Cheap hols etc, offers on flights to the Costas

Alan alas it is packaged up or I could have offered excellent rates B&B.  I am lucky that we are able to accommodate it but it isn't ideal.  The beds are packed away in the spare room, however the lounge/dining room furniture is being housed in my dining room here, admitted it is a large room and we can still use part of it but it is a beautiful room in the summer and now it is out of bounds...needless to say no entertaining for a while!!  Still nothing to stop me drinking the wine myself and dreaming of the furniture in Spain .

And yet another week goes by and still nothing. 

poor laurden, i really feel for you.  most of my furniture is sitting in storage out there and i get phone calls all the time because they must be sick of it sitting there and keep trying to deliver it!! 

anyway, i'm flying out there tomorrow night until 16th so can't wait.  however, my father been staying in duquesa since last saturday and has tried to visit the site.  he managed yesterday to have a very broken conversation with the spanish bloke in the sales office and from what he could make out, he was telling him that the problem is not with the road, its just the licence. he told my dad could be another two months.

none of that helps any as i don't think anybody below the top bosses know the reality of what is going on but i'll try find out what i can when i visit elena, lawyer on monday.

my dad said the development does look superb, the road is untouched and looks like no electricity at all on the site too.  i'll see if i can get on and have a look and take some pics.  i'll go every day until i get in.

on the plus side, my parents and their friends are having a ball staying in duquesa.  they said the people are lovely, its not too busy so beaches are nice.  the bars on the beach are all open and great.   they seem to have stayed out till gone 2am most nights up to now so must be stuff going on.  they've had some lovely meals. a superb italian and indian. i asked them to give me a negative and they said they really couldn't think of one except maybe how much building happening and that they would return again and again (nothing to do with daughter having apt there of course! ha).

anyway, just thought i'd share with you all what they have said up to now. i know it doesn't bring us any closer to completion but its nice to get uptodate feedback.

suzanne 

poor laurden, i really feel for you.  most of my furniture is sitting in storage out there and i get phone calls all the time because they must be sick of it sitting there and keep trying to deliver it!! 

anyway, i'm flying out there tomorrow night until 16th so can't wait.  however, my father been staying in duquesa since last saturday and has tried to visit the site.  he managed yesterday to have a very broken conversation with the spanish bloke in the sales office and from what he could make out, he was telling him that the problem is not with the road, its just the licence. he told my dad could be another two months.

none of that helps any as i don't think anybody below the top bosses know the reality of what is going on but i'll try find out what i can when i visit elena, lawyer on monday.

my dad said the development does look superb, the road is untouched and looks like no electricity at all on the site too.  i'll see if i can get on and have a look and take some pics.  i'll go every day until i get in.

on the plus side, my parents and their friends are having a ball staying in duquesa.  they said the people are lovely, its not too busy so beaches are nice.  the bars on the beach are all open and great.   they seem to have stayed out till gone 2am most nights up to now so must be stuff going on.  they've had some lovely meals. a superb italian and indian. i asked them to give me a negative and they said they really couldn't think of one except maybe how much building happening and that they would return again and again (nothing to do with daughter having apt there of course! ha).

anyway, just thought i'd share with you all what they have said up to now. i know it doesn't bring us any closer to completion but its nice to get uptodate feedback.

suzanne 

Still in that bathroom I see suzanne! Can you please remind Elena that she said agreement with the new mayor about the road should have been made by the 15th June. Ta very much.

Alan

Received an e mail from my solicitor says she spoke to Town Hall and they are not going to complete in June, also they have received a letter from Gerens which they are going to translate before they send it (shame really as I quite enjoyed the last letter from Gerens)

Arenal hasn't yet hired a new construction company, so that means they haven't completed the road on the development that is necessary before obtaining the First Occupation Licence.

So no change there then!

Elaine

I now feel that this is ploy to ensure people hesitate to make a decision of whether to cancel or sit it out. Prehaps we should ask for an extension on the Contracts still with the Bank guarantee.

I really thought we would be in this summer but maybe that was wishful thinking

I asked my solicitor a couple of questions and got the following

Phase one is finished and the developer has applied for the first occupation licence, she spoke to the town hall and they are not going to issue the licence for several reasons.

The last Sunday in May they had municipal elections, the government of the town hall has changed.  The town hall is quite lazy (her words, but accurate) they are busy sorting themselves out before they can get to the matter of our licence because they have to constitute the new government.  (I understand this to mean the old Mayor was voted out and took his backhander with him and until the new Mayor gets his backhander nothing will move)

As we are all aware the 'yellow brick road' needs to be finished and no one has yet hired a construction company to do this.  (The old one obviously didnt want to play ball with Gerens and took their trucks and left!!)

The developer is not happy with the resolution of the contracts, they dont want to loose their clients (or give anyone their money back, they couldnt care less about the client) but the developer knows they have to accept the cancellations as they have now delayed too long and the client has the right to proceed with the cancellation.  They would however prefer to resolve the contracts in a friendly way and not go to court.

I personally think that Gerens are still in negotiations with the bank about what they want them to do exactly and to make sure they will get paid for it. 

Elaine

Thank you for the update at least your solicitor seems to be taking time to liaise with you. Also thanks to you for passing on the information to us all.

My husband definately wants to wait for the completion of this apartment so it looks like we will not be pulling out however, it makes you wonder how much longer we will have to wait.

Are we sure the building is a legal build?

