Unfair distribution of charges

I am standing for president of Jardine 8, Los Naranjos. My thoughts are to reject both budgets until the divisions between the Jardines and Los Naranjos are removed and the total cost of the budget distributed equally among similar properties. There can be as much as 20 Euros difference between people who own different properties on different gardens.

This seems to have been set in stone by the architect and must be corrected. I certainly had no idea when I bought my property that the community charge would be higher than many other gardens. If I had known, I would have bought in another garden. I'm not even sure of the legality of what they have done.

Are there many people here who would consider witholding the community charge until this issue which has angered many people is put right?

Mel Beasley 

Hi Mel,

Whilst I totally agree that we should all pay the same amount for similar sized properties, not sure if withholding payment would  be ideal. If Rpm are not getting any income how can we expect services to be delivered and maintained.

Regards

Carol Anne

This question has arisen many times and I know that when the association met they agreed with this principal. However advice is it is illegal to do it the way you said, It is set in leglislation and your deeds. It would be expensive to appoint lawyers to change it and it would probably not be succesful. Please take independent legal advice but you will have to pay for this. See La Torre web site , they have named debtors and are preparing legal action to put a charge on the property of owners who are behind in their payments. A conunidad can seek an order for your property if you do not pay.

It is up to you but there are consequences

Dringman this is also the advice I was given by our agents. To change the percentage requires each owner of each property to agree, plus they all have to contribute to the legal costs and at present anything to do with property is taking a very long time to get to court in Spain- years in fact. Essentially a 2 bed in one Jardine (or any community plot) does not necessarily represent the same quota as any other two bed in another Jardine (or community plot). What exists in CdA is not unusual in Spain. Many of us provided Bank detailson completion as it was part of the  documents sent through PW- so cannot withold payments. Wouldnt actually want to as services still have to be paid for.

I agree with Jann and Dringman on this issue.

It is unfair that apartments of the same size have so much variation in community fees as we all have the same facilities but these fees have been set in the deeds.

Withholding community fees is not the way to go as the only people who will suffer are ourselves - not Polaris or RPM.  People will soon complain when they can't use the swimming pools because they are dirty or that we start to get a problem with vermin because the bins aren't emptied enough. 

The best thing we can do is get our community up and running and although it seems our hands are tied with some of the contracts that polaris have issued, work at getting the best value for money to keep our resort looking good.

I too agree with holding payment is not the way to go the place is still not fully up and running yet and we need to attract more buyers not put them off because the place looks run down through lack of care,

 Late Payment will incure a 20% increase (Its in the rules) so will cost individual more = certainly not a good idea

Additionally if many withhold payment the Resort will deteriorate very quickly.

Hello,

       I;m in Jardines 3 and at the lower end of 75euro;s.   I can see some Jardines are larger than other so economies of scale but in the scheme of overall charges I would have thought the cost to maintain the indiviudual area is much less than the overall resort charges.

I would be happy all Jardines 2 beds pay one fee, 3 beds pay another on the basis greater occupancy so greater use of facilities.

Main issue I have is why the Naranjos are so high and the penthouses so low? The penthouses have a low density / pool, lifts and communual access.

The budget mentions pools/gardens at Naranjos/Jardines but nothing for the Penthouses? Seems odd.

Michael

Thats exactly what I have been wondering too re why the penthouses are paying so little.  I thought something like 2/3 of the bill was due to allocations from the general charges which based on a jardine bill would cover all the penthouse cost so there seem to be no specific penthouse costs on top.

Seems very wrong to me

Wayne

The only way to get something done about this is to vote or send proxy vote for someone on your garden as rep

That's a good point June, there is no excuse for everyone of this forum not designating a proxy vote if they cannot get to the meeting in person.   So far we only have nominations fo 10 of the 36 level 3 presidents, are there any residents out there that can step up to the mark?  If your garden doesn't have a resident, then a non-resident can still be nominated, just ensure you have someone who is attending the meeting that can get your proxy votes.

For details of the nominations so far see
http://www.eyeonspain.com/community-for ... tions.aspx

There is an excuse - how do we know who is attending the meeting ?

We need to be careful it doesn't get highjacked by people looking after their own vested interests but it is difficult to do anything from so far away when we don't have any contacts ! Hopefully once people have owned properties for longer and we've got to know our neighbours we can organise ourselves better. I guess Jardins are ahead of Naranjos in this as they are slightly more established.

