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Date Published: 05/12/2024

Brits see their Spanish properties reduced to rubble in Mallorca

Government orders flats to be demolished without any compensation for the families who live there

British homeowners are facing a huge loss of over £1 million, after the Spanish government ordered the demolishment of their holiday homes without any plans for compensation to be paid.

The Brits, who are facing the loss of their homes, are the latest in a long line of victims of a Spanish planning scandal that has occurred over the past two decades in a number of provinces in Spain.

Mr Pendleton, who is one such victim, bought his apartment in Port d’Andratx, in southwest Mallorca, 16 years ago. Now, he has to watch as his long standing holiday home is torn down just weeks before the holiday season.

In all, 12 properties are soon to become rubble after the former and now disgraced Andratx mayor, Eugenio Hidalgo, issued a number of “illegal planning applications” back in 2005.

In 2013, the ex-mayor was jailed for two years after a developer admitted to paying the politician thousand of euros to allow planning applications through.

The demolition order for Mr Pendleton’s building was first issued in 2013, but now it is finally being executed after what he and his family can only describe as years of threats from the government whose ex-mayor it was that allowed the apartments to be built initially.

Rumours are swirling that once clear, the sea-facing plot could become home to three villas worth €20m (£16.6m) each. Mr Pendleton’s property has nearly tripled in value since he bought it, from €550,000 to up to €1.6m today. He says it is “heartbreaking”.

“We haven’t even told our children yet. We weren’t in the country when the court issued the eviction notice. We had to ask our friends to save our stuff otherwise it would have gone in the skip.”

Moreover, Mr Pendleton’s family has “spent €400,000 on mortgage repayments and service charges over the years, and a further €100,000 on 10 different lawyers – none of whom have managed to prevent their home from being turned to rubble.”

Mrs Pendleton has stated that she and her family have been living on eggshells for the past ten years, after the government has continued to threaten demolition.

She stated, “As a non-resident, they won’t interact with you. Even if you go to the town hall. It’s like you’re being blocked out of the country. They’re very happy for you to come in, but then you’re on your own if any issues arise.”

Property owners previously offered to pay the town hall of Andratx €100,000 each to change the building title, but the offer was refused.

It is understood at least one of the other property owners in the building is British, and another German. The town hall of Andratx was approached for a comment.

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