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Mijas Costa See page xx 2
Vol. 12 Issue 283 www.theolivepress.es January 17th - January 30th 2018
Hell and back
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Demolition victory for expat couple after three-year legal battle
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BUZZING: Jubbs are all smiles after villa (above) is saved and (inset) 2015 story
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NEWS IN BRIEF
Wage wars
WORKERS in Spain get paid 27.3% less than the Eurozone average, making €15.70 per hour in 2014 compared to the €21.60 average in common currency nations.
Crony central
THREE Manilva mayoral candidates vying for the coveted post still have pending court cases against their names.
Pest control
OVER 300 bird boxes have been installed in Mijas in the hope that small tits will flock to the area and prey on the poisonous processionary caterpillar.
NEWS
ANALYSIS
April 16th - April 30th 2015
Heartbreak hotel
It’s all too common
Former B&B faces demolition over alterations undertaken by old owners over two decades ago A RETIRED British couple face seeing their luxury B&B knocked down because of an ongoing property dispute with their town hall. Expats Patrick and Valerie Jubb, 63, ran celebrated La Vina de Linan, in Jimena de la Frontera until last year after buying the property in 2008. But now, the stunning farmhouse, which is for sale, is facing a demolition order from the town hall over some illegal additions made by a previous owner 14 years ago. “We did everything by the book,” explained Patrick, 64, a former engineer from London. “We used Spanish lawyers, contacted the Junta and the
EXCLUSIVE By Rob Horgan town hall, and obtained all the correct paperwork.” The couple only learned about the legal issues when they struck a deal to sell their 4-bedroom property for €680,000 last year. But as the deal reached its final stages the town hall declared that the first floor, kitchen and pool had been constructed illegally by previous owners in 1994 - some 14 years before the Jubb’s even purchased it. This was despite the couple getting certification from the Junta - seen by the Olive
Husband of tragic Brit expat Rebecca Muldoon has links to criminal underworld SEE PAGE 2
FINAL VERDICT: For Terttu
HardMaura Hillen, president of AUAN, a group set up to knocklegalise properties in Andalucia, said cases like this
THREATENED: B&B and (below) Patrick and Valerie Press - confirming there were Alcornocales Natural Park, no planning infractions when meaning the normal ‘four they bought the 280m2 prop- year rule’ does not apply. erty. “It means the land registry Although the previous own- should never have approved ers didn’t have official build- the alterations, but of course ing permits at the time, the they did,” explained Patrick. alterations were later legal- “We are in absolute pieces ised, according to the Jubbs, over this. All we want is to at the land registry in San go back to the UK to be with Roque in 2005. our family and friends, but we The problem emerged be- can’t. All our money is tied up cause the home is inside the in the property.”
Mock-umentary
AN expat grandmother has lost a six-year battle against Estepona Town Hall to save her loft conversion. Finnish expat Terttu Balson, 70, was this week forced to start demolishing the extension, even though her next door neighbour has one. Incredibly she has also been fined €24,300 for building the extension without the correct planning permission despite her neighbour - and many others - in the Seghers development also having illegal extensions. But it is not all doom and gloom for Balson. The town hall has now granted her permission to construct a smaller extension after the original comes down.
ANALYSIS
All too common Maura Hillen, the president of AUAN, a group set up to legalise properties in Andalucia, said cases like this are ‘all too common’ across the region. “This is yet another variation on how foreign buyers fall foul of the way planning is badly controlled in Spain,” she said. “It all comes back to the same thing. Failure to enforce the planning regulations and too much power in the hands of town halls. “If it is any comfort they are not alone, many others have similar stories to tell.”
land registry should never have approved the alterations. “It has been a complete failure on the part of the town hall and those in charge, and we will never invest in Spanish property again,” added Valerie. “I feel betrayed by the town hall. I ran the local animal rescue centre and saved them a fortune by rehoming and neutering stray cats and dogs.“It’s such a shame because the area is so beautiful, but at least we can finally move on.” 10
the olive press - October 16 - October 29 2014
NEWS IN BRIEF
Ashya thanks
BRITISH ambassador to Spain, Simon Manley, has thanked the Hospital Materno Infantil in Malaga for its treatment of Ashya King, on behalf of the British government.
NEWS
www.theolivepress.es
They’re singling me out!
A FINNISH grandmother ordered to demolish a nineyear-old extension has accused Estepona Town Hall of being 'racially motivated' and 'singling' her out. Terttu Balson, 70, has been involved in an ongoing six-
EXCLUSIVE By Rob Horgan
year legal battle with the town hall after they served her with a demolition order and fined her €24,300 in 2008 for building a loft extension
without the correct planning permission. Several other properties in the Seghers community have similar extensions without planning licences - including Balson's next door Spanish neighbour - but Balson is the
MANCHESTER City goalkeeper Willy Caballero has told La Liga officials that he was approached by a match-fixing syndicate when playing for Malaga last year.
