What are the Rules for Living in a Spanish Community?
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What are the Rules for Living in a Spanish Community?
In Spain, it is common for an apartment or property in Spain, to form a part of a development. Your neighbours or estate agent might talk about a “Community of Property Owners” and the service charges that add to the cost of owning a property in Spain. So what is a community? And how does it impact upon you as the owner?
What is a “Community of Property Owners”?
A development will usually comprise a number of individual apartments or villas, which will be built around or near to a communal area. The communal area will usually be something like a private road, a swimming pool, or golf course, depending on the development.
By buying a property in a development, you gain access to these excellent amenities. However, its maintenance isn’t free, so, by Spanish law, a community of property owners must be formed, and each owner must pay a community fee to cover the cost of the upkeep. The site will usually have a paid administrator on site, to oversee the upkeep of the development.
So what are the benefits?
Well firstly, it means there is always a proactive (and reactive) plan in place for the maintenance of the communal area, which is paid for through your community fee. That means if you own the property as a holiday home, you will won’t have to bother with maintenance when you are supposed to be on holiday.
A development will mean you and your neighbours will have access to exclusive amenities that you would not normally have (i.e. swimming pools, communal gardens) all of which will be tended to by professionals. There might also be a handyman on site, who can assist you with repairs on your own property, meaning you won’t need to find a professional, which can be tricky in an unfamiliar culture.
Living on a development means there will always be someone present on the site, so you can feel more secure when you are away from your Spanish home. If you ever choose to rent out your property, having professionals on-site can make the process far easier.
The administrators of the development will usually hold an Annual General Meeting (AGM), meaning you will get the opportunity to learn of any changes being made well in advance. You might also have the opportunity to have your say on changes.
So how can I avoid problems?
Firstly, ensure you have a direct debit set up to cover the cost of your community fee. The last thing you want is to lose access to the on-site amenities because it slipped your mind to pay your bill. It is also vital that you attend the AGM, to ensure that you remain informed of all the upcoming changes that might take place.
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