EWN
GETS IT
.com
ISSUE NO. 1480
14 - 20 NOVEMBER 2013
WWW.EUROWEEKLYNEWS.COM
EWN FRONT EXTRA
Money around Valencia NINE of the 100 wealthiest Spaniards on the Forbes Rich List live in the Valencian Community. Including Mercadona owner Juan Roig’s €5.8 billion fortune, they are worth €10.825 billion.
Illegal rentals under scrutiny
Lower rates CALPE Town Hall reduced the IBI tax by 17 per cent. Municipal income increased by €1 million after tracking down householders who had never paid rates.
Epic fail THE 441 Alicante University students who did not pass last year’s exams must repay their grants. Those failing to do so cannot re-enrol for five years.
TAX inspectors and the regional Tourism department have an ally in pinpointing illegal tourist accommodation. Experts from Valtur, a regional association for owners of tourist accommodation are currently scrutinising the internet. Their mission is to track down unfair competition from businesses
and private individuals renting out unregistered properties. There are 180,000 tourist villas and apartments in the Valencian Community, but only 36,500 are registered. The regional government’s Tourism department wants to know about them because many ignore official standards. Spain’s tax
authority, Hacienda, is equally interested due to the undeclared income they earn. When Valtur locates a clandestine let, they contact the owners, advising them they are advertising an illegal offer and explaining how to comply with regulations. If they ignore the advice, Valtur then reports them to the authorities.
The long expensive access road to Ikea DEVELOPER Enrique Ortiz will have to construct two access roads for the Alicante Ikea. Ortiz’s original suggestion of direct access from the Alicante
ring road to the intended Ikea site on his Rabasa development was rejected by Madrid. The ring road was built to enable cars to cross Alicante
City, not to provide access to private shopping centres, said a leaked ministry of Public Works report. The developer will instead
have to spend around €40 million on a two-lane service road on either side of the A-70 that will independently connect the A-31 and A-77 accesses.