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- Liva & Laia : 15th November
An issue that is never very far from the front pages of the expat newspapers in Andalicia - if not the whole of Spain - is that of the legality of properties.
Andalucia is perhaps the region that attracts most of the column inches and controversy, and yesterday's news looks likely to shake the hornets nest once more.
It was announced yesterday that the government of Andalucía is to issue a decree on illegal properties, which is expected to allow most of them to escape demolition, and should be approved before the end of the year.
The decree will not legalise such properties, nor are they ever likely to be made fully legal, but when they fulfill the required criteria they will be given permission to remain, providing that they are not built on protected land.
It is thought that 11,000 properties in the Axarquía district of Málaga province, and a further 12'000 in Almeria could benefit from this move.
However, the decree will only apply to such properties that were built over years ago, as certain legal proceedings are still ongoing against a number off newer 'illegal' properties - many of which 'coul' be fully legalised.
Good news for many, but it makes a mockery of the whole legal system surrunding property and planning regulations. And in these circumstances, what exactly is the difference between a legal and an illegal property, and who exactly is going to be punished for infringeing the law ? It seems like the government just want to wash their hands of the situation as quicky as possible.