SSUENN 1555 //11 23 29 APRIL 2016 2015 IISSUE OO . .1597 - 17- February
COSTA DE ALMERÍA
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Under pressure MOJACAR and Albox among resorts under intense scrutiny By Adele Land HOLIDAY-HOMES in Mojacar, Albox and other coastal areas will come under intense scrutiny, following the passing of a new law regulating holiday rentals. The decree was announced by Junta de Andalucia tourism minister, Francisco Fernandez, at the recent Fitur tourism-trade show in Madrid. The new law will require owners of properties which are rented as holiday accommodation to register the property with the Junta. Owners must also ensure their properties meet a set standard of regulations which include a long list of requirements. According to the new law, properties should have air-conditioning (hot and cold) throughout, bed linen, a first aid box, a fire extinguisher, a clearly displayed rates sheet and contact information in case of emergency. Owners will also be required to make available an official Junta de Andalucia complaints book (hoja de reclamaciones). Exceptions to the new rule
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Mojacar popular for tests Terrain ideal for trials MOJACAR remains a popular destination for testing of new motorcycles. The BMW group returned to the town with a group of testriders to trial some 300 motorcycles including new models. A spokesperson for the company said the terrain in this part of the province is perfect for testing the machines. See page 2
Posing pooches on paseo Pet portraits raising funds for charity LOCAL fundraiser Brad Swift has organised a canine photo-shoot on Mojacar paseo on Saturday February 13 from 11am to 1pm. Professional photographer, Frank Millar
will be taking the photos on the day and people can choose and view them at cafe 353 in Mojacar on Thursday February 18. See page 8
Albox politics Mayor should resign say the PP
include, properties rented to the same person for longer than two months, rural properties and in the case where the same owner owns a number of flats in the same block, these are regulated under existing laws. The law is somewhat ambiguous in that it states that properties rented free of charge and those rented for just a few weeks per year are also exempt. Owners have three months in
which to register their property and one year to ensure all the requirements are met. Hoteliers’ associations have long lamented what they called “unfair competition” from private holiday-home owners and welcomed the new ruling. Landlords, however, have widely condemned the excessive bureaucracy involved in treating apartments in a similar manner to hotels.
The Junta minister said checks would be made on rental websites such as Airbnb and other sites where properties are advertised for rental. Fines of up to €150,000 could be levied for failing to adhere to the new law. Turn to page 3 for further details on the complex regime affecting expats across Spain.
PARTIDO POPULAR (PP), in Albox has called for the town’s mayor to resign. Rogelio Mena, of the governing party, has been embroiled in a lengthy court case and was found guilty of refusing to provide financial information to the opposition. Having left the PSOE party he continued to run as an independent mayoral candiSee page 64 date and was subsequently re-elected.