What do you think?

[Marina]

We have a rental apartment and have always said that "we could rent it out 3 times over in summer".

Wondering tonight,over a few glasses of vino...could we get permission to build on our land, a couple of rental/guest studios? The extra income would certainly come in handy

What do you think would be the best way of presenting this to the town hall for permission? We live in an area which is, in the future, to be classed as a "zone of historic interest". Is this likely to be a help or a hindrance?

Obviously we will talk to our lawyer about this but it strikes me that some lawyers may be more creative in their presentations than others.

Has anyone done anything similar? Any advice?

[gavilan]

surprised that no-one has responded ... so amateur as I am here goes with a couple of thoughts:

'rent it out 3 times over in the summer' ... ?so would the income from new apartments let for maybe 3 months of the year exceed the cost of building?

and I remember you telling me that building work had been stopped on new houses near you because Phoenician ruins or some such had been found ... so ?how near is your property to those ruins? ?are your builders likely to find similar ruins when digging foundations? and what are the financial implications of that for you?

but cant help re Algarrobo planning permission!
good luck

[Marina]

I think we could recoup the cost of building by the third year of rentals.

The remains could be a problem. So far they haven't found any on this part of the hill but we could possibly still have to have an archaeologist and then we probably wouldn't recoup anything for about ten years!!!

It just all seemed a good idea after a few glasses of vino!

[Grouser]

Do you have the clients lined up. If not I would suspect there will be a glut of rental possibilities available and also a probable reduction in the numbers of people wanting to come, due to the state of the economy, rising fuel prices and therefore probable rising flight prices together with reduced choice, as some of the cut price airlines cease trading.

[Marina]

I'm sure we could get the clients. We are turning them away at this time of year. We also have clients from Spain and Canada so we are not totally reliant on the British market.
What we have to offer is a little different from most costal apartments in terms oflocation, privacy and views.

[Jool]

We live in an area which is, in the future, to be classed as a "zone of historic interest". Is this likely to be a help or a hindrance?

In my opinion a serious hindrance as there is such a move for conservation.

However what about a log cabin or something that stands above the ground with wooden floor and no cement foundations? I have been to camp sites in those at all times of the year and they can be made very luxurious and are as comfortable as an apartment, plus may be more in keeping with your area? Alternatively a yurt or other such eco type accomm - at Glastonbury this year there were mega luxury Indian tents on offer locally at prices to match.

[peteroldracer]

I hope, really hope, and believe that there is no way anyone will get permission for one of those ugly un-Andalucian oversized garden huts anywhere near Comares!
If I saw one going up, I would promptly ask at the Ayuntamiento as to who I should make the denuncia.
If anyone wants chalets, let them bog off to Switzerland, chalet-maids and all!

[Marina]

I know what you mean but we already have two existing buildings that just need to be extended. They are not overlooked by anyone so the sight of them won't upset anyone

Our lawyer has suggested that we just get some plans drawn up and submit them and see what happens. I would have liked to have had a better idea before paying out for an architect, but such is life, I suppose.

[Wicksey]

Can't you raise the question with the ayuntamiento's planning officer just to see what their policy is regarding modest extensions to your house? I know of a couple who recently went to Torrox to ask and have been told no extensions will be allowed to their campo house, so they haven't bothered taking the matter any further. I'm aware that planning here is very hit and miss but they should have some basic policies and guidelines to follow, before you have expensive plans drawn up.

(It's just a personal thing, but I would never use a lawyer to handle these sort of queries - my experience of them here is that they are very expensive and not very efficient .... just an opinion, although I know others on here have expressed the same thought that gestorias/assessorias are better)

[Marina]

That would probably be a good idea although I'm not so sure that my Spanish is up to it.

Its possible that a gestor would be better. Although I tried to use one this week, for a different matter, who gave me completely the wrong information and nearly lost me the best part of 300€!

Do all gestors deal with the same sort of things or do they specialise?

[Wicksey]

Its possible that a gestor would be better. Although I tried to use one this week, for a different matter, who gave me completely the wrong information and nearly lost me the best part of 300€!

Oh dear, I knew that recommendation would backfire . Perhaps just using someone to translate for you would be better and then you can ask the questions you want. I know they may say yes informally and then no when you submit plans, but if they say 'no way' straight away at least you'll know it's not worth pursuing.

[Jool]

PetrolD - I wa referring to the very traditional log cabins, not the ones that look like garden sheds.........there is one near us that has been painted and you cannot tell the difference between it and a house! Equally I have seen and stayed in others that really do work with the countryside.....

but if Marina already has the outbuildings and those appear on the catastro and / or the escritura then if may be possible. I thought she was starting from scratch.........

[peteroldracer]

It is probably just me, but I think all houses in the countryside should be traditional Spanish, brick/rendered or adobe, painted white.
Some friends here bought a log house five years ago, and have consistently been refused permission to put the thing up, so it lies in the supplier's warehouse to this day - they will not refund the money, the friends have no more to build anything else, and have lived with 3 dogs and several cats in a two-berth caravan all that time.
If anyone wants to see what widening that spec. looks like, look to the south as you drive from Casabermerja towards Colmenar. There is an ugly hotch-potch of dwellings of every type - it would be an ideal practice range for the Spanish Air Force with bombs and rockets!

[fearfulfred]

peteroldracer said

"If anyone wants to see what widening that spec. looks like, look to the south as you drive from Casabermerja towards Colmenar. There is an ugly hotch-potch of dwellings of every type - it would be an ideal practice range for the Spanish Air Force with bombs and rockets!"

I imagine you are talking about the El Alcaide Urbanization that has the wooden houses above it? I guess the Spanish there have no taste (El Alcaide) .. Guess Spain is wasted on the Spanish!


Fred