Many of you learnt your Spanish with Manolo, who has done the classes in the library of Zurgena for years.
He asked me to publicise his YouTube channel in which you can learn or improve your Spanish. I had received many compliments about his classes so I am happy to share a link to his channel which, if you want will help your learning.
Just click on the link above and subscribe to keep up with it.
We are seeing an increasing number of queries regarding charges being levelled/deducted from the selling price of residents properties.
It appears some solicitors do not understand!
Since our PGOU was agreed all land in our municipality, can be seen on the plan, and the lands designation within that plan dictates what the standing of the land is. In essence the land upon which your property stands is shown as either urban, urbanisable or rural. The vast majority of homes are now on the first two designations and those which are urbanisable are going through the lengthy process of consolidation (a process to ensure all legal infrastructure is in place). The first tranche of over 200 should be completed in the next five months. The next 6 areas have had the work started to complete their consolidation but it will probably be a year or more away.
The reason for this post really is to make people, who are selling, aware of the likely financial implications of these designations. In my case my property was urbanisable meaning that some time in the future there may be a cost to the occupant to complete the consolidation. I therefore agreed to the solicitor withholding €5000 for any such future costs. It was not mandatory but most solicitors are including this in negotiations.
However if yours is one of the few which is classified as being on rural land it cannot be urbanised and therefore can never attract a cost for consolidation. The route for owners of such properties is to obtain an AFO (Asimilado Fuera de Ordenacion) which translated is a certificate confirming the legal status of the property but outside of urbanisable areas. Under no circumstances, that I know of, should solicitors be withholding money for future consolidation on properties which cannot be consolidated.
The property is either urbanisable whereby a retention can be asked for or it is rural where it cannot. If you are concerned about the classification of your land we can easily check it for you.
Just heard of a incident which I felt I had to bring to your attention!
Two ex pats were walking along a main road in our municipality at 0930 one recent morning when the Guardia Civil stopped them and fined them €200 each for not wearing a fluorescent or high visibility jacket.
It is apparently a law (which I was totally unaware of) which we would have thought warranted advice and not such a huge fine. We will make our feelings known to the G.C. but doubt they will rescind the fine.
I have attached a copy of the fine notice as some people were disbelieving of the incident. I have not yet heard back from the Guardia Civil but hope to tomorrow. I have hidden the recipients identity best I can. Sorry about the quality! Whilst it starts by referring to a driver it then shows that it includes a pedestrian. I was unsure when I first read it but I am assured that it does apply to pedestrians on main roads where there is no pavement.
Tomorrow Saturday 26th November at 1700 I am informed there will be a tethered Hot Air
Balloon on the land in front of the school in Alfoquia. Not sure how long it will be there for
but if you fancy seeing something a bit different in this part of the world pop along.
Does anyone know Daphne and John Williams?
She is in hospital and it seems he is suffering dementia.The authorities are desperately trying to contact family or contacts for these two people.
If you do please contact me by email or call 610194260 or +44 7368 990809 asap
THANKS FOR YOUR HELP IT LOOKS LIKE WE HAVE SORTED IT WITH HELP FROM CATS!
The Town Hall has organised a walk in support of the programme against gender violence at 1130 on 20th November.
The walk is not a difficult one and participants can enjoy paella and live music after the event.
Additionally the first 100 to register will receive a free tee shirt.
To register call into the TH or ring Paco on 610194264.
I have copied below a translation of the rules governing the right of ex pats residents in Spain.
We have, through a agreement between the UK and Spain, a right to vote in the municipal elections to the local councils. As most of you long time residents will know this is a most important right. The council in Zurgena has for the past 16 years, that I have been involved, totally supported the ex pat community in every way and has listened to our voice.
For you to have a say please note how it will work and what you need to do to be able to preserve your right to vote.
The council have asked me to return and do a couple of meetings early next year to explain how important it is to have the vote and what has occurred over the past 20 years and make people understand how things were, and are, regarding all issues including legal status of land and property, entitlement to benefits/support, influence in how the THs assign funds and projects. I will organise these for January/ February and possibly April, prior to the election in May.
In the bilateral agreements with other-countries, so that their citizens can vote in municipal elections, one of the requirements is the legal and continuous time of residence in Spain. I am awaiting confirmation of the time frame but this is just so you know the state of play.
This time is recorded by the Electoral Census Office through the Municipal Register and the Central Registry of Foreigners. Depending on whether they meet the required time, at the end of November a model letter will be sent to each person.
*1. Sample letter in which, according to the database, YES the time of validity is fulfilled*: for this type of person, in addition to being informed by letter that they do comply, to show their willingness to be part of the census they will have to complete the letter and send it to the INE office (free of charge) or electronically using a code and web link for the digital application. In this case * NO MORE DOCUMENTATION IS NECESSARY *
*two. Sample letter in which, according to the database, the time of validity is NOT met*: for this type of person, the Electoral Census Office will send another type of letter informing them that they meet all the requirements to be able to vote except the time of residences (according to their database). For this reason, if you consider that it is an error and that you have fulfilled the time of legal residence, in addition to responding to the letter, you must provide *a photocopy of a valid foreigner identity card or a foreigner's residence certificate issued by the Police Station*. Both documents are valid. In this case, you cannot express your will online.
For those who do not receive the letters or return them, they may also express their wish to be part of the census through the City Council with a form that will be sent to them.
We remind you that the deadline to express the will in countries with bilateral agreements starts *December 1st until January 15th*.
We have summarized the years necessary to be able to be part of the census as well as other requirements to be part of the census for both EU citizens and those with a bilateral agreement, in the document that I have sent. We hope this information is useful.
NHW AGM A very successful meeting thanks to all who supported it by attending.
