Property in Spain Construction Problems

The quality of new property in Spain leaves a lot to be desired, frankly I believe many of the newer homes will need major renovations within their first 20 years, the photo below gives some clue about why I think this.

Look at the quality of the bricks being used, hollow bricks are used almost exclusively, and every new building I've seen around these parts has the same poor standards of workmanship. This is not an isolated instance, all modern property in Spain, including in flats and pisos, are built this way and the slightest sound carries right through them.

Worst of all though, casas and pisos built this way tend to need regular attention to fix cracks in the plaster. Moisture in the walls is a common problem with this type of construction, so buying property in Spain is an activity that needs to be done with your eyes wide open.

Never buy property in Spain on emotion, location and the obvious benefits of living in a sunny paradise should be tempered with a bit of cold logic. Imagine if that perfectly located house you want to buy develops faults, major faults that require removing plaster and rebuilding walls or foundations.

Older houses, especially those older than 50 years are rarely built poorly, they will most likely stand the test of time if looked after, and with the Spanish property market as it is there are plenty of bargains, so before committing to buying a property, get a building inspection and know what you are getting.