Why bother with a building licence?
VIP HOMES Mijas / Marbella.
For any change we make to our home, by law we must inform the authorities. Life can be very easy if we follow the legal rules. We automatically do this in most cases such as with our driving licence, car insurance and by respecting traffic rules, because if we don’t, we could get fined by the police. We also pay our taxes in order to avoid problems with the tax authorities, and so on. So why not respect the legal rules when we make home improve- ments? Spain is no different, even though this approach is occasionally made. This should be considered as important, because in any European country, when we make changes to our homes, we need prior approval to do so.
On the Costa del Sol the same rules as in the rest of Europe should be applied. For any change made in our home, even for smaller issues, we need to request building permission from our town hall, as well as the other authori- ties that could be involved, but which are often considered unnecessary by many home owners and builders. One-man shows often are not up-to-date and represent a high risk for the property owner. Many jobs are done illegally, without any permits, and surprises happen more often than you’d think, sometimes with very serious consequences.
If we wish to make any changes in our bathroom, lay a new floor, break any wall a building licence is required, plus other permissions in order to proceed safely. Excessive noise, dust, disturbance to neigh- bours etc can all be a problem.
The first requirement is that we get the correct advice from a professional building consultant. Architects or building companies that have this service in-house are highly recommended, due to the fact that they operate legally in all aspects. The ideal is to have one multilingual contact person with an “all inclusive package” that simp- lifies the coordination and makes life easier.
If an inspection is made by the authorities and there is no building licence and permits, there can be heavy fines, even for the home owner who is ultimately responsible.
On the Costa del Sol this way is not always adhered to, or even considered necessary, but this attitude is a wrong one. Inspections are made, neighbours can com- plain, or an anonymous phone call can be made to the authorities. This can be enough to create an unpleasant and complicated legal situation. Transparency in combi- nation with technical and legal advice throughout all the home improvement phases is highly recommended.
Generally, the authorities require detailed info of the project, such as location, detailed description, quotation for the works and even drawings of the new layout can be requested. For small or major changes to commercial pre- mises, the Authorities can also request further information regarding sanitation, noise levels, and the separation from adjoining premises. Clear and legal procedures can make for a smooth operation without any legal complications.
VIP HOMES
Tel: 952 666 291 or 610 748 099
Mail: mail@viphomes.es
Titulo: Why bother with a Building Licence
Prensa: Finest
Edicion: II/2013