HALF-BAKED: BBC show
A CONTROVERSIAL documentary about expat life in Spain has been dubbed ‘irritating and unsubstantial’. The BBC programme ‘Costa del Sol: Last Brits Standing’ was also incorrect, with recent figures showing that, in fact, British expat numbers grew last year and continue this year. “It’s a manipulated, out-ofdate report that doesn’t bring anything new to the table. Just irritation,” said Barbara Mora of online news site Vertele. Meanwhile Spanish daily ABC said that the assertion that dreams go sour in Spain was unfair given last year’s record tourist rates of 65 million, 15 million of those British. Telegraph critic Ceri Radiford described the documentary as ‘an entertaining if insubstantial look at expat life’.
are ‘all too common’ across the region. “This is yet another variation on how foreign buyers fall foul of the way planning is badly controlled in Spain,” she said. “It all comes back to the same thing. Failure to enforce the planning regulations and too much power in the hands of town halls. If it is any comfort they are not alone, many others have similar stories to tell.”
Pensioner, 70, complains of discrimination after being ordered to take down extension, despite neighbours all having the same
Top stamps
SPECIAL edition stamps of King Felipe and Queen Letizia have been launched by postal service Correos. Showing official photographs of the Royal duo, they can be bought for €1.
Boozy trips
ONE in seven youngsters coming to Spain on holiday have admitted that they are drunk on the plane, according to a survey by website Jetcost. com.
Big Willy
ANTHONY’S
SPOT THE DIFFERENCE: Terttu’s ‘illegal’ extension and adjoining
neighbour’s (right)
only resident facing court action. "It is completely discriminatory, I cannot help but think that it is not a coincidence that I have been chosen when I am the only foreigner living here," she told the Olive Press. Balson believed she had received planning permission when she contracted a Spanish architect Mario Jones in 2005. Now however, she feels that he did not do his job properly despite being paid €2,500 to take over the project and sort out the building licence. Jones, however, said he feels 'no guilt or responsibility and that Balson is to blame for the situation. He said: "I told her from the beginning that she wasn't allowed to build. Most people get away with it but she DESPERATE: Balson hasn't. "She is definitely being un- and dogs fairly treated and I am not with so many foreigners livsure why. I hope that the ing on the coast I don't think town hall is not targeting her it happens now." because she is foreign. Despite numerous attempts "Maybe that sort of thing Estepona Town Hall did not happened in the old days, but answer any of our questions.
Still on-the-run FLASHBACK: Our story Offer
A WANTED property fraudster has been tracked down to a luxury home in Benahavis, after an exclusive Olive Press investigation this month. According to neighbours in kids barely went to school upmarket La Heredia urbanand rarely even came out to isation, Rebecca Wells, 37, play. has fled owing money to sev“She never mixed with the loeral businesses. cal community here and one Keen horserider Wells - who day she was gone leaving an spent eight years posing as unpaid electricity bill.” an estate agent - is now being The Olive Press has still been sought by police, as reported unable to contact Wells, over in the Olive Press last issue, her defrauding of expats who after four denuncias were paid rent on properties she posted against her. did not own. “She owes money to the Wells, aka Prior, allegedly DISAPPEARED: Wells and La Heredia, where she rented a butcher, restaurant and the took a series of deposits for home baker, as well as for repairs to homes which she did not own. former neighbour Frank Coher car,” said one neighbour. reported concern for her four If you have any information An expat couple living oppo- myn, president of the Palmchildren. about Rebecca Wells, please site Wells’ house in the ur- eras del Golf urbanisation Comyn, who lived opposite contact newsdesk@theolivebanisation reported that they in Benalmadena Costa, has her for two years said: “The press.es saw her packing all the family’s possessions into a rental car on October 1 the day our expose came out. When the Olive Press visited a few days later, the house had clearly been abandoned and the family car - a black Fabulous food and entertainment including a 5* Christmas Chrysler - was apparently or New Years Eve Gala Dinner with fine wine dumped outside. Meanwhile another
BODY: Washed up on Marbella shores
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EXCLUSIVE
Maddie: New sighting claim
EXCLUSIVE
‘Animal centre needs rescuing’
on Page 5
28/08/14
M
CY
CMY
