We have extracted this from a recent legal newsletter from a firm of solicitors which we thought would interest anyone considering a wooden house:

Legal News Fuster and Associates June 20th 2007

First ruling against a wooden house installed on a plot of land

Section 16 of the Provincial Court of Madrid has issued a 6 month prison term and one year’s suspension, a fine of 2,160 euros and the demolition of the construction against the owner of a wooden house that was installed on a brick and concrete foundation on a plot of land in the region of Guadalix de la Sierra in the province of Madrid, as reported by “Ecologistas en Acci?n”.

It is the first time that a ruling has considered this type of mobile home as real estate once it has been installed using a constructed anchor system. In fact, it is normal for this type of property, generally used as a second residence, to be installed on a brick structure as foundation.

The Provincial Court states that a planning offence has been committed because the wooden house is located on a specially protected non-development area. However, “Ecologistas en Acci?n” point out that the vendors of this type of house do not usually inform their buyers of the need for planning permission.

This ruling “establishes the precedent for this type of installation to be fully subject to planning regulations and people who do not comply with the legal obligations may incur administrative punishment”, adds “Ecologistas en Acci?n”.