Imogen CalderwoodEAGLED-EYED Hacienda helicopters have been flying over Spain in search of undeclared constructions.
More than three million homes have already been inspected countrywide, those found with undeclared alterations facing hefty fines.
Thousands of fines have already been issued by the cadastral regulatory body to proprietors found to have built extra rooms, terraces, pools or sheds without proper planning permission.
Those ‘caught’ are issued with an initial fine of €60 and face further punishment and legal fees.
Cadastral came into force in 2013 and will run until 2016 to assess the country’s property situation.
The regulatory body will provide an increase in revenue for municipalities by detecting additions to properties listed on the property Tax register (IBI).
Properties deemed to have ‘increased’ in size face the prospect of moving tax bracket and therefore paying more in IBI costs.
The Real Estate Cadastre Law states that any home modifications must be reported to the Land Registry office within two months of completion.
Too little, too late. The story of law enforcement in Spain…
Better late than never.
They will be very interested no doubt in the many illegal builds and additions including extensions and non declared swimming pools (probably registered as water depositors) possibly even a shed, especially in the Guadalhorce valley and surrounding hills. In the Alhaurin el Grande area I wonder how many were as the result of bungs to the now returned dodgy mayor Seron and his cronies? Talk about having to pay twice!!!!!!!
If they had a proper system in place whereby people could go to their town hall and ask for permission to build a pool or an extension and get said permission, they would do it properly and not try to find a way round it. The problem is, most town halls say “no” to everything. How about “yes” for a change. All part of the same old dreary problem.
There is a 60 euro fee for just receiving the documents,which in my case ,no surprise,were wrong stairways areas counted as extra rooms!!!! luckily for us I have not built onto the house in the 20 years of living here and to be fair when me and the wife went to the offices to correct their mistakes they hold about us,they were very good and are rectifying it.as a victim of other peoples illegal building,I hope they get the biggest fines possible IF they are found to have built KNOWINGLY ILLEGALLY.
In the vast majority of cases the the damage has been done Steve. Too little, too late.
Costs about a grand an hour to keep a chopper in the air. They must be confident it will at least pay for itself. Going to be some hefty bills dropping from heaven.
Spot on Jane! Have to say all your recent comments have really hit the nail on the head.
Andalucía is eight times the size of Yorkshire, who have only half the population. No doubt the Hacienda will look out for “Sky TV” dishes to cut down flying time, and bring more misery on ex pat “economical” migrants (IE with pensions and or savings).
As we all know there are 30,000+ illegal properties already identified, and as many of those have a pool or garage as well they will make easy targets and pickings.
Wonder if they’ll come to Chiclana de la Frontera – lots to see, well worth a visit!
Enjoy a bit of schadenfreude do you Pat?
@ stefanjo – Indeed I do if it is going to affect all those around me who are doing exactly as they please, building whatever and wherever they want, stealing electric, avoiding payment of IBI, basura, etc. etc., all with apparent impunity. About time there was a bit of comeuppance!
Ooh Pat! There’s righteous for you. The chopper won’be able to spot some of the dastardly deeds you know about. Why not dob them in yourself?
Have done, Stefanjo – but nothing is ever done about it, possibly because too many people don’t WANT to do anything!