Many people who buy a second home or even intend to move to Spain tend to think about the property or the area they are living in only. There is often very little thought to the laws of Spain and how we all will have to think more about our neighbors. Most homes in Spain are part of a community. They are set up when the property is originally built and the rules which are set by the community will be the ones you have to follow whether you want to or not.

Take a typical new complex on one of he Costa's where many North Europeans have been attracted too.

After the new owners receive heir keys there will be a short time, where there are no rules for the complex whilst the builder still officially owns the pool, gardens etc around he complex. But within about 3 months the builder will want to hand the complex over to the property owners, these property owners will then become a community.

They first will need to elect a president, who will help with the cost issues of the community, such as rubbish collection, pool maintenance and garden maintenance. He will add up the total cost and then divide it amongst the property owners, sometimes this can be of equal shares, sometimes by the size of the property and the community decides which. The community then decides on the rules of the community, for example what times he pool can be used, are inflatables allowed in the pool, can food be eaten in the area, what color the homes should be and the procedure o follow should anyone want to do some building work to their home.

Chances are, all building work will need to be agreed by the community before it is proceeded with. So if you would like to add balustrades around your garden wall you first must get permission from you know who. Of course this causes all sorts of disagreements, especially in the early days. Many feel they are the owners of their own castle and no one should dictate what they can and can't do to their property, unfortunately this is Spanish law and something you will have to get used to if you buy a house in Spain.

There also needs to be a an administrator who is independent of the community an as the name suggests is an administrator of the written rules, however It is normally the president or vice president that will uphold them should anyone go astray. Those who disobey the rules can receive a court injunction and can be bared from such things as the pool, garden and parking areas.