VICTIMS are erty fraudster hunting an alleged propCosta del Sol who has vanished from owing tens euros. of thousandsthe EXCLUSIVE of The Guardia By Imogen days as a holiday Civil confirmed Calderwood rental, but is investigating me around she horse-owninglast night it posits becca Wells an 11-monthit and convinced me showed to rent properties expat Reto sign contract. cias against after receiving four claim “I want that she has denun- One to. no clared. her caught and punished,” Page 11 Briton Wells,her. victim, British 37, also known he deexpat Raymond accused of told the Olive Wells, a mother-of-two as Prior, duping people Paul, Press: “I Iost into paying is posit on renting a €1,000 de- hampton, appears from Wolverde- “She to same trick had actuallya home she didn’t own. at different have repeated the only rented properties it for four the region over the last eight years.around A Facebook campaign launched by has now been ing to gather the group, aimas possible. as many victims In the case Yorkshire, of Paul, 60, from as a deposithe put down €500 first month’sand €500 for the erty in La rent at the propCala de Mijas August. in But after just asked Paul three days Wells clear out ‘so and his wife to certificate an urgent energy dealt with’. matter could be “We were left AN embattled two days, and in the dark for centre owner animal rescue upon returning the discovered place is ‘out has admitted of control’. staying there,another couple Kim Halliwell (above) our possessionswith many of now agreed to allow an has still inside,” 15 dogs he said. initial and “We still haven’t her Mijas many cats to leave kennels, following get some things managed to an Olive Press back, absolutely It comes after investigation. furious andwe are spected police also filed a denuncia.” have inthe site, following When Paul various denuncias set up an urgent mer from formeeting with staff. cuss what had Wells to dis- After we told BLAZE: F1 of the ‘terrible legend Gachot failed to show. happened, she conditions’ (inset) loses at Kim’s Animal However another Rescue, friends yacht in fire and supportcouple in ers rallied their early around with 20s also turned up telling him aim of cutting the numberthe similar amountthey had lost a animals by of of money. “Lots of her The Olive half. Press attended victims are worse situation emergency meeting, in an than us, anda various who knows other centresspoke with are still to how many more found new and has woodwork,” come out of the We have volunteers. he added. Another victim appeal to now launched an is Stuart Hall, who lost out animals. find homes for the 44, and his Continues
It’s the pits!
A LUXURY nus is ownedyacht that burst into flames in Puerto by ex-Formula Bertrand Gachot, BaOne The 51-year-old it can be revealed.racing driver Frenchman, dan between who €2 million 1989 and 1995, is theraced for Jormorning. yacht Gilliana that blew owner of the up on Sunday Two crew members were rushed with serious woman, 34, burns to his hands to hospital, one and another, was treated The 23-metre for smoke a €42,000-a-weekPrincess yacht inhalation. Gilliana costs to rent, via Rentals. Diamovit Exclusive A source said: “Gachot is very The driver upset.” Grand Prix was famously thrown team for spraying out of the the roundabout Jordan at Hyde Park CS gas at a taxi driver ceived a two-month Corner, for on prison stint. which he reHis race seat acher, makingwas temporarily filled by his Formula One debut. Michael Schum-
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197 www.theolivepress.es
Police probe alleged expat property fraudster who ‘took homes shedeposits for didn’t own’
HUNTED: Rebecca Wells on her horse
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Animal Rescue on Page 6
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FLASHBACK: Wells’ scam revealed last issue
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Ruling
But their carefully made plans to sell up and move back to the Scottish Borders were shattered when they were ordered to knock down the first floor, kitchen and pool. The order came despite the fact that all the alterations had been done BEFORE they bought the home in 2008. Indeed, as we reported in 2015, the couple had even got a certificate from the Junta declaring that there were ‘no outstanding’ planning infractions when they bought the home. As it later emerged - and was agreed by a Malaga court - the previous owners had actually legalised the 1994 extensions to the home in 2005. “I cannot express how hard these last three years of hell have been,” Valerie told the Olive Press from her home in Scotland. “It has drained us on a personal and financial level, costing us €20,000 in fees, but we are so happy that it is finally over and we can move on.” She continued: “The huge court case last May was traumatic. We were literally fighting for our livelihood, everything was on the line. We had sunk our life savings into that place.” The problem emerged because the home is inside the Alcornocales Natural Park, meaning the normal ‘four year rule’ did not apply - meaning the
iv
A BRITISH couple are toasting a stunning New Year victory after they reversed a draconian demolition order on their stunning Spanish villa. Brits Valerie Jubb, 65, and hubby Patrick, 66, told the Olive Press how they have ‘been through hell’ over the €20,000 legal battle to save their luxury B&B. It came after their €680,000 four-bed property in Jimena de la Frontera, was slapped with a demolition order in early 2015, just as they came to sell it. Beautiful Vina de Linan had been a popular holiday hideout for British holidaymakers and expats alike prior to their decision to move back home and retire.
us
EXCLUSIVE By Laurence Dollimore
www.ibexinsure.com OLIVE PRESS – 70mm x 40mm FRONT COVER 17 January