WHAT DO COMMUNITY FEES COVER?

Rebecca Serwotka – “We sell houses! It’s what we do, it’s ALL we do!” Certified API Associate 00493. Your favourite local resale property expert, of Inmobiliaria Estate Agents in Ciudad Quesada. 3 Time Prestige Award WINNER for Real Estate Agency Of The Year 2021/22, 2022/23 & 2023/24. Luxury Lifestyle Awards WINNER, AlicanteSpain 2023.

Buying a property in Spain that benefits from shared communal areas such as swimming pools, gardens, entrances, garages, etc. will be subject to community fees.

These fees are usually split into four payments a year. The amount payable is divided amongst all prop ­ erties within the community. The larger the property/plot, the higher the fee. Each property owns a percentage of the community. This percentage will be shown in your Title Deeds, (Escritura de Compraventa). Smaller communities usually incur higher charges as there are fewer homes to split the fees with. An average community charge is approximately €400 a year.

Rules and fees of individual communities can vary. Some will include exterior painting of the properties in their fees whereas others will set up a separate painting fund as and when needed. Not all properties are built within a “community”. Do not confuse this payment with the Suma bill (Council Tax).

Denmark

Globe trotter

DANISH man completes decade-long journey visiting every country without flying. Torbjørn Pedersen's trip started in October 2013 and lasted 3,512 days. He relied on buses, trains, boats, and walking to complete the epic journey and all with just a $20 daily budget. He arrived in the Maldives as his 203rd and final country, returning home on a container vessel.

Quran burning

DENMARK faces backlash after a Quran burning incident which lead to protests following the desecration of the holy book outside the Iraqi embassy in Copenhagen. The act triggered widespread condemnation and raised concerns about freedom of expression versus respecting religious sensitivities. Danish authorities' handling of the situation, including the arrest of a woman trying to protect the Quran, drew criticism.

The Netherlands

Litter louts

GOING green can be costly as Amsterdam Council has found out since Holland imposed a refundable fee on buying products in cans and bottles. Many simply throw these away in rubbish bags which are ripped open by those looking to reclaim the deposits from shops leaving rubbish scattered throughout the city streets.

Geothermal heat

ICELAND has learned to live with its volcanoes and geothermal heat which helps to warm 90 per cent of its houses at vastly reduced financial and environmental cost. Now a group in Friesland in the north of The Netherlands, the Stogef Foundation wants to do the same using water from an underwater dormant volcano.

Italy

Joint arrest

A joint collaboration between the police forces of Italy and Spain has led to the arrest in Madrid of a violent fugitive on Monday, July 24.

The Spanish National Police arrested the man who is wanted in Italy for drug trafficking, violence and money laundering offences.

Famous u-turn

Alessandra Mussolini, 60, the granddaughter of Italian fascist dictator Benito Mussolini and also niece to Sophia Loren, has performed a U-turn, from her infamous far-right homophobic comments to now advocating for LGBTQ+ rights

Ms Mussolini was previously a pop singer, playboy model and film actress before she took up politics.