Our friends did fight the matter in court but got no where and it cost them very dearly. This was a criminal court because they were formally arrested for the illegal build, despite having sought permission from the local adjuntament and having all the paperwork. They had to hire a barrister and although the judge threw it out of court this was not the end of it. She threw it out as a criminal matter but they still had to face the civil courts and the costs just rise and rise. I hear what you are saying about going to the European courts and it is not the first time this has been raised. The problem is you still have to find someone willing to take the case on on your behalf and it could still cost you a fortune. Unless you have very good back up both legally and financially this could be difficult.

My view is that one of these cases does need to go to the European Court as a test case and it might be better if someone who has returned to the UK leaving their property in limbo took advice from their MP here in the UK. If you tried to do it over there you could simply end up with more corrupt individuals trying to rip you off. I would strongly recommend that anyone in this situation who has returned to the UK, and I know there are many from Catalunya alone, speak to their MP about it asap. They hold surgeries and I'm sure they would be able to offer some advice. It may be that their are legal companies who would even be prepared to take this on as a test case. If they won then it would open the floodgates to compensation. It could well be argued that the adjuntament and local officials have turned a blind eye to what is going on. They knew what was happening and failed to warn buyers.

Lets face it, how difficult would it have been to pass a law to force the notaries to be duty bound to provide clear information in English or other EU languages PRIOR TO THE SALE OF LAND to inform buyers of the restrictions of building a dwelling of any type????? That is all it would have taken to stop this mess and prevent the ' Estate Agents' from passing off agricultural land as being suitable for living on.!!!