ARENAL GOLF PHASE 3

Although this phase is completed, the electric installations are still not finished. The apartments have electric supply from the developer, which is why the developer prefers not to complete on any of the properties as they wish to do things right. But as there are a lot of clients that wish to go ahead, they will complete only on one condition: on the day of completion the client will need to sign a document with the developer in which the developer states that they will not be hold responsible for any possible damages that may be caused to the electrical appliances in the apartments due to any possible overload in the electric system, although they recommend not to complete until the electric installations have been completed.

ARENAL GOLF PHASE 3

Although this phase is completed, the electric installations are still not finished. The apartments have electric supply from the developer, which is why the developer prefers not to complete on any of the properties as they wish to do things right. But as there are a lot of clients that wish to go ahead, they will complete only on one condition: on the day of completion the client will need to sign a document with the developer in which the developer states that they will not be hold responsible for any possible damages that may be caused to the electrical appliances in the apartments due to any possible overload in the electric system, although they recommend not to complete until the electric installations have been completed.

 CANCELLATIONS

The developer has agreed to cancel on those who wish to do so. As well as receiving the monies paid to date, they have agreed to pay the legal interests, but not the 10% compensation.

ARENAL GOLF PHASE 4

The building works in this phase haven’t been renewed yet, which is why the blocks that are completed (blocks 1, 2 and 3) cannot be visited.

The developer is expecting that the new construction company will commence the building works in August, although this is not for sure. The developer will keep us updated if there is any further news.

ARENAL GOLF PHASE 2

The completion of purchase of the properties that have not been transferred yet can be arranged by prior notice to the developer.

ARENAL GOLF PHASE 1

The First Occupation License has not been issued yet, however the most important formalities to be considered were nearly fulfilled. It seems to be delayed because the local government has changed since the last elections.

Nevertheless, the building works on the road, necessary for obtaining the First Occupation License will be started soon.

ARENAL DUQUESA (ALL PHASES)

As Soon as the construction company states an estimated time limit, the developer will check it and let us know if actually it is possible to finish the building works within the aforesaid forecasted time limit.

Hi Elaine

It was only after I had posted the reply that I realised most of this info related to Arenal Golf which, as you quite rightly say, is a different development.  There is a brief bit about our development at the foot of the page, which doesn't really tell us anything we didnt already know.

Apologies everyone for the confusion

We had hoped to be in by the end of July, as my sister is hoping to stay there in mid August, given Spain shuts down for August & the legal aspects that have to be completed, I doubt very much we will achieve this, if anyone can shed a glimmer of light & optimism it would be appreciated but I guess we are all in the dark on this.

There ought to be a sweepstake on what date first completion & occupation will take place! 

Sean

It is all becoming a joke.  And I must say it is making me feel less inclined to complete. 

I am starting to think do I want to continue with this project??  This limbo state that we have now found ourselves in is allowing me the time to have doubt and I feel much less confident in the developer.

I suspect that she will probably be given the 'We don't speak English' by the site office, if it is open. 

I always thought that Arenal Golf was finished, the fact they are having problems doesn't look good for us at Arenal Duquesa.  Goodness knows how the snagging sessions are going to work out.  I am finding myself starting to question the build quality?  I know that many of you have visited and on the surface it all looks very nice, but what about the parts you can't see, electrics, plumbing, etc. 

The whole situation is becoming very 'Cloak and dagger' and in my honest opinion very unprofessional. 

I just cannot understand the reasoning.  In phase 1 there are are over 500 apartments, thats a lot of money to come in.  All the info we get is carefully worded so as not to give any idea of timing.  We are also getting tired of the wait now, especially as its a buyers market.  A lot of property on the spanish market, you would think someone at Arenal or the bank would realise that if a large majority of us decide not to continue and ask for our monies back, regardless of any compensation that could have far reaching problems for them. 

Is it cloak and dagger or are they just thick!

I would certainly never recommend anyone to buy from plan and if I ever decide to buy in a third world country again I would buy a 'previously owned' property.  I least I know its there and has water and electric.

Hi everyone,

Received exactly the same letter from my solictor.  With only the last paragh applicable to Arenal Duquesa (all phases).

I have asked for clarification from the solicitors re cancellation of contract and what the time expectancy was for the return of deposit.  I await their reply.

We already have a property in Tenerife and bought off plan.  There was a slight delay on completion but nothing like this  and we did complete on contracts even though we only had the builders supply of electric and water.  this went on for about 4 months until they switched over to mains.  With regards to inspecting the property we had no problems however over the last year a few minor problems came to surface and I got to be honest the builders came back to resolve the problem without hesitation.  Suppose we were lucky we had good builders and a good relationship with them.  Once they completed the complex they handed the complex over to the community and now we have a good president and a good forum to express our concerns.

I await reply from our solicitor with interest.

Karen

Hi Everyone,

I mentioned in my last post that my sister & her  family ( husband & two 10 year olds) had planned to stay at the apartment in August, with the delays it is now unlikley she will be able to do so, as such we are tryiing to arrange alternative accommodation for them.

If anyone has, or knows of someone who has, an apartment close to amenities & within sensible driving distrance of Malaga, at a good price, we would really appreciate details. 

Thanks

Sean

Laurdan wrote:

I am finding myself starting to question the build quality?  I know that many of you have visited and on the surface it all looks very nice, but what about the parts you can't see, electrics, plumbing, etc. 

Oh dear Laurdan,  you are becoming a prophet of doom and getting deeply depressed.

Cheer up girl !    There is no reason to suspect that the quality will be anything other than good  and it certainly compares well with my friends  apartment near Marbella which cost nearly twice what ours are costing.   We all took a bit of a gamble when we signed up for this off plan development but it looks really good as a long term investment.  We are going to live in our apartment and there is still nowhere else on the CDS that I would rather be.