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Converting a ruin to a new home

Posted: Mon Mar 22, 2021 11:58am
7 replies182 views4 members subscribed
Enncey

Posts: 9

1 helpful points

Location: Lubrín

Joined: 7 Nov 2020

Hi All,

Does anyone have experience of buying a ruin to either rebuild it into a more modern home or getting rid of the ruin completely and building a new home? I appreciate that everywhere has rules around what you can or can't do building wise, but I just wonder if anyone had taken this bold step - or tried it and gave it up as it was too unworkable.

Any info would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Nikkie.

Matthew

Posted: Mon Mar 22, 2021 12:10pm

Matthew

Legendary helpful member

Posts: 2236

3339 helpful points

Location: Mojacar

Joined: 16 May 2018

Posted: Mon Mar 22, 2021 12:10pm

Hi Nikkie, Twenty years ago when we bought our apartment in Mojacar Playa, I had a sudden rush of blood to the head and also bought a house in the country which needed repair . . . I mean lots of repair. It has been a continuing project for me since and each time I visit the electricity is "gone" mainly because I'm sharing the line and pole with a nearby carpenter who forgets to flick the switch when he's finished. Nothing worse than driving from Alicante Airport and not being able to make a cup of tea. The carpentaría will close when its owner dies, but he has the gift of everlasting life unless I shoot him. 

The good news is we bought it for a song. The bad news is we have spent a fortune modernising it, but no matter what it need TLC at all times. It's cold up there during winter/spring, but someday we'll spend loadsa time there. But, the truth is I wish I never bought the place.

Jenni

Posted: Tue Mar 23, 2021 12:39pm

Jenni

Very helpful member

Posts: 1291

995 helpful points

Location: Oria

Joined: 14 Dec 2017

Posted: Tue Mar 23, 2021 12:39pm

Hi Enncey,  We bought a dilapidated cortijo and have spent the last 3 years having fun refurbishing it. The only advice I would give is if you buy a ruin and by that I mean, no roof, walls falling down, then the rule is dont knock the whole thing down, leave at least one original wall standing, because we were told by our Spanish neighbour that if you knock the whole lot down you will have to get Planning permission to rebuild it, and you will only be allowed to rebuild in the original footprint. Whereas if you leave one wall standing, even if only half of it is left then you wont need planning permission, just a small works permit and life is a lot easier. Not so much red tape. Its why you see so many ruins about, the Spanish people that own them, dont raise them to the ground incase future generations want to build.

I have done this in Portugal and Spain, and enjoyed every minute, but then again I am a bit wacky.

Bess

Posted: Wed Mar 24, 2021 12:42am

Bess

Helpful member

Posts: 227

213 helpful points

Location: Huércal-Overa

Joined: 18 Mar 2018

Posted: Wed Mar 24, 2021 12:42am

Jenni wrote on Tue Mar 23, 2021 12:39pm:

Hi Enncey,  We bought a dilapidated cortijo and have spent the last 3 years having fun refurbishing it. The only advice I would give is if you buy a ruin and by that I mean, no roof, walls falling down, then the rule is dont knock the whole thing down, leave at least one original wall standi...

...ng, because we were told by our Spanish neighbour that if you knock the whole lot down you will have to get Planning permission to rebuild it, and you will only be allowed to rebuild in the original footprint. Whereas if you leave one wall standing, even if only half of it is left then you wont need planning permission, just a small works permit and life is a lot easier. Not so much red tape. Its why you see so many ruins about, the Spanish people that own them, dont raise them to the ground incase future generations want to build.

I have done this in Portugal and Spain, and enjoyed every minute, but then again I am a bit wacky.

I may be wrong, but I believe that in Almeria there is now a rule that you can only 'convert' a ruin if it currently has a functioning bathroom, which is why you don't see so many advertised now.  Perhaps someone more knowledgeable  could confirm or refute this?

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Enncey

Posted: Wed Mar 24, 2021 11:52am

Enncey

Original Poster

Posts: 9

1 helpful points

Location: Lubrín

Joined: 7 Nov 2020

Posted: Wed Mar 24, 2021 11:52am

Matthew wrote on Mon Mar 22, 2021 12:10pm:

Hi Nikkie, Twenty years ago when we bought our apartment in Mojacar Playa, I had a sudden rush of blood to the head and also bought a house in the country which needed repair . . . I mean lots of repair. It has been a continuing project for me since and each time I visit the electricity is "gone"...

... mainly because I'm sharing the line and pole with a nearby carpenter who forgets to flick the switch when he's finished. Nothing worse than driving from Alicante Airport and not being able to make a cup of tea. The carpentaría will close when its owner dies, but he has the gift of everlasting life unless I shoot him. 

The good news is we bought it for a song. The bad news is we have spent a fortune modernising it, but no matter what it need TLC at all times. It's cold up there during winter/spring, but someday we'll spend loadsa time there. But, the truth is I wish I never bought the place.

Thinking about it, I think we may also be suffering from a rush of blood to the head :) But thanks for the reply, it puts things into perspective.

Enncey

Posted: Wed Mar 24, 2021 11:56am

Enncey

Original Poster

Posts: 9

1 helpful points

Location: Lubrín

Joined: 7 Nov 2020

Posted: Wed Mar 24, 2021 11:56am

Jenni wrote on Tue Mar 23, 2021 12:39pm:

Hi Enncey,  We bought a dilapidated cortijo and have spent the last 3 years having fun refurbishing it. The only advice I would give is if you buy a ruin and by that I mean, no roof, walls falling down, then the rule is dont knock the whole thing down, leave at least one original wall standi...

...ng, because we were told by our Spanish neighbour that if you knock the whole lot down you will have to get Planning permission to rebuild it, and you will only be allowed to rebuild in the original footprint. Whereas if you leave one wall standing, even if only half of it is left then you wont need planning permission, just a small works permit and life is a lot easier. Not so much red tape. Its why you see so many ruins about, the Spanish people that own them, dont raise them to the ground incase future generations want to build.

I have done this in Portugal and Spain, and enjoyed every minute, but then again I am a bit wacky.

Hi Jenni, thanks for your reply and the useful advice about not knocking everything down - very helpful.

Enncey

Posted: Wed Mar 24, 2021 11:57am

Enncey

Original Poster

Posts: 9

1 helpful points

Location: Lubrín

Joined: 7 Nov 2020

Posted: Wed Mar 24, 2021 11:57am

Bess wrote on Wed Mar 24, 2021 12:42am:

I may be wrong, but I believe that in Almeria there is now a rule that you can only 'convert' a ruin if it currently has a functioning bathroom, which is why you don't see so many advertised now.  Perhaps someone more knowledgeable  could confirm or refute this?

Hi Bess, thanks for the added advice about the bathroom - that would not have been on my radar. Thanks again.

Jenni

Posted: Wed Mar 24, 2021 11:58am

Jenni

Very helpful member

Posts: 1291

995 helpful points

Location: Oria

Joined: 14 Dec 2017

Posted: Wed Mar 24, 2021 11:58am

Enncey wrote on Wed Mar 24, 2021 11:56am:

Hi Jenni, thanks for your reply and the useful advice about not knocking everything down - very helpful.

Your very welcome, good luck

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