Cheap hols etc, offers on flights to the Costas

The doors I am talking about are in Bedroom 2. I have French doors that open into the room, if you have two beds in that room you cannot open the doors fully. Speak to Paul Cox or Aiden, I have pointed it out to them and told them that what should have been fitted is sliding doors like the doors in the lounge. A very serious design fault in my opinion. And to make matters worst the show house showed the beds coming off of the wall where our window is this very cleverly made us all believe that the room is able to accommodate two beds easily.  I suppose it what you call 'Having the wool pulled over your eyes'

With regards to completion I am surprised that we are not being pushed to complete, I would have thought that Arenal would have been very keen to get their hands on the rest of the cash. I was told completion would be SPRING 2006! If we complete May 07 that is a year over for me. Also I would think that the bank guarantees must be expired by now. Has anyone checked?

Hi Laurdan

Ok I think your configuration is different to mind nevertheless it's a bit concerning for everyone. if bed 2 is small it effects rentals and selling on. I have emailed Adan and await his comments. It will be interesting to know what Arenals stance will be on this.

Alan

Hi Alan

Some of the second bedrooms have a window and not doors.  If your specification has a window it will not affect you, but the second bedroom is still very small. 

I can tell you that Aidan or Paul will tell you to buy a guest bed (single bed with single bed stored underneath).  When Aidan told me this I  laughted out loud.

Yes it would appear that all end apartments are the better units, so congratulations if you have one of those.

do you have any specifications for the windows doors etc?  i don't seem to have any measurements at all and it makes buying things difficult as i don't know for sure the sizes of rooms etc.  the plan from arenal is a very rough one and i think they just dished them out to everyone the same, regardless of their individual appartment plans.  i have french doors on bedroom one opening onto the terrace (they are there because i checked when i went out there in november), along with the french doors on the lounge.  i was not aware that internal doors were double.  far as i remember they were all single doors opening normally, not sliding.  i have ground floor appt module 11 block 2 portal 38.  my valuation hasn't gone in yet because my mortgage broker says he wants to wait for licence. 

my solicitor e-mailed me today to say that the situation is still the same.  some people have had their valuations done but everyone just awaiting the licences from the town hall of manilva. i think we all know this already but  she said completion won't be may, it will be sooner. once licence arrives which she says is due any time then everyone is on. i hope she is right but i won't hold my breath.  can't help wondering why these licences haven't come back as its been about 10 weeks since they applied for them now.

suzanne

Hi all,

Below is the reply from Aden at Arenal re: Bedroom 2 & License.

Hi Alan:

As far as I know there isnt any issue regarding bedroom number two....some
of the apartments have a little juliette balcony instead of a window, the
bedroom isnt huge so therefore and considering that the door isnt a sliding
door you might not be able to open it fully, however that balcony is there
only for decoration is not really usable so I dont think it will be a
problem.
Regarding habitation licence you are right we are still waiting for the town
hall, whether it´ll be as far as May I dont know, it doesnt seem to be any
problems with it, they are just slow......

Alan

I couldn't agree more. 

If I put two single beds in bedroom two and want to open the French doors, due to them opening into the room they will only open half way......if that.  I know that the balcony can't be used,  that a juilette balcony is just for show and not for sitting on, but the doors should open fully with two beds in the room. As it was sold and advertised as a twin bedded room.  They didn't feel the need to bring it to my attention.  I wonder why?? 

I was never told that if the room has two beds in it the doors do not open fully. 

I have a window in bedroom one and patio doors in the lounge.  All internal doors are single.

Latest news on the grapevine with regards to the completion delay,  Arenal are being taken over by a Spanish bank and it has caused a slow down in paperwork.

Again this is only hearsay, I spoke with my solicitor yesterday and he did not mention anything to me only that as soon as he hears he would contact me immediately.

Had  heart to heart with my agent expressing the discontent expressed on this web site by some purchasers concerning the Arenal Duquesa development. She said she couldn't really understand it because the feed back she has had from her clients viewing the properties has been excellent. There have been positive comments regarding the finishes and the layout of the complex. She has taken a look herself and in her opinion it all looks terrific! I know the immediate reaction would be to say 'she would say that' but for what it's worth she did sound genuine. Yes there does appear to be an issue with bed 2 for those with french doors and if I had that problem I think I would insist on Arenal replacing them with sliding doors. Apart from that it does appear to be in good shape.

