More disappointments in buying a #house in #Spain:

We were viewing one property in #Coín, which had a nice location and seemingly just needed a little bit of work. For example it didn't have an air conditioning, but that's pretty simple to install.

Anyhow, the seller first claimed that the property has all the papers and permits, including the licencia de primera ocupación (#LPO). This proves the house is legal in all the ways. After I had arranged for the bank valuation and a third party inspection, the seller says they don't have the LPO after all, and don't want to get any papers some buyer might want which aren't strictly necessary to make the sale.

The inspections found that one end of the house is sinking and the walls are cracking. A store room made with asbestos needs to be demolished. Everything leaks water, there is mold, thermo-solar panels are broken. Legality of the whole property is questionable.

An estimate to reinforce the foundations and fix everything was roughly in the scale of 200,000 euros. The seller refused to lower the price, saying "it's just small scratches, can be painted over".

It's probably cheaper to just demolish the whole house and build anew.

Anyhow, over a thousand euros again spent on inspections and valuations. Lots of learning money goes in buying a house in Spain.

At least I got my deposit back from the first house I was looking at, the one without a septic tank, with the illegal #PozoNegro.

Troubles with buying a #house in #Spain. After having viewed many houses, we found a suitable one in #AlhaurínElGrande.

The #realtor assured us that everything is fine, it has all the papers and a #municipal #sewer connection.

Of course I needed #inspections to make sure so we made an initial offer agreement which states that the sellers will fix any minor problems that arise from inspections and otherwise and if not, the offer is void.

Then the realtor said that it actually has a #SepticTank, a proper one of the total oxidation type which is mandatory by law. Ok, they accepted my offer which was a bit lower than what they asked for so a septic tank is fine by me.

An inspection found leaking roofs, moisture rising from the floors, damp damage, #asbestos, bad design of using a sewage pump from downstairs toilet uphill, and failing A/C units, among other things.

Their lawyer spend weeks trying to track down the #LicenciaDePrimeraOcupación from archives, and when it became clear they don't have it, they tried to hide the fact from me. Instead they contacted the #mortgage #bank manager directly and negotiated the missing #LPO with him, I'm assuming with an implication that I would be later responsible for getting it.

Then I ask the realtor one more time about what sort of a septic tank it has as they had a plumber visit to fix some things and make sure. She says, it's actually a #PozoCiego (i.e. a #PozoNegro, an illegal hole in the ground). It's explicitly illegal on all levels from #EU #directives to municipal #regulations in Alhaurín el Grande, and the area is in the flow basin of #Guadalhorce natural #conservation area.

Ok, that's illegal and prevents an LPO being granted.

I tell them to replace the illegal pozo negro with a legal septic tank, get the LPO, fix the roofs and the moisture damage, and get rid of the asbestos.

They unsurprisingly refused. They say an illegal pozo negro is "not illegal, and is more environmental than a plastic septic tank which breaks down, and never needs maintenance". And a zillion excuses. "Most houses are moving to pozo negro now because it's better than a septic tank". "An LPO isn't needed, the house was legal when it was built and it wasn't needed when the previous owners bought it".

I gave them a chance to fix the deficiencies and now I'm waiting for the offer to expire so that I can get my deposit back, and because of dishonest behavior by the sellers I will send them the bill for my expenses for the external inspection.

The story continues in real time.