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SILVER LINING The fabulously re ornate architectu that took its inspiration from posh tableware
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GREEN DESIGN
of show off some in THESE pictures eco-projects the eye-catchingat the 19th Venice Spain’s pavilion Architecture Biennale. Architectures Dubbed Internalities: the Spathe for Territorial Equilibrium, all about saving nish Pavilion is brick. Curated by planet - brick by and Maarchitects Roi Salgueiro show takes aim nuel Bouzas, thedirty secrets - poat construction’sand vanishing local llution, waste, the script. skills - and flips in materials from Instead of hauling the exhibition across the globe, low-imchampions homegrown, Sixteen standout pact solutions. over Spain take projects from all built using smart, centre stage, each - think techniques sustainable earth walls wood from Cantabria, and emissions-cufrom Catalunya, the Balearics. tting hacks fromzones - Materials, Five themed Waste, and EmisEnergy, Labour, message home. sions - drive the
Discover Spain’s famous plateresque style and the country’s most expensive villa
GREEN REBUILD: Local materials bring were used to this ruined barndead back from the way in a sustainable
E TIDAL WAV
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Tax bombshell
30% - almost double sales can reach the EU average. are stark, howlevy Regional disparities Balearic Islands ever, with the on new builds, comup to 13% ITPMadrid. in Spain are being pared to 6% in Madrid’s approach as HOMEBUYERS off when it comes The IEE lauds competitiveness. completely ripped a model of fiscal also warns Spain of a to property taxes. a shocking third The think tank new homes by Purchasers pay on extra costs needs 2.2 million billion in inproperty’s purchase requiring €380 the public secin Europe. 2040, highest the Smith Instiby far report by the By Tom Ewart vestment - far beyond According to a Studies (IEE), tor’s reach. tax reforms, intute of Economic tax rate of makes up nearly urging sweeping and propFernandez de Property Tax (IBI)followed by VAT It is they pay an effective a home. transaction Iñigo to cuts cluding IEE President ‘surprishousing. of the total, for landlords, 30.3% when purchasing times the Europe- Mesa called the situation - a basic access affordable the government 30% income tax. taxes, incentivesrate on renovaonly This is almost five housing VAT Tax (ITP) erty it is unlikely with and 6.5% and second ing’, noting that penalised’. But want to change thingsgener- The Property Transfer the highest and a reducedthe housing squeeze. an average of will the OECD western necessity - is ‘so severely at 11%, among gains tax on tions to ease the heavy tax Spain’s housing-related taxes to Canada across annually, stands capital think tank warns in Europe, while world nations. of the home’s final The is widening the gap betweenit ating around €52.2 billion load making country’s GDP. Up to a quarter to taxes alone, and demand andSpaniards to or 3.5% of the for price is attributed go in conveyanc- supply increasingly difficult while further costs fees. ing and agent’s
tax Spain face ‘highest Homebuyers in ’ with a third of property burden in Europe bricks and mortar purchases not on
OLIVE PRESS MALLORCA
The Olive Press launches its brand new podcast... See page 3
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We love you really! MALLORCA’S Tourist Board has hit back at growing anti-tourism protests sweeping the island, standing firm behind its new rallying cry: “A Tourist, A Friend.” Tourism is still the lifeblood of Mallorca’s economy - the board said it’s the reason the island enjoys near full employment and is one of Spain’s richest regions. But that hasn’t stopped local residents from hitting the streets in anger. Recent protests have seen furious crowds shouting slogans like ‘Tourists Go Home!’ and ‘Mallorca is Not For Sale!’ as they slam overcrowding, soaring rents, and environmental damage blamed on the booming tourist trade.
Blame
The Tourist Board admits there are problems but warns against blaming the whole industry: “Everyone has a part to play - locals, businesses, visitors, and officials,” a board spokesman said. “We hope all tourists have a great stay and want to return again and again,” the spokesman added. The Mallorca Tourist Board has been around since 1905 - Spain’s first private tourism body - representing everyone from hotel bosses to local groups.
Vol. 8 Issue 206
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FAKE POWER OF ATTORNEY STOLE MY HOME
Pregnant expat claims conmen used fake certificate to hoodwink authorities
A PREGNANT expat fears losing her baby after she discovered fraudsters had stolen her dream home with fake legal certificates. The Scandinavian environmental scientist is now questioning how conmen could somehow create a bogus power of attorney (POA) to acquire the apartment in Spain. The 32-year-old is now ‘terrified’ of leaving her flat, after someone started to send threatening notes, ordering her out. “There was no verification, no phone call, no warning. We were completely blindsided,” she told the Olive Press, this week. “How can the Spanish legal system allow this to happen?” Alarmingly, a leading property lawyer, Diego Echavarria said it was ‘not uncommon’. “It’s in fact the third example I’ve heard of in a year,” he said. Asking not to be named for legal reasons, the Scandinavian buyer had moved to Mija on the Costa del Sol in search of tranquility after buying the 80m2 property worth €320,000 in April last year. But what was meant to be a peaceful haven in the sun has turned into a living nightmare.
EXCLUSIVE By Samantha Mythen & Dilip Kuner & Jon Clarke
“It was my dream home with the most breathtaking sea view,” she continued, her voice clearly shaking. “I used to sit on the terrace in the evening thinking, ‘this is where I’ll grow old’. Then, in September, everything changed, when her house was broken into. She said the burglars stole golf clubs, branded perfumes, bags and keys to her car, and they installed two high security locks on her front door. She also believes they stole her identity documents, which were in easily accessible and named cartons in the apartment. And then began a bizarre and terrifying journey, leading finally to Colombia - where, it emerged, a forged power of attorney certificate was created in her name. The house sale was eventually completed back in Spain in December, by a notary in Sevilla. “Apparently, I gave someone the legal right to sell my home,” she continued.
“But I never actually signed anything. I’ve never even been to Colombia,” she said. “And yet, here I am, being told that my house belongs to a stranger.”
Fraud
Sara only discovered the fraud this month when property tax agency, the Catastro Hacienda, informed her the house was now registered under someone else’s name. “I obviously thought it must be a mistake. But when I checked the registry, I felt like the ground had been pulled out from under me. My name is gone.” Even more disturbing was how easily the fraud went through. Since hiring a lawyer to fight the fraudulent transfer, things have taken a darker turn. She has received handwritten, threatening notes from someone claiming to be the new ‘owner’ of the apartment. They demanded she contact them via WhatsApp or face ‘vio-
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lent consequences’. “We’re being treated like criminals in our own home - like squatters,” she said. “I’m scared to open the door and to even walk outside in case they are watching or stalking us. We don’t know who’s behind this or what they’re capable of. Every night, I sleep with one eye open.” To make matters more complicated she is 23 weeks pregnant and was hospitalised this week with fears of Please see a premature birth caused by the stress. page She now believes she is battling to save both her baby and her home. “Spain was supposed to be our safe haven. But it feels like a jungle, where the strong prey on the unsuspecting,” she said. “There’s a loophole in the system big enough for criminals to walk right through - with your home in their hands.” Despite the ongoing legal Compare funerals battle, which she’s certain she will win, she insists Plans cover the she will sell up and return whole of Spain home, once it’s over. “I don’t feel safe here anycomparefuneral.org more. It doesn’t feel like +34 951 120 752 home. It feels like betrayal.”
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COME BACK!: Message to tourists leaving from Palma airport
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