I am sure that most people are aware, that what ever you decide to build / reform /renovate or whatever you want to call it, in most areas it is illegal!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My friend who is renovating a very large masia on a property of 17 hectares (not a donkey shed, like on most fincas) has just been stopped by the Forestal agents!!!!!! The local ajuntament knew what my friend was doing, and said there was no problem, but apparently these guys have more power than anyone else!!!!!!!

They have actually stopped his reformation, and my Spanish friend has spent 3 mornings at the ajuntament with the Mayor, the local Architect and the Forrest agents, and only now are getting some sort of solution.

He is being told that he cannot declare that he lives there all of the time, because this means the finca is a "vivienda" and technically speaking you are not allowed to live on a finca in Catalunya all of the time!!!!!!!!!!

Just want to warn everybody of the consequences.

The building and renovation laws in Aragon are completely different, and if you look around the area of Matarranya, the countryside is stunning, the local councils actually want you to go and live there, and will help with any problems. You can actually build up to 1.5% the size of the finca, even without a casa already on the property.
Guess where i am looking for my next purchase????????????

Maybe Catalunya has had enough of foreigners?
I know of some lovely reasonably priced properties, that knock the socks off the prices around here.

Jools

NOTE: PROTECT YOURSELF - If you want to reform/renovate/build then get WRITTEN permission from the Ajuntament. Spain thrives on official paper and permissions.