26 Feb 2017 12:24 PM:

I moved to Spain on my own in November. I had already lost 6150 euros on a property in Spain because I didn't complete on time. (My sale in England fell through and I needed another two weeks for the subsequent purchasers to complete). I continued to search from my Spanish rental using the estate agents in the village with whom I had been searching for 18 months. They introduced me to a tiny property saying I could extend it. The senior sales girl (girlfriend of the owner) emailed me that she was "fighting with the owner" to get me the best price. I had come to trust her and had previously fought with my lawyer in this girls defence (related to both parties trying to convince me to buy partially 'in the black' which I didn't do). After I'd bought the property, neighbours (english) complained about the build (not personal . . . I've never met them). Consequently, although I had paid for a licence, the town hall thought they should visit the property. At this point I was informed that the single bedroom on top, leading out onto the roof terrace, was not registered (an illegal build). Of course the town hall want money for it so my small works licence needed to become a major works licence to include the existing bedroom. I went to the estate agents for assistance with this. I asked them to contact the previous owners to double check there was no paperwork to support the build. They were dismissive. I now know that the estate agent actually owned the property. There was no third party. He had knowingly sold it to me with an illegal build and probably, purchased it (29th September - 13 days after I lost the previous property - with me in mind since I did not need a mortgage and all the checks that would have involved). The estate agent is now saying he will pay only half of what the town hall want - 3287 euros - even though this total sum is entirely as a result of his malpractice. I have found out that he purchased the property using 12000 euros 'in the black' but the threat of this being exposed doesn't seem to have any bearing on him doing 'the right thing'. I have also since found out throught the lawyer, who dispensed with the exchange of contracts - the very point at which I would have smelt a rat as the agents name would have been on them - that the contract of purchase is incorrect (illegal??) because it states the property is of one floor of 30 square metres when in fact it is two floors of 45 square metres. Again, the estate agent knowingly fraudulently signed the contract. My house is now trussed up like a sick Christmas Present with Police tape whilst I find the money to pay to the town hall and get all the correct paperwork in place once again. The estate agent is using the fact that I do not have money to employ a lawyer to get away with this. Please can someone help!

Thread: No win, no fee lawyer desperately needed

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