Planned reforms to Coastal Property Law announced

 

The unpopular ‘Ley de Costas', or Coastal Property Law , has never been far from the front pages of expat newspaper, since being introduced in it's current form in 1988.

However, last week the new Minister for the envirnoment, Miguel Arias Cañete, announced that it will now be subject to "very deep reforms" aimed at "enhancing the value" of Spain's coastline.

Like so many of Spain's other contraversial property laws, the Ley de Costas, was intended to protect the envirnoment from unscrupulous overdevelopment, but mis-management has led to a number of unsuspecting property owners falling victim to it's application.

The Minister stressed that the environment could not be a restraint on economic development, and that he would "simplify environmental paperwork" and encourage tourism in national parks.

The PP have always spoken out against the law, which aims to reverse 'illegal' developments from the coastal strip, and has left thousands of foreign owners with unsaleable properties.

Although the new Government have been receptive to pressure from the EU to reform this law, there has already been some action taken in the form of compulsory purchased and demolitions, which - if changes to law are approved - will result in a number of compensation claims.