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Will Brexit affect your property? The latest and more in our Property Magazine PAGE 15
March 29th - April 11th 2017
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Issue 13
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Anything but a dump Mogul’s Marbella TV debut
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Tivoli world makeover
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A dedicated Spanish architect has spent more than 30 years turning a rundown cement factory into his perfect home and office space
Page XI
BAD PRACT ICE
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Vol. 11 Issue 262
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I’m backing British expats ALBERT Rivera is giving his ‘total support’ to British migrants living in Spain. The Ciudadanos leader told the Olive Press he realised the importance of British expats and tourists on the costas. In the week Brexit is being invoked, he promised to back our rights to stay here. He later told a rally in Mijas he was going to be fighting corruption in Andalucia over the coming years and hoped to bring a train line to the coast. Backing Brits, Page 9
T is a practice that most property professionals had hoped was a thing of the past. But Olive Press Property can reveal that tionable practice of charging buyers the ethically quesrearing its head again on the Costa del as well as sellers is Sol. According to sources, at least two agents in the Marbella area have recently stung their buyers with bills of up to 5%. scene’, especially when you consider The so called ‘finder’s fees’ are in addition they already have very from taking com- high purchase taxes mission from the seller. which are often in “We as agents are paid by the sellers excess of 10%. “It’s disgusting,” said Terra Meridiana’s and we never nothing wrong with finder’s fees if you Adam Neale, “I have a fee to a buyer,” he said, “On the whole our industrycharge works ent beforehand, but I have heard from agree it with the cli- very well as it is, without the need to start charging such high certain agents are adding a 5% fee with several buyers that additional fees to buyers. We should be encouraging them to invest here!” “It’s bad ethics and gives agents on the no prior warning. Costa del Sol a bad Ben Bateman name.” of Holmes in Sotogrande added he was aware of the practice happening ‘in a few cases’. Mike Smith, Chairman of Marbella-based agreed that charging potential buyers First Choice Spain, “It is totally unethical and gives our business a bad reputasuch fees was ‘ob- tion for sharp practices,” he said.
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EXCLUSIVE: Agents unite as some ‘bad apples’ are slapping finders fees on buyers without warning
“I have no objection to agents operating but I do object when these so called with a finder’s fee, without declaring from the outset that buyers bill both sides He added: “When unscrupulous agentsthey will be doing so.” abuse the system by adding extra amounts, the whole industry suffers. “Beware of this sharp practise.” Legal expert Antonio Flores added that such practises can be deemed illegal. “It is not illegal to have your commission with the agreement of the vendor,” he built into the price, The problem is when an agent adds told the Olive Press. but does not tell the buyer or seller. a commission on top “This happens when the agent is the middle man and the parties are not in touch via their lawyers. This is actually a criminal offence.”
Granada’s new eco-village
PAGE XIV
Andalucia’s highest towns
Have you been a victim? Email newsdesk@theolivepress.es
STRUGGLING TO SELL YOUR SPANISH
Expats take legal action on double glazing firm over thousands of ‘missing’ euros
PAGE XVII
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what a pane!
