Building Extensions

We recently moved here into a lovely 3 bed villa on Calle Bergantin with one of the reasons being it is a very attractive well laid out resort but...

For the last 3 weeks our neighbour has been having loads and loads of building work carried out.  New pool etc - which is fine. Just found out today that the side extension is now going to incorporate another floor to accommodate a 4th bedroom upstairs! so the villas look almost attached - not a good look.  I hope the planners don't allow much more of this type of work but I guess this is just the start - shame.

You appear to assume the planners have approved it.

Yes, your correct I presumed permission had been granted.  Its blatantlyvisible for anyone to see walking/driving down our street from the front of the property, hence my comments.  Surely the owners wouldn't spend so much money without seeking the relevant permissions - would they? 

If they have employed a good, professional builder then they should have obtained the relevant planning permissions for them. However If the owners are Spanish, many blatantly ignore the planning laws

I have seen the building work on calle bergantin as I have recently bought a villa there.. I think you have cause to complain as you bought a detatched villa and it now looks like a semi... I would check with the planners and or your solicitor to see if planning is in place, as I can't believe it would be allowed (no one else has done it) In the UK you have to come in 1 metre from your neighbours property, I have no idea what the laws in Spain are, but surely a detatched property should stay looking like a detatched property.. If it was my villa, I would be absolutely fuming :(

If the building work you refer to is Villa 36, it appears to be very possible that they do not have a permit.

Yes it is villa 36. All building work has been stopped, very possibly (but not definitely) there will be no further work carried out until the villa is returned to its original condition.  This is Spain, so we'll see ...

You are right, this is Spain, so we will indeed see.

remarkable that they carry out such projects without correct permissions, always worth checking.

Once aware, the Administrator has instructed Security to ask the contractors to leave the site and carry out no further construction work.

Why do I feel that if the correct palms are greased that the work will be retrospectively authorised and the work will continue?  Moi cynical?  You bet.  

No permission granted but the building work is continuing.

I can't believe it but, as I dreaded, the workmen are back and a few minutes ago they rang our bell and  asked to come onto this property in order to render the wall!  I told them no and I am fed up with the whole fiasco.  Its a Bank Holiday and no one is available to help.  I bet when we go out they will come onto this land and carry out the work regardless.  

Contact Vigilant Security immediately.

I believe they have instructions to prevent work being carried out and can certainly help with keeping them off your property.

We walk every night and see said property we feel for you terribly and with so much work going on now on newly purchased properties at that end let's hope that a precidant is not set by the unthoughtfulness and clearly incredible intrusiveness of what your neighbour has done. A detached property should be able to gain access to their land and buildings from all sides and clearly you can't. 

Thank you so much for you comments.  It has certainly been a stressful couple of months and at the moment, still unresolved, but in the hands of the solicitor, so fingers and toes crossed but not hopeful. 

Only local solicitor or planning consultant can advise on complicated Spanish Planning Law but it makes sense to allow 1m gap between building and boundary as per the UK.

At times, anything appears to be ok in Spain however.

Good luck, keep pressing Resortalia.

Property Rentals - have you told the owners or your rental agent - they may be able to put some pressue on with Resortalia too

The owner of this villa has been to view the building work and I believe both Resortalia and the owners solicitors are now fully aware of what has happened - outcome - who knows?