homes were demolished in Chiclana, after the developer ignored orders to stop construction. Homeowners climbed on their roofs to try to stop the demolitions and 28 people were arrested in protests, typicallyspanish reports.
The mayor of Albox says he is simply implementing a court order to destroy the eight homes, according to Abusos Urbanísticos Almanzora NO, a local group representing 250 homeowners with “precarious legal status” in the area.
“Despite international media outrage at the incident, the authorities still fail to recognize the enormous damage that this scandal has caused to Spain´s reputation both at home and abroad,” AUAN wrote in a press release.
Local municipality’s insistence on tearing down the homes of owners who purchased their property in good faith is “economic suicide,” the organization argues. Negative publicity alone should make the authorities rethink the threats, they say. “Happy New Year… we’re going to bulldoze your home,” read the headline in one U.K. newspaper.
“If town halls have granted licenses they were not authorized to issue it hardly serves the cause of either justice or good relations to destroy the homes of those who purchased in good faith,” AUAN argues. “Given that over half of house sales in the province were, until recently, made to U.K. nationals, further publicity over illegality and demolition tragedies will be extremely difficult to counteract.”
British expats Len and Helen Prior, who became the poster couple for the demolitions when their home in Vera was torn down two years ago, are now reportedly living in the remains of the garage, without water or electricity. AUAN is planning a candlelight vigil for Jan. 9 at the site of the Prior’s demolished home.
“This is an act of solidarity and support for all victims of urban abuse in Spain,” the group says. “We will not stand silently by as more unfortunate families are broken apart and financially ruined through no fault of their own.”
Story from International Property Journal
