Advice.

Hi, there are still disputes regarding properties in Arboleas. Home owners are having to spend £ thousands to legalise their properties. We bought in Partaloa in 2005, our lawyer said then to avoid Arboleas. There are many legal builds around, just be careful. We also used an out of town lawyer at the time as many locally were related to builders etc..

G

Thank you for your advice. What would you say are the safest area's to purchase properties in Almeria?

Difficult to say, around us in the villages near to Partaloa, some places in La Alfoquia and Zurgena. Villages around Huercal Overa. You just need to take time and do lots of research. Amanda Oakley of AOL services gets good reviews, and does thorough checks . She’s a conveyancer. Hope this helps. 

Thank you again.

I would suggest Maria at  MUNDIABOGADOS
Las Buganvillas Urbanization, 15
04621 – Vera (Almería)
Tel.: 950460999
[email protected]

They are very professional and thorough she does not miss anything we have bought three property’s with here she is very respected, 

Amanda I have found does miss things

Any new build in Partaloa or the surrounding hamlets eg Retamar, Piedra Amarilla, cerro gordo and others built post 2000 there are serious question marks over whether they are fully legal even if you have all the correct paperwork.

A few mayors have been taken to court and whether they ever had the power to give planning permission to expand a small village into the size it is now.

Just be very careful.

Or do what we did a buy a village house built pre 1975 which are 100% legal as per Spanish law pasted post General Franco’s era.

When you purchase any property here,  in the sale contract include a clause to include that any illegally subject to the construction the law firm should bear the cost and that you are totally compensated. As mentioned earlier many solicitors here are affiliated to developers and in some cases rogue builders. You also need to ensure the land the property stands on is free from any relative ties. Some properties are built on land that belongs to a third party. For example a relative of the seller!!

check out the Arboleas forum for a lot of answers to what is legal or not lots of places now have an afo which means you can't add anything to the footprint of the property.

Do you know the area well? It's always a good idea to rent for a while first wherever you are buying. That way you can get more chance to find out for yourselves.