Support group for victims of Spanish property scandal

in 

Spanish Property

A support group has been created for UK expats who became embroiled n the Spanish expat property scandal.

While there are already similar groups in Spain, this new group is the first of its kind in the UK, and its intention is to assist the thousands of UK expats who have been heavily affected by the issue.

The group, Protection of Property Purchased in Europe (POPPIE) has been started by Chris and Angela Beattie, a married couple who have experienced the Spanish scandal first hand. The homes that have been affected by the scandal have effectively been placed in a sort f development limbo, as they were found to be built illegally they have not been connected to water and electricity.

Mr Beattie described the turmoil involved: “It is like camping in a house. We can't sell it and don't want to spend any more money on it because we don't know what is going to happen to it. We bought in good faith and paid a lawyer to carry out all the necessary checks yet, like many UK citizens, have been caught up in the minefield of red tape, bureaucracy and arbitrary decisions that plague the Spanish property market. We bought it as a holiday home for ourselves, our friends and our children. We also bought it for our retirement but now we can't bear the sight of it.”