revealed that he was offered a €187 discount if he did a bank transfer immediately. “The man’s impossible to AN employee at a well deal with,” said Jones, 69. known glass and windows “We could never get him company has come clean again. after dozens of clients com“We have used another plained about unfinished company now. I just want work. my money back from Expat Rudi Kaiser, 58, reWare.” vealed that tens of thouAnother victim, Pete Jones, sands of euros of work has paid Ware half of a €9,000 not been completed by quote for bifold doors in his his former firm Andalucia as deposits on contracts kitchen in October. Glass & Steel. that were never completed, After hearing nothing for He admitted he ‘could not some up to €20,000.” five weeks, Jones was told take it anymore’ after re- Kaiser, who lived in London by Ware via text that he was ceiving a barrage of com- for 30 years, began work at having computer problems plaints and being cited in the Marbella-based compaand that work would start various court cases. ny four years ago working ‘imminently’. “I have been tarnished by as a salesman and on social “Of course, nothing hapthis company and I’m not media. pened,” said Jones. “Since happy about it,” the Ger- However, it soon became then I have been constantly man told the Olive Press apparent that boss Vincent trying to contact him withthis week. Ware, also 58, was not de- Jones, claims he never two patio doors in Estepona out luck. “We are talking about large livering what he promised. heard from Ware again af- last October. “I am sure, like others who Lastpaid MARBELLA of money, amounts One victim, expat Graham ter transferring €2,000 for Jones, from Cheltenham, LANDMARK FOR ditch have lost money, CANCER BATTLER plea for there is very little Becky that can be done. “I think exposing Homeless his practices will at least help people in plea the future.” A HOMELESS couple towards a deposit for a By Chloe Glover One client, hotelier have received much needflat, which they are in the Andy Chapell, was ed financial help thanks to plight last issue. process of looking for. forced to go to court Kennedy, who runs the “If it wasn’t for groups an Olive Press story. to demand the reHelp the Homeless Costa Leslie and Paul Dunt, who and people like Joel, we turn of €800 paid were left sleeping between del Sol Facebook page, wouldn’t be as close to for a safety fence, their car and a shed, have said the money had been finding anywhere,” said which never arbeen offered €500 by left over from a recent Paul. “We are very graterived. good samaritan Joel Ken- group fundraiser. ful for their generosity and Malaga Court ruled nedy who read about their Paul will put the money support.” DONOR: Joel EXCLUSIVE By Laurence Dollimore
A WORD IN YOUR SHELL LIKE: Olive Press reporter Joe Duggan interviews Ciudadanos leader Albert Rivera
March 29th - April 11th 2017
I
NEWS
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MORE than 160,000 people have signed a petition on Change.org asking for a street in Marbella to be named after brave cancer sufferer Pablo Raez. The campaign has been set up in response to Raez's inspirational campaign to increase awareness, as well as the num-
March 15th - March 28th 2017
ber of bone marrow donations. Raez sadly lost his battle to leukaemia in February, but not before launching a campaign that went viral, its aim being to increase donors from 230,000 to one million. The petition has now been submitted to Marbella mayor José Bernal. MISSED: Pablo Raez
www.theolivepress.es March offer
€245 +IVA
Long term expat couple need urgent help after being forced to live between their car and a hut
By Chloe Glover
A BRITISH couple have pleaded for help after eviction left them living between their car and a shed. Leslie and Paul Dunt are desperately hunting for somewhere to live for themselves and their 17 rescue dogs after being thrown out of their home in Coin. Paul, 56, who has a pacemaker, and Leslie, 63, who has a serious back problem, now fear for their health, as they struggle to survive on a small plot of land of a friend in Alora. “We can’t believe what’s happened,” said Leslie, who comes from east London.
Eviction
“We are really grateful we have this hut for now, but it has no running water, electricity, heating or gas. “I’m really worried what effect living in these conditions will have on Paul’s health and my own,” she continued. The couple, who moved to Spain 15 years ago, had fallen into financial difficulties last year when Paul had to stop working when he had a pacemaker fitted following a heart attack. As he was unable to continue running his mobile car valeting service they quickly fell behind in the rent. “The heart attack left him dependent on crutches to walk which meant he couldn’t work for 18 months,” added Leslie. After receiving a letter in January from the landlord telling them he was taking them to court, they were evicted on March 7. “It was horrible to find police and bailiffs banging on our door telling us
We’ve got Andalucia covered
5
A DETERMINED expat is devastated after being told she cannot have the drug she has been campaigning for. Doctors told Coin resident Becky Baker, who has cystic fibrosis, she is now too ill to have the Orkambi drug, despite being well enough when she first requested it a year ago. It is the latest blow for Becky, 32, who spoke to the Olive Press last issue (see left) after Malaga’s Carlos Haya hospital, where she NEWS Br-exodus - as they is a patient, said she was no longer fight to leave UK!eligible for for a lung transplant due to having too low a lung function. She had been campaigning to have American drug Orkambi legalised in Spain, which thins mucus, to help Coast clear those with the progressive lung condition. “For the hospital to only say now I could have had the drug were I betback on your ter when I began to campaign to get Due money long ago? is so gutting,” said Becky, originally from it so mortgage Spanish Somerset. FREE family has ramped up its plea to find an alternative HerRISK Call us today - 952 78 03 38 treatment. 647 20 20 29 - NO FEEout there has any other suggestions for us or NO WIN anyone “If with... In association would like to fundraise to enable more research into CF that would be great,” said Becky’s mum, Sarah.
