Spanish Property has worried Prime Minister Zapatero

An issue for those considering overseas property insurance: you may be covered against the essentials and for every aspect of the building’s maintenance whether you’re there or not, but are you sure that the construction of your house was permissible in the first place? It’s a nightmare scenario, and one which certain Spanish expatriates found themselves facing, without warning, bringing to light some of the more harrowing aspects of home ownership in a foreign land.

The homes, mainly in the south of the country, were granted planning permission within the last decade, but had been retroactively declared illegal by regional planning chiefs amid allegations of town hall corruption. Some government figures estimate that as many as 100,000 homes were built in Spain’s coastal provinces in 2000 to 2010. The disputed homes in Axarquia have even been removed from the local power grids and water mains, with the spectre of compulsory demolition looming over owners, expatriate and otherwise.

The decision will apparently now be reversed (thankfully). But the victory will be bittersweet: many UK buyers, despite having paid out for house insurance Spain and every other legally essential supplement to home ownership have already had to fight the demolition order in the courts. The move comes as the Spanish property market continues to appear in rather ill-health. Property was effectively at the root of Spain’s part in the global financial crisis: the market is now flooded with cheaply available property because the banks are selling off ‘toxic’ assets. This is great news for new buyers looking in, but for existing property owners, there’s a general wish that one could take out holiday let insurance and be at the other end of the equation. Effectively denying the very existence of 11,025 homes would not be a diplomatically intelligent thing to do in Spain at the moment. But there are still 859 homes awaiting demolition within the same province. Whilst Spain remains are very attractive, very affordable option, do make sure that there are no potential disputes before you buy.

Venice is agreed by many to be one of the most beautiful cities in the world and is completely unique due to the extensive water networks that connect this city.  The city itself is divided up into six divisions and together Venice makes up the capital of the Veneto region. Being situated in Northern Italy, the climate isn’t as warm as you’d experience from the Mediterranean southern Italy but you go to Venice for the culture and art not to lounge around in the sun.

If you’re planning a trip to Venice there is lots you need to squeeze in. The historical district of Venice has no cars, most the streets are too narrow to accommodate roads and the waterways are the most popular way to get around. Although the traditional gondolas are available these are mainly just for the tourists, the most common way to get around today is on the waterbus. Of course if you really want to drink in all the sights Venice has to offer the best way to get around has got to be on two feet.

When it comes to accommodation, you can’t get better than the heart of the Venetian city the San Marco district. This will place you right at the centre of everything that’s going on and everything will be just a short walk including some of Venice’s most iconic landmarks. St Mark’s Basilica is one of the most famous churches in the world and has been the seat of the Patriarch of Venice since 1807. If you prefer a little more privacy whilst you’re on holiday you’d probably be better suited to staying in the Castello district. Although this is the largest of the six regions making up Venice it’s also the most out the way and home to the monasteries in Venice. Venice is renowned for its art and culture and if this is what you really want to experience you need to stay in either the Dorsoduro or San Polo district.

If you want to simply sit back and take in the surroundings of Venice you can’t beat Caffe Florain, the oldest continuously coffee house in the world. If you’re after something a little stronger than a coffee you might want to pay a visit to Harry’s Bar and enjoy a bellini, this world famous classic cocktail originated in this bar in Venice. Both these places are the personification of Venice and have seen countless famous faces come through their doors throughout their many years in service.

Everyone knows Venice as the city of water and it is of course famous for its network of canals, but the city of Venice is actually made up of 117 small islands that are connected by over 450 bridges. Just outside the Venetian centre you’ll find the Venetian Lagoon full of small islands that surround the main Venice Island. Several of these islands offer a different side to the tourist heavy culture of Venice, and give you a chance to see some the authentic Venetian culture.

Kim works for Holiday Rentals who offer an extensive selection of villas and villas in italy

The weather forecasts are buzzing with news this week of another record-breaking heatwave, with temperatures set to reach a whopping 32 degrees celcius in London and the South East on Wednesday or Thursday. I’m so glad I no longer live in London – the humidity and closeness in the big smoke during hot summers like these make it a pretty unbearable place to live!

With all this lovely hot weather it seems even less appealing to me to spend my hard earned dubloons on a holiday abroad. There are so many beautiful places in England, Scotland and Wales you can drive to and have a wonderful week off, escape from the pressures of work just as you would on the beach in the Costa Del Sol, but without the hole in your bank balance at the end of it. Personally I’m gonna take the Mrs off to a holiday cottage somewhere in Cornwall next month – if the weather remains like this it will be absolute paradise.

But a word of warning if you’re considering a staycation in a holiday home – the last time I stayed at a cottage up in the Lake District a few years back the owners tried to swindle me by blaming me for some quite serious damage to the property which was like that when we got there. I fought my corner of course and didn’t accept any responsibility, but apparently their holiday home insurance policy didn’t cover unnocupied property, and the damage was apparently done while the cottage was left empty for three months previously.   So my advice would be, when you first arrive at a rental cottage, make sure the owner is with you and do a little inventory of the place first, a bit like you would in a new house.  It may seem paranoid, but you never know when someone is trying to pull a holiday cottage insurance swindle on you!  Happy Staycationing!

