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Reforms to the Coastal Law in Spain are affecting the value of properties and there are reports of a frenzy of activity in some locations.

1110056 51307 1 300x199 - New lease of life for coastal properties in SpainThe changes to the law, which effectively nationalised the whole coast of Spain when it was introduced in 1988, allows refurbishments of homes close to the seafront, and creates a market for longer leases, opening up investment opportunities for those in the know.

Owners of expropriated homes that were legally built before the Ley de Costas were given a 30 year concession of use, effectively a type of lease, many of which were due to expire in 2018.

Now the Ley de Costas has been reformed, extending concessions from 30 years to 75 years and making it legal to buy and sell concessions that before could only be inherited. As a result, concessions are now much more valuable.
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The Council of Ministers has just given the go-ahead to a measure which has been anxiously awaited on the Costa del Sol. Foreigners who buy a property for at least half a million euros will be able to apply for a resident’s permit.

56679 1070272 foto 1 300x225 - Buying property for half a million euros will give residence rightsThe measure is included in the proposed law of ‘Support for Entrepreneurs and their internationalisation’ , in the section which deals with attracting talent and investment through a new regime of visas and residence permits.

The law, which the government hopes will come into force on January 1st next year, will make it easier for residence permits to be granted for reasons of economic interests “through a quick and easy process and involving just one authority” for those who meet the criteria, according to information which was given to the press after the Cabinet meeting had finished.
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Approximately 1,800 Alicante properties could be spared demolition. They will be legalised following changes to the 1988 Coastline law due for debate in Spain’s senate later this month.

Alicante 300x201 - Thousand properties could be spared demolition in AlicanteThe news was welcomed by home-owners in Denia, Javea, La Albufereta, Serra Grossa in northern Alicante. Homes in Arenales del Sol in Elche, Guardamar, El Pinet and Santa Pola will also benefit from the amended legislation.

The existing law stipulates that a 100-metre strip of land above the high-water mark must be left free for public use. This is expected to be reduced to 20 metres, enabling the legalisation of pre-1988 homes.

At present owners of properties infringing the 100-metre strip were told they could occupy them only until 2018, after which they were to be demolished.
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Decree 2/2012 of the Junta de Andalucía, which aims to regulate buildings which exist on land which is not classified for riogordo axarquia 300x225 - Decree to make properties legal still has no effect in La Axarquíaconstruction, is failing to convince the owners of illegal properties in the countryside of La Axarquía region. In fact, ten months after the new regulations came into force, their effect has been practically non-existent as the majority of owners of illegal houses have not applied for them to be made legal. Nor are the local councils playing their part. Very few of them have drawn up the report on illegal settlements which will help in making the properties legal.

This is a document which is required by the decree, which stipulates that in the absence of an Urban Plan the Town Halls should supply details of their future planning, to identify the places which have a high concentration of buildings on land not zoned for construction. Nor have most of the councils drawn up the regulations about minimum conditions of habitation and sanitation with which all illegal properties will have to comply.
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The Cabinet on Friday approved a reform of the Coast Law extending an amnesty for the owners of beachfront properties that would otherwise have to be demolished.

Owners of properties that were in breach of the current legislation, many of them foreigners, were given a 30-year concession of use that was due to expire in 2018.

IMG 1478 300x225 - Green light to Coast Law reform to save seaside homesThe overhaul of the current law, which has been in place since 1988, also creates a special regime for 11 areas, which will be taken out of the public domain. It also established four-year concessions for beach bars and restaurants.

The surface easement limits, or protection areas, for rivers could be reduced from 100 meters to 20 meters.

The text of the draft reform said the current legislation “has tolerated outcomes that are not acceptable in environmental terms,” adding that “time has consolidated certain situations,” and that the law has “prompted mistrust and uncertainty.”

“The aim of the reform is to avoid the risk of homeowners losing their property rights in the short term, and particularly bearing in mind the difficulties this could create for foreigners,” the text also says.
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