Illegal homes are to be reprieved

VIRTUALLY all ‘illegal’ properties in Albox could be ‘saved’ by new legislative changes proposed by the Junta de Andalucia.

According to Albox Mayor Rogelio Mena, 500 properties in the municipality will be made legal by Junta President Susana Diaz’s proposals; that is just about all of those currently in a legal limbo.

Across Andalucia there are more than 300,000 houses built on rural land which are in a state of legal uncertainty. “We are going to respond to the situation which affects thousands of families and which cannot be ignored by the administration,” said Diaz, (pictured on a visit to Albox). 

She continued: “This government is going to propose to Parliament a change to Article 185 of the Planning Law of Andalucia which will make it possible to regularise the thousands and thousands of houses in Andalucia.”

Maura Hillen, President of AUAN, an organisation which fights for the legalisation of properties and the accountability of decision-makers who have allowed the illegal builds to occur, said: “Finally there seems to be a consensus not only social but also political regarding illegal houses in Andalucia. The facts are that there are at least 300,000 illegal houses in Andalucia and you can’t knock them all down; therefore, we need to seek a solution. 

She added: “It is not acceptable to ignore these houses, pretending that they do not exist because there are thousands of houses that may be affecting the environment which are currently not being recognised or regulated.”

Meanwhile, a Sevilla court suspended the demolition of an illegal construction, the first time a demolition order has been reversed because of the regularisation decree. Once legalised, the owners will be able to register ownership of the property and carry out other activities previously not allowed including granting a mortgage.