Change of Gated Community into Commercial Community

We have just returned from 5 weeks at La Hacienda. We had a wonderful time, the weather is still fabulous. There was hardly anyone there although now there are several apartments occupied on a full time basis.

The bridge over the toll road is currently being built and connects our access road with the road on the north side of the toll road.

Days go by with no workmen on the site at all. If you need anything fixed it's always tomorrow, tomorrow, tomorrow and no one ever turns up.

Regarding the lifts, our lawyer explained that they would not be commissioned until letters were sent by owners to their lawyers requesting this be done. It is expensive to set up a contract for maintaining the lifts and so Victor will only go ahead on it if many many people insist on it.

Each apartment now has its own water meter and we will all be billed from December 14th, according to Ana Garcia. The electricity will not be metered for some months yet.

I have not received any letter regarding the glass curtains. There are three of us so far who have them, two ground floors and one first floor. Ana has details on her desk of glass curtain installers, a pile of business cards and a DVD relating to them and has actively been trying to "set up deals" with suppliers/fitters - we were told this specifically by two companies who we had quotes from.

The swimming pools are now closed for use over the winter. There are signs by each pool advising that they are not to be used and there are visibly several chemical tablets on the bottom of each pool. Interestingly, there is no sign as yet of the required fencing around the pools. Apparently there is an EU edict which comes into force in January stipulating that all swimming pools must have a lockable surround for safety reasons.

We will be back after Christmas for a much longer stay.

Thea

Hi Peter / Thea.    Welcome back to the cold wet and windy UK.  Glad to hear you had a good time.  Thanks for the info on the lift situation this answers my question from my thread of last night,  looks like we all have to contact our lawyers.  Mind you I have always been under the impretion that the lifts would not be operational until the proper power supply was installed which would mean not until later if your comment from Anna about next year for the power supply is correct   I also read with interest your comment on the swimming pools and fencing. I hope they do not build them to high as I feel any fencing would spoil the present layout.  If we now all have water meters does this mean we now have a permanent water supply? 

Copy of letter from Victor:-

Thea/Peter,  many thanks for all the information.  This forum is a lifeline to knowing what's going on!  Our lawyer says he just can't get hold of Victor Sanchez, the developer's lawyer.  (Is this the same Victor who has now appointed himself President of the Community Association?)

We still haven't completed yet - our lawyer recommends waiting for permanent water and electricity supplies.  Good to know the water is now connected, not so good that electricity is months off.  Can't see how they can put off sorting out the lifts - surely a key fixture of the development!  I've been in limbo all year it seems expecting to complete any minute.  We bought our furniture pack months ago and our mortgage offer keeps running out so I have to send more updated financial information to repeat the process every time... Sigh

I'm just going to have to take the Spanish approach and chill till I hear it's all finished.  It's a long time since the original completion date of Sept 06!

Cheers, Jen

Ha !!  September 06 ??  When I bought, the estimate was June 06.  My lawyer speaks to Victor Sanchez every week and meets with him every Thursday, so it is possible. I am surprised that you have not yet been pressured into completing. The site is really lovely and a joy to be at (most of the time anyway). I am not sure that Victor is president of the association. He has formed a company for the management of the community, but as there is no community formed yet, there is nothing to be president of. The holding company has our first community fees in a trust account, according to my lawyer. You are right though, it can be very confusing and depending on who you speak to, there are various "truths" told, or not told. Ana continues to deny any knowledge of the new bridge which is being built right under her nose. It is clear to see from the access road to La Hacienda. When I was there in November I actually saw the plans for the new road system for the area.

Good luck !

Thea