Alan

Hello!

Having sat on the sidelines reading others' contributions [partly due to inhibitions about this new fangled internet thing!] , it is time to try and join in.

The concerns about size of 2nd bedroom and impossibility of opening the window/door with beds in place are sufficiently valid for me to suggest its time for all of us affected by it to present a united front to Arenal.

That means all refusing to complete until issue is satisfactorily resolved - any takers?

Regarding specification, I'm ashamed to say all we have is the brochure.  Does anyone have a PROPER spec. that might assist in resolving things?

Our unit is Block ll, Entrance 38, third floor Piso A, Tipo 3-T  -  any neighbours out there?

Ken and Bridget Frost

i'm on block II, portal 3B, ground floor, apt A, type 7-B. parking space 385 and storage room 168.  seems i am underneath you ken and bridget.  i too only seem to have basic plans and am not sure on the different styles of appt.  i have a window on bedroom 2 i think, not french doors, but unsure for definate, as i have never actually been in my appartment. the one i went in was a ground floor opposite mine. i have a plan i can scan and send to you. sizes overrall on my plan is 80.60 metres squared with outdoor space.

suzanne

Hi All

I am block 6, Pt 20, 1st floor type A3. Tipo 3. 70² approx.  I believe there are two types A & B.  Some have patio doors in Bedroom 1 and some have a window, the same goes for Bedroom two. 

All I have is floor plan to the scale of 1.75, i use my 1.75 rule to beable to measure for furniture etc.  I do not have window sizes, but I have been into my apartment so I have a rough idea what size they are, curtains can be sorted when we have the apartment, as the use of the shutters will allow you to use the room to sleep for the meantime, however I have already purchased curtains for the dreaded bedroom two French doors! 

Ken and Bridget - I am all in favour of having a more private chat about any concerns, but not on an open forum, where anyone in the world can read what we have to say.  Remenber that these forums are great but anyone can read them.  'Fore warned is fore armed'  It think that is the expression, send me a private message with regards to any concerns.

I requested room measurements from my agent, I have applied these to my floor plan together with an appx. imperial conversion. I can email/post this if it helps anyone. I have a Tipo 9-1 apartment. It is not one with the french windows onto the terrace.

Alan

Hi all,

 We were in Duquesa last week and were brought onto the site and shown our apartment, Block 16 portal 51 Appt 1A1, any neighbours out there.  I agree with other posts that the door to the Juliet balcony will impact on the room.  But we too are unsure as to what we can do.  Though on a good note the rest of the site for phase one looks very well now.  All planting is near completed the pools just require cleaning the car parks and storage area the lighting is being completed.  Also the fencing around the pools for the safety of smaller children is in the process of being installed, it is near completed also.  I was told that we should be starting to complete within 4-6 weeks.   The building between Phase 1 and the coast road was described as affordable housing on the upper levels and business units below.  I was told also that Phase 3 is to be a green/park area.  That’s all my news, if there are suggestions with regards what to do about the door to the balcony please reply.

Peter

Clive,

Sorry if I mislead you but the building between us and the road is at least 6 floors high. Sorry I did not take any photos I was so shocked and excited at getting onto site I foregot.

Peter

Hi Peter,

Looks like we're your new neighbours. We are in block 16 portal 51 apt B 1sf floor.

I am not effected by the bed 2 french doors issue, but what is your feeling, is bed 2 an adequate size not withstanding this problem? How visible is the Commercial centre/affordable housing from our block?

Clive,

yes Block 2 does share the pool with Block 16, it is directly opposite.

Hi Alan,

Good to meet you neighbour, I must drop around for a cup of sugar.

The commercial center and appartments is visible, you won't miss it is a big structure.  There will be a roadway between Phase 1 and the new block.  The second room does look very small anyway, it will be difficult I think to get 2 single beds in there and move around anyway freely.

Peter.