This week The Times’s foreign pages carried news that thousands of British homeowners in Spain had been dreading: the Spanish Government was putting in place plans to demolish illegal developments along nearly 500 miles of coastline. The story elicited huge interest online and attracted lots of comment:

“If it wasn’t for the property investment, Spain would still be a poor, underinvested country. The Spanish Government is showing casual disregard for the interests of British homeowners who have pumped billions in to the Spanish economy.” William, London “The Spanish authorities are currently riding roughshod over properties owned by anyone living within 100 metres of a shoreline or salt lake or stretch of water. My family has an escritura (title deeds) for a property in the Balearic island of Formentera that has been in our family for 40 years. This has been affected by the 1998 Coastal Law, and we and many local residents are fighting the injustice of the authorities in seizing a property that is legally ours. Please support our website: www.salvarformentera.org.” Timothy, Kingston upon Thames

“A petition has been set up to bring pressure to bear on the British Government to come to the aid of many thousands of EU citizens who are caught up in the property scandal in Spain. A complaints document is also being compiled, as many lawyers in Spain have not been giving the correct legal advice to consumers, particularly on bank guarantees. Please visit spanishpropertyscandalpetition.co.uk.” Suzanne, Kingston

lucia.adams@timesonline.co.uk Pensioners’ pain in Spain, page 13 See the original article in full at: timesonline.co.uk/overseasproperty

BACKGROUND

• Home on the web - Chelsea Flower Show

• Home on the web - buying and selling

• Home on the web - moving, local knowledge and shed sites

• Home on the web - HIPs and property fun

• Web links - period property

BACKGROUND

• Home on the web - the Budget

• Home on the web - first-time buyers

• Home on the web - DIY

• Home on the web - How to find a property

BACKGROUND

• Home on the web - HIPS; Spanish Property

• Home on the web - waterside special

• Home on the web - DIY and gardening

• Home on the web - luxury online

• Web links - rate your agent, sealed bids and social networking

Too close for comfort

Is the wrecking ball about to smash into swathes of properties built too near the beach?

BACKGROUND

• Pensioners’ pain in Spain

• Stormy outlook for British homeowners in Spain

• Spanish property doctor

• Homes under threat as Spain moves to clear coast

• Tenerife attracts the champagne set; but has bargain property prices

Related Internet Links

• The lowdown on Spanish property

BACKGROUND

• Costa bravo

• Spanish property doctor: Beware of buyers who flash the cash

• The surreal deal

• Amor at first sight

BACKGROUND

• Fortune blows on Spain's windy city

• A sunnier retirement

• Ask the Experts: The estate agent

BACKGROUND

• Is the global property boom set to end?

• Hablamos Ingles

• Shelter from the sun

• Buying on the Spanish islands

• Still plenty to gain from a home in Spain

Related Links

• Homes under threat as Spain moves to clear coast

For overseas buying guides and a round-up of thousands of foreign properties for sale, go to: timesonline.co.uk/overseasproperty

Times recommends

• Second homes: credit crunch casualty or money-spinner?
• How I built my own sliding house
• Top 10 incentives for house buyers