TASA Costa Esuri - help

Hi

With all the hassle of non-payment of community tax, dirty swimming pool, absent owners, empty properties, community finances in arrears, arguments and hassle  

WHY DO WE HAVE TO HAVE A COMMUNITY?

1) Why can't we just pay taxes straight to the council?

2) Why can't we just give the pool to the village? (as in other Spanish villages)

3) Why have a community at all?, we live in 3 seperate roads in the middle of a village. We are not enclosed and I for one want to be part of the village community.

4) Why should UK owners pay 160 euros for amenities we don't often use ?

I have started this thread on as a personal view, and realise others will have different views. I look forward to see what comments arise.

Hi Brian,
I know we have  spoken at length about this subject, along with many bottles of vino and beer.!!

But wanted to enter into any debate that may ensue.

Am I correct in thinking that a community is a legal requirement under Spanish Law?  Horizontal division etc.  Forgive my ignorance if I am wrong.

The way I see it is that we pay this community charge mainly for the use of the pool.  I know there are some owners who will not use the pool, as is their choice, but it is still there if you do wish to use or for your guests to use it.   As for giving the pool to the village, do they want it, or pay for the maintainence of it.  It could cause problems for the village community if they were expected to pay for the pool and did not wish to.  As purchasers of property at Princesa Elisa, we were all made aware of this charge when we entered into the contract, the village property owners were not.  I would not want the villagers to resent the developement being there.

I am not sure where the rest of the collective money is spent and hope that I will be enlightened.  I assume that if there is any problem/dispute on the development that it would be resolved in a democratic manner by the 'community', and once in credit the funds would cover this.

I appreciate having a spokesperson i.e. El Presidente, to go to if I have any concerns about the developement and what goes on there.  I know the Presidente will have a thankless task trying to please everyone all the time, and admire anyone for taking on the  position.

This is a subject that can be debated on at length, and Jim and I look forward to doing just that.  Your place or ours?  See you next month.

Ellen

During our last visits, in early July and again early August, we saw work being carried out in the gardens - tidying, trimming and general clearing. We also watched the streets being cleaned - gutters and pavements. Every morning, Juan would be in the pool, cleaning it and attending to the filters. I think I am right in saying that he no longer has the contract for looking after the pool, so that would not necessarily be happening now. However, hopefully the new company will be doing as good a job. 

One of our main worries is that although the trees have what are obviously pipes to deliver water, I dont think that this system is working and the trees are not looking too healthy as a result. There was much discussion on this point in Alan and Tanya's bar. Various people having differing opinions on how to correct this. To my knowledge, nothing was actually done.

We are in agreement with Ellemum. The community charge was never an option. We were aware of it from the very start and accepted it by buying the property. It is nowhere near the amount we pay here in England. To date we have no complaints. It just would be nice to know what was talked about at the recent meeting. We had to leave two days before it took place. Wish we were there now.

Hi Jane,

We are also concerned about the deteriation of the landscaped garden areas.  Jim is a landscape gardener and is itching to put things right (or at least the  way he sees it to be right) on the site.  Dare he tender for the contract ?

Not sure if I am correct, but I understood that the garden areas were taken over by the council to maintain.  Also the pipes to water the trees are in effective and will continue to be so as palms need to be fed from above.  So the pipes should be attached to the trunk, from the bottom to the top and watered from there.  The other trees should be ok being watered to the roots.
We feel that ground cover is needed on the bare areas such as juniper plant or the flowering daisy like succulent that are grown in arid parts.  Bougainvillia along the pool side will grow anywhere and could be utilised more on the site.  This would result  in a wonderful colourful display for most of  the year.

Anyway, enough of Titchmarsh !!!

I thought that the Suma tax, that we will all be paying soon, an not the community charge, was for the road sweeping/cleaning and the maintainance of the gardens and renovation of the rough ground including the football pitch, which I understand is presently being tidied.  We are thrilled about this particular area, as we directly overlook it.

So as far as I can make out  the community charge is mainly for the pool.  

Hope someone on here can tell me who gets what for doing whatever.

Cheers

Rant over (see other thread)

You must understand that Jim & Ellen live surrounded by a rain forest . Well after our weather this month what else could we expect, seriously though it is heart breaking to see the scrubland, when for a little money and some care and attention we could have a lovely communal area which we could all enjoy.

I like the idea of the community and we must realise that 160€ is not a lot to pay, yes I realise that we haven't got a lot to pay for but I think it's a reasonable amount.

What we pay for, yes the pool but do you also realise that we paid the Administrator 6663€  in the 06/07 accounting year and we have budgettd 6000€ fir the year 07/08, I wonder what for, what are his duties and how his honorarium is calculated. The maintainence of the pool was 3600€ 06/07and anticipated 4800€ in 07/08. I seriously don't know if this is good value for money but I will not be getting a 25% payrise this year. It is true that the pool will take up the vast majority of the community fees  water, cleansers etc take up another 7000 € or so which have to be paid for but it's an assetr I enjoy when I'm there , although I don't think we make the best use of it. All in all I don't think it's that bad and would agree to a small increase if it meant the communal areas were better looked after. And my mate Jim got the contract

Hi All,
Carmel is right, we do live in a rain forrest, that is we are surrounded by beautiful woodland and it has hardly stopped raining all summer.!!!!

If Carmel's figures are right (and I would, under no circumstances, not expect them to be wrong - does everyone know what she does for a living??!!!!)

Just wanted to say that if you let me be the administrator for that kind of renumeration, then  Jim will do a super duper discount on the landscaping and continued maintainance of the area.   Satisfaction guaranteed.

What do you need to be the administrator?  I have a lap top and could e-mail all and sundry on a weekly basis if required (present typing speed is 60 words a minute), and a calculator, and a pen and pencil.  Would definately brush up on my Spanish (I am better at reading/writing it, so could do all admin in print).

Is just basic accountancy all that is required (I have GCSE/RSA in accountancy and bookkeeping), then I am your perfect candidate.

Can I have the job please!!!!!!

PS - Actually, I reckon I could do it for less..................................


This message was last edited by ellemum on 9/2/2008.