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New construction boom threatens Spanish coastline

Sandwiched between the crystalline blue sea and green pine trees lies Aiguafreda, one of Spain's last largely unspoiled Mediterranean coves, which is threatened by a new building frenzy.

Published: 10 September 2018 09:01 CEST
New construction boom threatens Spanish coastline
Earthmovers clear a construction site in S'Antiga overlooking the beach of Pals and the Montgri Massif in Begur in Costa Brava. Photo: AFP

From Catalonia to the Balearic Islands numerous building projects which came to a halt during Spain's 2008 economic crisis have been restarted as growth returns, raising fears among green groups of a new “construction fever” along the country's already heavily built-up coastline.

On the Costa Brava, a nearly 100-mile (160-kilometre) stretch of rugged coastline in northeastern Catalonia, some 20 projects are in the works, according to environmental group SOS Costa Brava.

READ ALSO: Barcelona vetoes 'capsule housing' plan for low income workers 

Among them is a 260-home residential development at Aiguafreda which had been stalled for 15 years due to bureaucratic hold-ups, divisions among investors and then the economic crisis, which was sparked by the collapse of a decade-long property bubble. The project was relaunched by new owners recently.

Only a few houses nestled among pine trees currently surround the tiny cove of crystal clear waters, in the municipality of Begur.   

“There are very few places left like this, that are so green and with so few houses. The idea of losing it terrifies us,” Estel Rumbau of lobby group Save Aiguafreda told AFP.

The municipality says it is impossible to stop the project since the land where it will be built has already been zoned as residential. Expropriating it would cost €50-70 million ($60-81 million) — money the municipality does not have.   

“I would like to build zero homes, but our hands are tied. We will try to ensure that they are as little as possible,” Begur mayor Joan Manel Loureiro told AFP, vowing that no more than 100 homes will be built.


A protest sign at a construction site in S'Antiga near the beach of Pals and the Montgri Massif in Begur in Costa Brava. Photo: AFP
 

'No more capacity'

It is not the only project in Begur. On the other side of a hill overlooking the Aiguafreda cove six excavators are preparing land to build 26 luxury apartments with sweeping views of the Medes Islands, a protected area.

About 60 apartments are also planned for the neighbouring Sa Riera cove. And in the adjoining municipality of Pals the mayor is poised to give the green light for the construction of a thousand homes in a centuries-old pine forest.

In the picturesque fishing port of Cadaques further up the Costa Brava where surrealist Spanish painter Salvador Dali once lived, a hotel and about 100 homes will be built near a nature park.

Local residents in Begur complain the area is already saturated in summer, with cars jamming the small road leading to its tiny coves.   

The municipality, which is home to 4,000 people, sees its population swell to over 20,000 during the peak holiday months.   

“People will buy a house and they won't be able to go to the beach because there is no room, they will want a boat but they won't have a place to dock it, they won't be able to have a beer in town because there is no parking. There is no more capacity here,” said Begur resident Miquel Collado.

'Same trap'

Similar projects are springing up everywhere along the coast of Spain, which surpassed the United States last year to become the world's second most visited country after France.

Greenpeace has sounded the alarm over the construction of a hotel at a protected beach at El Palmar near the southwestern city of Cadiz and two 30-storey towers in Roquetas de Mar near Almeria in the southeast.

“There is a renaissance in construction,” said Pilar Marcos, one of the authors of a Greenpeace report on the building frenzy on the Spanish coast published in July.

The amount of coastal land that has been built on in Spain has more than doubled since 1988, with some areas already 90 percent built-up, according to the report.

A symbol of this building excess — the 21-storey complex on the Algarrobico beach in the Cabo de Gata natural park in Almeria which never opened to the public — remains standing despite a ruling from Spain's Supreme Court that it be torn down.

“We are falling into the same trap,” said Marcos, who called on Spain's new Socialist government to adopt a stricter law against building on the coast.

   By AFP's Daniel Bosque 

 

IN PICS: Drone photography reveals haunting beauty of Spain's unfinished housing

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RENTING

The rules and small print for a rental contract for a room in Spain

Renting a room in Spain can often be easier and cheaper than trying to rent a whole apartment or house for yourself, but there are still several things you need to look out for in your rental contract and small print clauses you need to be aware of.

Published: 17 September 2024 09:28 CEST
The rules and small print for a rental contract for a room in Spain

Sharing a flat in Spain may of course not be your first choice; in 55 percent of cases people here do so because they can’t afford their own place. 

Renting a room is now almost 10 percent more expensive than a year ago, according to recent data published by property portal Idealista, costing almost double in 2024 than it did nine years ago.

The national average for renting a room is now €488 per month.

If you’ve come here to be a student or to learn Spanish though, renting a room can be excellent choice.

Due to Spain’s housing crisis and financial constraints, renting a room is no longer only an option for young people in Spain. In fact, in 2022 Idealista found that the average of a person sharing a home in Spain was 34. 

READ ALSO: Renting a room in Spain costs 90% more than in 2015

Renting a room is increasingly popular in Spain, especially in those cities where rent is very high, such as in regional capitals. 

While your contract for renting a room may not be extensive as renting a whole property, it’s still very important that you have one to make sure that you’re protected.

A room rental agreement not only ensures that both parties are clear about their rights and responsibilities, but also avoids potential misunderstandings and conflicts.

Typically, when you are renting una habitación, your room will be your space, but you will have shared access common areas such as the kitchen, living room and bathroom. 

READ ALSO – Aval: How to get a bank guarantee to rent a property in Spain

Factors to keep in mind when renting a room in Spain:

Tenants do not have the right to continue to live in the home beyond what is stipulated in the contract, so your landlord will have greater control over the property.

It is important that the room rental contract specifies the purpose of renting the room and how long it’s for. Generally, this type of rental is regulated by the Civil Code, but it could also be subject to the Urban Lease Law (LAU), even though the existence of this type of lease is not specified.

The room should include basic furniture, and the landlord is responsible for paying the bills initially, although they may be included in the rent.

There’s no minimum legal content that room rental contracts must contain, and it is not even mandatory for it to be in writing. But it is still advisable to get one in writing in order avoid future problems.

READ ALSO: The pros and cons of signing a temporary rental contract in Spain 

According to property website Idealista, room rental contracts should contain these following elements:

  • The duration of the contract.
  • A statement saying exactly which room is being rented out.
  • The rental price, as well as the payment method with which the tenant will pay the rent and when it will be due each month.
  • The services that are included, such as the use of the kitchen and being able to connect to the internet.
  • It’s also important that there’s a clause to say how payments should be divided in case of any unforeseen circumstances.
  • It must be indicated if subletting the room is allowed or not. As stated in the Civil Code this may be possible if your contract doesn’t specifically state that you can’t.
  • If the property is rented by several people, the contract must be formalised between all tenants through a single rental contract and tenants will appear in the same contract.

READ ALSO: Is subletting legal in Spain? 

How to tell if a room rental contract is legal in Spain

For a room rental agreement to be legal, it must contain the following information:

  • Full names, DNI or NIE number, address and telephone number of both the landlord and the tenant.
  • Specify the exact address of the home, the rented room and the common areas the tenant has access to.
  • The start and end date of the contract.
  • The amount of the deposit and the return conditions. It is not mandatory to provide a deposit, but landlords can request it.
  • The monthly rent, the payment method and how to make the payment.
  • It must state who is responsible for the necessary works and repairs in the home.
  • A clause must be included stating who responsible for community expenses, water, electricity, gas, etc.
  • The text must state the conditions for termination of the contract, such as non-payment of rent or failure to comply with the rules or the landlord selling the property.
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