Construction problems in Spain

Do you have construction problems in Spain – does your property have worrying cracks or flaws that seem strange or out of place? Are you concerned that there may be a construction problem with your swimming pool or some part of your property? Do you think that you may have a potential court case for some defect caused either by your builder or the original constructor? Well, if so – then contact us at Building Defects Spain because we specialise in investigating and remedying building defects throughout Spain.  We have an expert, British building surveyor (qualified in the UK and Spain) who is insured to work in Spain – and who has many years’ experience of Spanish properties (and their problems).   He is constantly surveying properties throughout Spain and has an intimate knowledge of the problems associated with Spanish construction Furthermore, our surveyor has taken part in numerous court cases…

Full Details

Spanish houses and the Decenal insurance policy

Do you have a Decenal insurance policy on your new (under 10 years old) property in Spain? Of course, this may seem a silly question – as all new Spanish houses should have a 10 year ‘Builder’s Guarantee’ (Decenal Insurance policy).  Indeed, a Decenal insurance policy (similar to a NHBC insurance policy in the UK) is obligatory, by Spanish law, for any new property constructed by a builder in Spain. However, there is a loophole in the Spanish law relating to the imposition of Decenal policies for new build Spanish properties – that (whilst, perhaps, sensible for people building a house for their own long term use) has been taken advantage of by unscrupulous builders and colluding conveyancing lawyers. The loophole states that a self-build project (auto-promoción) in Spain does not have to have a Decenal policy.  This is when the owner of the property chooses to be designated as the builder…

Full Details

Effective litigation lawyer in Spain for construction disputes

It is, of course, no secret that a significant amount of the building work in Spain undertaken during the long Spanish economic boom was defective.  There were quite simply not enough skilled workers around to ensure that construction was handled by time served professionals – and this was compounded by a lack of effective building control by the authorities.  Meanwhile, some greedy and irresponsible developers ‘cut corners’ to save money and speed up the completion of properties. The result has been predictable – with many Spanish properties built over the past fifteen years suffering from a wide array of defects.  These range from extremely serious foundation issues (in some cases leading to property collapse) to more minor concerns over damp ingress or poor insulation (both for heat and sound). Of course, if you own a new (built within the past 10 years) property in Spain that has building problems then…

Full Details

Construction disputes and court actions in Spain

Do you have a construction dispute in Spain?  Is this something that is gradually driving you mad – and are you having trouble resolving your building problems? Well, if your answer to any of the above questions is yes, then: you are not alone! Spanish building over the past fifteen years has not always been good and many people find that they have building issues in Spain that are causing them considerable trouble.  Alongside this, of course, is the vulnerability that most people feel when they are involved in a dispute in a foreign country – where the laws are different and any resolution to a dispute can seem insurmountable. The truth is that Spain is, in some ways, no different from any other country in that there are ways of resolving disputes and there are experienced professionals who specialise in providing this service.  Indeed, you would be crazy not…

Full Details

Roof repairs in Spain, 7 typical problems and their resolution

Finding out what problem you have with your roof in Spain – and why it has occurred – is almost impossible for the average property owner.  This is equally true of knowing whether the remedial work suggested by your builder in Spain is really correct and reasonably priced. Just as frustrating is the difficulty in establishing whether any roof defect that you have is the fault of someone else (your builder or architect, for example).  This can be vital, as you may well be able to claim for any roof repairs in Spain or damage caused. The trouble with roofs, of course, is their inaccessibility.  Furthermore, few people, even when they have safe access to their roof, know enough to be able to fault find effectively.  So, you tend to be very vulnerable to poor work and, on occasions, outrageous prices. Certainly, roof defects in Spain are not uncommon and…

Full Details

6 ways to resolve problems with building work in Spain

Of course, having problems with building work in Spain is not unusual. Construction, whether a project is big or small, tends to be contentious and, all too often, ends in a dispute – usually revolving around costs, timings or the quality of the work itself. The trouble is that the very nature of building work means that the stakes involved are usually high (whether financially or emotionally). This means that the earlier you can recognize potential problems and resolve them – the better! The question is – how can you tell when your building project in Spain is going ‘bad’, once work has started, before real damage or expense is involved? Well, there are some common factors that I have noticed, over the years, that can indicate that all is not well. Individually, they may not be important but several factors together normally mean that you need to take immediate,…

Full Details