Penthouse costs are lower because they are 4 high and don't have the nice big gardens to keep ! However, the costs for their cleaning look a tad high. I've applied for a job as a stair cleaner.

There is an excuse - how do we know who is attending the meeting ?

Exactly the point.  why leave it to chance?  If there is someone who you either know or have conversed with via EOS or aware of the work they have been doing is it not better to vote for them than gamble with a complete unknown?

We need to be careful it doesn't get highjacked by people looking after their own vested interests but it is difficult to do anything from so far away when we don't have any contacts ! Hopefully once people have owned properties for longer and we've got to know our neighbours we can organise ourselves better.

A good point, I agree that PW are wrong in pushing the setting up of the community so fast, at other resorts it has been 2/3 years before this has happens.  But, so do nothing and wait until next year elections?  Are you happy with the excellent job that RPM have been doing ( at thier FIRST resort ) . Are you happy with the budget? Are you happy with the security? Are you happy with the TV system, the lack of telecomms, the lack or Internet?  If yes then fine wait another year and hope it all gets sorted. Other wise do something now!   This is only for the coming year, once people have owned properties for longer and you've got to know your neighbours vote for them next year.

I guess Jardins are ahead of Naranjos in this as they are slightly more established.

Indeed they are and have 6 Spanish residents standing, who have also been working very work to sort RPM out and have been instrumental in getting the fees reduced.  Hopefully in time more people will become resident in Naranjos, but the elections and time to act is now,

Penthouse costs are lower because they are 4 high and don't have the nice big gardens to keep !

But the penthouses are part of the bigger Naranjos r9 & r12 comminities and pay thier share of the cost of the shared gardens and pools.  Thier quota was set by the architect, but do seem on the low side in relation to the community as a whole.

However, the costs for their cleaning look a tad high. I've applied for a job as a stair cleaner.

Join the queue for that one

Phil

In response to Michealwr comment re Penthouse costs.........The Penthouse are part of Los Naranjos resort, so the Penthouse pools costs etc ARE included in the Los Naranjos breakdown.  They are not a resort in it's own right.  In addition the density of dwellings to land mass is much greater to the Jardines with no or very little gardens - hence the cheaper comunidad  

Nick 

Thanks Phil - I appreciate everyone is trying to do the right thing but

- I don't know anyone who is attending the meeting

- Haven't met anyone in our area as yet

So can either vote for someone who may not represent my interests or leave it to those already doing it who may or may not be doing a good job. What a mess ! Still - you're right. We have to keep working at it and hopefully it'll all come right in the end. The main thing is to keep RPM well scrutinised while we sort ourselves out. I can't see any point in changing the management company at the moment as that will just destabilise the situation further. Hopefully, in years to come we can have more organised elections and input.

Hopefully we'll also become aware of some non EOS owners to boost our numbers !

the penthouses and front line appts  can use all the facilities and all the pools and gardens on condado.so why they only pay 60% of the community fees in comparison to a 2 bed appt that has no garden of its own either is a joke.and oto cap it all we have to pay for their stairs to be cleaned and lifts to be run!i think they are having the cake not us!

George,

May I remind you of how the fees are calculated.  It is based on the Cueta value in your deeds, which in turn is based on the sq m of the properties (including terraces).  Cleraly all the Jardines have considerably more sq m of land (inside & on the terrace) - hence the bigger cost.  The view form the Penthouse baocaony has nothing to do with the community charge - That is reflected in the Purchase Price of the property.   You can't have it all ways George........Bigger property & cheaper Communidad.   The 60 % number you quote is based on the cheapest Penthouse v the dearest  Jardine.....not the normal, where the average difference seems less than €20.  I have no problem with the Penthouse owners paying for lifts / stair cleans etc - That is fair........but you cnat expect for us to pay for your gardens in the same way?   Again, you can't have it all ways.

I know you are angry at the moment with a certain Norweigan linesman, (who I have to admit did have a bad night) but please don't take it out on the Penthouse owners!!

Best regards

Nick

ps I'll send you a Postcard from Rome

Points well made Nick.  I was about to post something similar.  The phrase cake and eat it springs to mind!!

Simon

Hi All

Is there a Penthouse owner out there that has received thier deeds?

If so could you tell me the two quota % that are statedi it?

Thanks

Phil