Spanish community debt owing help!

[browrich]

We purchased a property in Lanzarote in 2003 on a complex with a couple of hundred apartments on. Last year we were told at our AGM that some staff didn't get paid for services in 1991 and they had taken it to court and won along with interest accumulated over the years and now the community owes a huge debt. It was obviuolsly ignored, brushed under the carpet by previous presidents. The present president and administrator (same person) of the community says every apartment is liable for this debt and we have to pay now. The court says 'if full time voluntary settlement is not made the court will take action to embargo the accounts of the community'. We know very little Spanish and only use the place as a holiday home.
Does it sound by law like we have to pay this debt? Its all very confusing. We know some of the owners have paid, many others haven't but we are now being hassled by the president to pay this huge amount. Also if we do pay, how do we know we won't get asked for more in the future?

[Patricia]

Hello Browrich,

Apparently, the community is certainly liable for the payment of the court fees and salaries of those employees, however, the Horizontal Property Law that regulates Communities of Owners, establishes that a buyer/property owner will only be held accountable for the Community debts related to the current and previous year to the property purchase. It is difficult for us to provide with an accurate answer without having checked the documentation as it is quite unusual that a litigation process that started 20 years ago is made effective now. Also, we are unaware of Labour/Employment lawsuits taking that long to be resolved.

Should you wish to send us the documentation in order to enquire further, please do not hesitate to contact us through our website e-mail contact form.

Regards,