Houses being sold people don't own!

A person known to us has come over from UK to sort out her Quesada villa. With a friend they found they could not access the property as locks had been changed. They got a locksmith to open the door and while he was doing so they were met by a man who said he was from Wales (but they suspect Eastern European) who said he had bought the villa legally. Police were called and this couple spent much of the pm with Guardia Civil. Apparently the home had been broken into, the property paperwork found and used to sell on the property. Now in the hands of the Police. A warning for anyone who has not visited their home here for months!

And Spain is stopping us from getting there to keep our properties up to date. It really makes me wonder why any of us want to live there? I certainly have changed my mind, will sell and go back to living within a gated community in another more acceptable country.

Fairly easy though to ask a friend or neighbour to keep an eye on your property. And maybe leave the house documents with your legal advisor not in the property (or even in the safe).

anthomo16 wrote:And Spain is stopping us from getting there to keep our properties up to date. It really makes me wonder why any of us want to live there? I certainly have changed my mind, will sell and go back to living within a gated community in another more acceptable country.

Not alone Spain, UK do not want their residents going abroad.

This confuses me I have bought and sold many times here but the notary always needs your passport to prove you are in fact the person named on the escritura I do not see how this cod be a legal sale. Some dodgy silicitor has persuaded a buyer it is legal but it can't be.

I think it can happen..
If they can break in and live in a villa and build extentions ( badly and no planing needed for them) and knock walls down set up a "nursery" in the said villa and garage install security cameras. Join up electric and water illegal..
And the police don't think there is anything wrongfull about that or worthy doing anything...
I think finding a doggy or solicitor is easy ...
Take it from me I see what can be done illegally here ...every day ..

It used to be a regular thing to watch for a few years ago along with sellers getting a loan against the property just before the signing at the notary and dodgy passports are very easy to get for a few euros

I don't know about current situation but it used to be that that if you sqautted in a home for 6 mths you could not then legally be evicted. Hopefully that has changed. Also Solicitors apparently cannot be held liable or to account if they miss something which results in you being fined. (ie extension etc on a property purchase, with no planning permission)

Davep were your friends warned somebody was living there

No. First thing that was odd was that her key would not unlock the door.