Olive Press story helps homeless couple March 1st -
4
March 14th
2017
Drug plea
4
of EU citizens fibrosis believes THE numberUK actually inExpat with cystic leaving the last year. help save lives By Chloe Glover creased by 17% new pills could the amount In the year of Brexit,to the EU or is pleading for of people returning increased A BRAVE expat denied a vital moving elsewhere help after being 103,000 in one operation. from 85,000 to lung transport who has cystic year. Becky Baker, revealed that relies on an New figures also fibrosis, currently as UK breathe. Spaniards registering oxygen mask to from Coin, is fell by 2,000. a residents also The 32-year-old, readers to get has been Meanwhile, there asking Olive Press campaign in the number sharp increase the country folbehind a nationwide new US of Brits leaving June 23 result to legalise a pioneering lowing the shock drug called Orkambi. for somelast year. She is also searching the Office for able to help her The figures from one who may bemedication. show that National Statisticsthe UK rose find alternative live,” said Becky, emigration from “I just want to Spain with her in 2015 to now and before by 9%, from 297,000 who moved to lungs. from Burn- BRAVE: Becky Baker, cluding my newa chance that I 323,000 in 2016. 20 mum Sarah Spencer Málaga to push in Somerset “If there was treatment or a Fibrosis Quística ham-on-Sea more its legalisation. to could get in the UK I would go years ago. campaigning stay alive every for there is re“I’m fighting to life and am in “We’ve been for the past year transplant back but the weather I don’t get it legalised single day of my to repair for my lungs and expensive costing now if I’d WORK is underway constant pain. kilos (1.25 stone) and yes it’s patient per year…. ally bad wrecked by I would be here Malaga beaches “I’ve lost eight months alone, €120,000 peryou consider that think other last December’s floods. it stayed. in the last few pills a day and but when knows of any will be spent who are using have to take 50 fed at night as some people to take their oth- “If anyonethat may help I would A total of €4.1m sand and rehave to be tubemany calories as now don’t needor stay in hospital treatment them as I am on restoring of love to hear from at the mo- pairing the infrastructure er medication I’m burning so so high. stretching from feeling very down my heart rate is Spanish doc- it’s not bad.” coastal areas Axarquia. recently refused ment.” the Spanish doctors “At the moment, been who has a campaigning Manilva to a lung transplant, anything to help tors won’t do only keep me to give Becky her main hope Becky, called See Off CF Spain, Diggers have alreadystretch website which had been me. They will sand from one a fundraiser for hopes to launch cystic fibrosis moving to another in Estein of survival. stable. of beach which is legal I have amyloidosis Marina, research into more “But Orkambi, that has been “It’s because Becky. and at Casares a cures. Becky to pona were both badly hit well,” said the US, is a drug even if I had in touch with lung function by as “They said that too the con- To get how to help, go to www. whichfloods. proven to boost from of kidney transplant and would find out thinning mucus. it, as would lots dition would return organs, in- seeoffcfspain.com “I’d love to try know here.” other other people I up with charity damage my She has teamed
Contact spencersarah46@yahoo.com or visit www.seeoffcfspain.com if you can help
www.legal10abogadosmarbella.com
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MAKESHIFT: Leslie and Paul are living between a Ford Fiesta and a hut
are desperate and don’t know what to do.” Their good samaritan, a local Spanish landowner, jumped in to help after seeing a plea a friend of theirs had posted on Facebook. He quickly offered blankets and dog food and allowed them to live in the hut on his land. “But now we need someand permanent thing would be over the moon if anyone out there could help us. “We almost have enough to pay a deposit and would find enough money somehow. “We just need a little help to get us over this hump. It is incredible how quickly you can fall here.”
to leave. “Fortunately we were able to move our belongings to
our neighbours’ houses temporarily and live in our Ford Fiesta, but we
Anyone able to help can contact Leslie and Paul via newsdesk@ theolivepress.es
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