Tom PowellTHREE British couples have been awarded a €135,000 compensation payment after a landmark ruling against the developers of an illegal urbanisation in Albox.
Judge María Teresa Vidaurreta ruled that the couples had suffered anguish and uncertainty over the properties in the Los Patricos district for ten years, after buying them in good faith.
Albox Town Hall, along with two developers and the architect, will pay each couple between €40-50,000 to compensate them for ‘moral damages’. A fourth British couple will also receive €7,800.
The judge, in Almeria’s penal court, found developers Hilario Alfonso Granero and Amador Gázquez García guilty of planning offences and handed them a year’s imprisonment.
She also ruled against the demolition of the seven properties, built on non-urban land, on the grounds that they could eventually be legalised.
President of the association Abusos Urbanísticos Almanzora No (Auan), Maura Hillen, told El Mundo: “The ruling is good news but I believe the ordeal is not yet over.
“This is a positive step but there is still a chance of the defendants and the Town Hall appealing the sentence.”
Appeal, appeal, appeal and no monies repaid. Spanish justice in a nutshell.
Good point Fred. The appeals could last a few more years. Good that the Olive Press mentioned this, some property websites have copied this breaking news from here but neglected to mention that important fact.
I very much doubt that they will see a single cent. No doubt the developers and architect all went bust years ago and the town hall has no money.
Yeah I thought the same.
Winning is one thing but getting the money in the back is a whole different kettle of fish
If the town hall, developers and architects don’t cough up then the Junta de Andalucia should be forced to pay these people compensation because they are responsible this entire situation.