THE LEY DE COSTAS (COASTAL LAW)

"Europeos por Espana" was asked nearly three years ago to support groups, both here in the Balearic Islands and in Valencia, who were frantically lobbying to get important modifications to the "Ley de Costas" (Coastal Law).

This law originally came in to force in 1988, with the intention of protecting coastal areas from over-development. For many years successive National Governments in Spain paid little or no attention to it until the previous National Government of Spain decided to register its "right" over properties in the areas up to 100 metres from the "wave line" and in some cases up to nearly 500 metres from the sea. Owners found themselves unable to make the reforms they wanted without special permission from the Coastal Authorities, and banks did not want to give mortgages to any buyer of these properties, as there was a "charge" on them by Costas.

Mooring concessions were in danger and thousands of front-line properties could have been the subject of a demolition order by 2018. Due to the large number of British and German owners involved, the European Parliament agreed to take on the matter. The rest is history as the Spanish Parliament has agreed to amend this law, principally to strengthen legal security in the coastal areas but also to give confidence to those who have their home or business in the immediate coastal zone. It will also guarantee full information to individual owners on the internet and in the Property Register. Concessions have been increased by 75 years and these concessions can now also be passed on to future owners.

It is expected that these modifications will become law, hopefully by the end of November this year. Once again "Europeos por Espana" is proud to have been a part of this major effort, by giving their support to other lobby groups, especially those in Valencia, who led the way in Brussels.

Information taken from the Nov 2013 newsletter  Europeos por España - www.epore.org