What can you do?

Following up on Jeff’s post this page has been added to let anyone affected by this situation know what they can do about it.  We are also trying to get a group of people together to seek legal representation and anyone interested (with a property registered at the Registro de Propiedad as a vivienda and on the Catastro) should leave a reply with their contact details in the box below (your details won’t be published).

What we can do

I have already contacted Mark Smithson (the British Vice Consul in Barcelona) and Chris Bryant MP (Minister of State for Europe) and both have been incredibly responsive although are unable to intervene as they have “no authority to get involved in any matters concerning Spanish domestic legislation.”  More people contacting Mark Smithson (Tel: 933 666 200 or email) can only help to highlight the situation further but please appreciate it’s not his fault!

• If you are affected or feel you might be, take your property paperwork to a notary —the one you used when you purchased for example— and ask them if you need a cédula in order to sell.
• If you used a lawyer when you bought, speak to him/her.
• Find out if your finca is located in a protected wildlife area like the PEIN, Xarxa natura 2000 or a natural park, as this could be a big added problem.
• Find out if you are likely to get the cédula before you apply – it may be better not to apply at all right now.
• Let your your bank in Spain know about the problem, especially if you have a mortgage on your property.
• If you have been refused a cédula you have a month to appeal from the date you receive the letter: seek legal advice fast.
• Complain to the ‘Síndic de Greuges’ – the Catalan Ombudsman, online or tel. 933 018 075. You can do this in English.
• Contact the British Consulate in Barcelona.  (The Vice Consul, Mark Smithson is aware of the situation and has helped, as far as he is able, but the more people contacting him the better)
• or euro MPs like Marta Andreasen.
• Email Manuel Vallvé, a lawyer and the Honorary Consul for Tarragona.