A ROW over the legality of a storage outhouse has led to a Dutch couple’s Valencia area holiday home losing its electricity supply.
Power company Iberdrola pulled the switch on the orders of Ontinyent Town Hall on April 22.
Remo Slingerland and Helene Temmnick only bought their ‘dream home’ in the municipality’s Ombria area last year.
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Despite keeping their electricity payments up to date, the couple were shocked to discover their supplies were cut off on April 22.
They only discovered there was a problem when their remote phone monitoring from the Netherlands revealed the security cameras were not working.
The plug was pulled on the whole property, despite the fact that the dispute involved only the separate storage building.
The annex previously housed donkeys and had been used by the last owner to store art supplies.
The lack of power leaves their holiday home vulnerable to squatters or thieves, though Remo and Helene are currently staying there.
They had arranged a meeting with the council last February for next Tuesday(May 12) to discuss the status of the outbuilding.
They are also arguing that the current suspension of electricity is illegal as a formal termination notice for a main dwelling should give a month’s notice.
It was only issued on April 14, with supplies cut some eight days later.
Receipt of the notice could not be signed for- as per law- since the couple were in the Netherlands.
On Monday, accompanied by a Policia Nacional officer, Remo and Helene went to the Town Hall’s Tecnicos office to complain.
They were told to wait until next Tuesday’s meeting with no restoration of supplies.
The Dutch couple are said to be ‘bewildered’ at the decision made without their prior knowledge.
They have described the process as ‘corrupt’.
Remo and Helene have documented evidence including photographs and neighbour statements that the storage building has been on their land for over 20 years.
They are arguing that under current laws, it is automatically ‘deemed legal’ after 15 years.
In a fresh blow, Iberdrola has now said that an electrician will have to do a report on the main dwelling to prove that the electrics meet the necessary standards to have their supply reinstated.
Since Remo and Helene bought the house last September, they took over the Iberdrola contract from the previous owner with no apparent problems.
The transfer was overseen by their lawyer.
Meanwhile, neighbour, Helene Parker has been helping the couple by offering them showering facilities.
“They are up at the house in awful wet, damp weather, with no hot water or electrics but don’t want to leave it unattended as the security system is down,” she said.
The couple’s problems have mounted further after they expressed dissatisfaction with their lawyer, who then sent an email saying she would no longer represent them, despite being paid.
They are now looking for legal representation ahead of Tuesday’s meeting and have the added problem of not being Spanish speakers.
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