Road Works

We are due to complete around mid June after waiting over 4 YEARS to get matters sorted with the developer - a really tortious process made even more difficult by some pretty poor advice from our lawyers.

We last visited the site back in late December 2007 to agree our snagging and met both Caroline and Oscar -nice people but pretty short on information about the progress of completion of all the facilities -from the forum it looks as though progress is being made but still very slowly. What ever happened about the promised road giving direct access to the beach, golf concessions and helipad not to mention 24 hour security-which was non existent back in December. What is quite worrying is that the service charge is quite high and if the rumours are correct the finacial position of the developer will not help in maintaining the common parts- I am told that it is considering going into administration pending the sale of the remaining apartments, which in view of the state of the Spanish property market and the euro exchange rate will not be anytime soon.

Still enough of the negatives - it really seems as though most residents are really pleased with their purchase and I have to say the apartments are of a very high standard and the views from most blocks are magnificent.

We aim to spend 3-4 months a year at the apartment and perhaps do holiday rentals for part of the year - so look forward to meeting up with residents in due course.

Would be interested to hear from any permanent residents on life on the development and to tell us we are worrying unnecessarily!!!!!

Chris & Mick

You are right to be cautious and most lawyers do not provide any useful protection or good advice.  They tend to encourage completion suggesting it is better to take ownership, rather than risk losing your deposit if the developer goes bust, which gets them a fee and the client off their books.  However having originally put down a deposit in 2002 we were fortunate to be able to transfer our deposit out of Los Lagos in Elvira, that still doesn't have a Habitation licence into La Hacienda.  We are still not sure why the developer suggested this.  Not having heard the sales promises we don't feel let down.  The development is very nicely designed, but remains incomplete.  With the depresed state of the property market it is likely to stay that way.  The worry must be whether the developer is financially sound and that is worth enquiring further, probably through Moleon's lawyers.

We thought for a long time whether we could recover the deposit through the courts, but saw that few had been successful.  In the end we still wanted an apartment in Spain and La Hacienda was as nice a development as there is in the area.  In the end it will get completed and a community will be formed, but it looks like that is unlikely to be this year.  You have to weigh up your options, but sometimes you have to take the plunge, accept the risk and get on with life.

Not sure the above helps

Mike

Thanks Mike - reply was helpful.

I was one of those unfortunate enough to take Moleon to court in March last year, but whilst we were before the court they managed to get both the Architects Certificate ( one wonders how!) and the Habitation Licence and the court ruled that although the developer was in breach of contract it was not sufficient to allow me to cancel and get back my deposit. I was told by the lawyers I was a bit unfortunate! Other purchasers were however successful which I understand Moleon are appealing -only adds to their financial woes and their difficulty in selling the remaining apartments.

Still, we are where we are. We do still want a place in Spain and as you say La Hacienda is one of the best or will be once finished.

Still waiting for a firm completion date but will be visiting the development in any event the week commencing 16th June and hopefully collect the keys!


Mick

Mick,

I have sent you a PM. I'm not sure if the PM is functioning.........?

Cheers,

Andy.