The British press is having a field day with the story of a retired couple in Spain who watched their house bulldozed by the government last week.
Helen and Leonard Prior reportedly spent £570,000 to buy and fix up a villa in Vera, which they nicknamed “Tranquilidad.” A few days ago “Tranquilidad” was torn down, after the government declared the house was built without proper permits. As chronicled by the Telegraph and Daily Mail, Leonard Prior collapsed in anguish as his dream home was destroyed.
Some members of the Spain property industry complain that home buyer horror stories are over hyped by the media, but this is a familiar issue: A house or development is declared illegal—often built as the result of corruption, deceit and/or incompetence—resulting in heartache and pain for the poor buyer. Government officials say they are following the legal process and owners will be compensated, a promise that is widely mocked by homeowner groups like Abusos Urbanistico No, which are fighting government policies.
The Priors are the first expats to lose their house, but thousands of homeowners are facing a similar fate, according to the Telegraph. The Evening Standard reports four more expat-owned homes in the Vera area are also facing the bulldozer.
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