Iona Napier
Roy Wheat, 52, spent his life savings of €220,000 on the finca near Alhaurin el Grande in 2007, only to find out his builders’ renovations were ‘illegal’. He claims they built without a proper licence.
However, it is the enormous tax debts unwittingly racked up which have led to the property being auctioned off, on June 20.
To make matters worse, the finca, where Roy was to base his motors business, has been vandalised while he has been in the UK fighting prostate cancer.
But Roy and brother Brendan, who racked up €64,000 in tax across a number of properties in the area, are still determined to fight the decision with legal action.
“I feel completely robbed,” said Roy. “I am now living on my daughter’s sofa in England. I have lost over €220,000 and can’t express how devastated and at a loss I feel at this moment.”
While Brendan, 56, added: “We had no idea about the charges and, now JCBs and materials worth thousands of euros have been stolen, I feel responsible for persuading Roy to buy out here.”
The brothers’ lawyer Manuel Ubeda told the Olive Press that while he was contesting half of the fine over a building issue, taxes must always be paid.
Mijas Town Hall, organising the auction, stated that several notifications are submitted over unpaid council tax before any further action is taken.
“We also publish outstanding debts on the online Boletin Oficial del Estado (BoE) register,” added the spokesman.
