Torrox Costa and Torrox village: two different purchases
In Torrox, buying a flat on the coast is not the same as buying a house in the village or in the countryside. Each case means checking different things, so I always start by finding out where the property is.
On the coast
Most flats in Torrox Costa are on developments with a community of owners. Before you sign, I ask for the certificate of debts, read the latest minutes to see what special levies (derramas) have been approved and review the community statutes. Some statutes or resolutions restrict uses such as holiday letting, and that changes the value of what you are buying if you were planning to let it in summer. I also look at the condition of the building: a façade or roof awaiting repair ends up as a levy.
In the village and the countryside
Here, what matters most are boundaries, access paths and building work done years ago without a licence. A property with no access to a public road may need a right of way (servidumbre de paso) across the neighbouring land, and it is worth knowing whether it is recognised in a deed (escritura) or only used by custom. What is tolerated between neighbours today may stop being so when the owner changes. I also check whether the built area matches what is recorded in the Registro de la Propiedad (Land Registry) and in the Catastro (the cadastre, Spain’s property survey register).
Country houses with old extensions
It is very common in the Torrox area: a country house with an enclosed porch, an extra room or a swimming pool that was never declared. The fact that the work is old does not make it legal. In Andalusia, Ley 7/2021 on promoting the sustainability of the territory (known as LISTA) allows some buildings against which the authorities can no longer take action to obtain recognition as asimilado a fuera de ordenación (a status for buildings that do not conform to planning rules but can no longer be subject to enforcement).
That recognition allows the building to be registered and connected to basic services, but it does not authorise just any work: as a rule, only maintenance work. And if the period for taking action against the work has not yet run out, or if it stands on specially protected land, the situation is very different. That is why I study each case with a technical expert before giving you an opinion. There is more information in legalising properties.
Businesses that live off the high season
A large part of the activity in Torrox is concentrated in the summer months: restaurants, accommodation, shops and services for tourists. That opens up three legal fronts I review often:
- Seasonal staff. Since the 2022 labour reform, work that recurs every season usually fits the fijo discontinuo contract (a permanent contract for intermittent work) rather than a temporary one. Choosing the wrong type can turn the contract into an open-ended one.
- Guest data. Accommodation providers must record their guests’ details and report them to the authorities. Storing and using that data also requires compliance with data protection law.
- Outstanding payments. If a client or supplier does not pay, a formal demand sent in time usually achieves more than waiting for the summer to end. If they still don’t pay, there are fast court procedures for documented debts.
If you have a business in Torrox, I can help you organise your staff hiring before the next season, not once it has started.
The Torrox Costa office
I see clients by appointment at Urbanización Laguna Beach, módulo B, local 17, in Torrox Costa. Bring the title deeds, the contract or the letters you have received and we will go through them across the desk. To book, call or WhatsApp me on +34 678 89 21 51.
If remote suits you better, the online consultation costs €75 including VAT and I reply in writing within 12 to 72 working hours. You can also book a 30-minute video call for €75, which is useful if you spend part of the year away from Torrox.