I just read that TV sport presenter Steve Ryder’s been kicking up a stink to stop the riff raff moving in near his luxury holiday cottage in Devon. Basically a philanthropic property owner in the area is trying to build waterfront houses and sell them for £70k to local residents who have been priced out of the increasingly gentrified area. Ryder has submitted an official objectionto the council about the social housing plan. Talk about snobbery. I don’t think the locals will be too pleased about his actions. Let’s just hope he’s got decent holiday home insurance on his villa eh…

More info in the Daily Mail’s story.

Recently we had friends over from Canada and were keen to show off some of the wonderful places to visit in the UK. 

They had been to this country before and had been to London and seen all the sights so we were asked to suggest a good location in which to stay in Sussex.

Our suggestion was Arundel it is absolutely steeped in history and there is plenty to do in and around that area. There are a good selection of sussex holiday cottages available all offering quaint original features whilst still offering the comfort of modern facilities.

First impressions of Arundel are memorable and I was sure that our visitors would not be disappointed. As you drive down the hill approaching Arundel and glance to the north the imposing sight of the castle appears on the skyline. It never fails to impress. I have driven down there many times and never fail to admire the view. 

 
Arundel Castle is in fact the second largest in England, built at the end of the 11th century by Roger de Montgomery. The Dukes of Norfolk have lived there for over 700 years.

From the Wars of the Roses to the Tudor period and the Civil War the Howards were prominent in English history. The 3rd Duke of Norfolk was in fact the uncle of Anne Boleyn and Catherine Howard both famous wives of Henry VIII.

The Tudor period was in fact a very dangerous time politically for the Dukes of Norfolk. The 3rd Duke only missed his execution because Henry VIII happened to die the night before his execution. The 4th Duke however was not so lucky. He was beheaded for plotting to marry Mary Queen of Scots to Philip Howard. Who was the 13th Earl of Arundel and died in the Tower of London due to his catholic faith.

It is hard to see, but the castle has in fact undergone much restoration in its time. During the Civil War in 1643 it was badly damaged but restored to its former glory in the 18th and 19th centuries.

On arriving in the town there is plenty of interest. Arundel is renowned for its quaint shops many of which sell antiques. In fact it is an antique collectors paradise.

At the top of the hill stands the imposing Catholic Cathedral which was commissioned by Henry the 15th Duke of Norfolk in December 1868. Joseph Hansom was the architect of this building and another claim to fame was that he was also the inventor of the Hansom Cab!

Last but not least you cannot visit Arundel without making a trip to the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust. This was founded in 1946 by the artist and naturalist Sir Peter Scott and the sheer variety of wildlife is truly amazing.
So, I am hoping that they will not fail to enjoy this holiday and take back many happy memories of their time spent in Sussex.

We have all dreamed of a cottage in the country, the peace, the tranquility, the sheer bliss of escapism.

The Holiday Cottage market is booming, as the Buy-to-Let market has exploded so more and more people have invested in Holiday Cottages. Is this boom another reason for ever inflated property prices?

The idea of a holiday cottage seems idyllic to me. The crack of an open fire, the glorious use of chintz in decor, the ability to be able to relax in a tranquil setting away from it all.

If like me you are not a big television fan and you like to read, then a holiday cottage is surely a holiday type to consider.

The time is yours, the cottage is fully self-catering, you are bound to no one.

There are holiday cottages all over the UK with many set in beautiful surroundings. Whether it be Devon, Cornwall, Dorset, Worcestershire, The Cotswold’s or a holiday cottage in Sussex there are plenty to choose from.

As with anything there is choice, some holiday cottages are for the adults only, some accept children, some accept pets.

Prices vary from season to season; you are always going to pay more during peak times. For example a 4 star English Rose rated cottage in Arundel begins at £350 for a week and rises to £450 in the main holiday season.

If you are after a different type of holiday, check out a cottage holiday.

Google search for Cottage Holidays

If you have never visited Arundel in West Sussex before, I can certainly recommend it for a relaxing break. The town itself is steeped in history and surrounded by some of the most beautiful countryside England has to offer.

Although Arundel is a fairly quite town, there is alway plenty to see and do. Arundel Castle is a place you can easily lose yourself in for a whole day on its own – even when they aren’t hosting any of the top-level cricket matches or open-air plays. Talking of which, if you ever get a chance to see The Tempest or A Midsummer Nights Dream here – this is the way Shakespeare should be enjoyed. An unforgettable experience.

Just a stones throw away from the Castle is Swanbourne Lake. A great place to spend the afternoon boating followed by a leisurely picnic. If you would like to see more of the Sussex wildlife, the Arundel Wetland Centre is just around the corner and is home to hundreds of exotic wildfowl from around the world.

St. Mary’s Gate is host to Arundel’s magnificent cathedral, not to mention a very nice bar and restaurant. If your timing is right you might pick up a few good tips from the jockeys that frequent the bar, which is just around the corner from Mr. Dunlop’s Gallops.

Then of course there is the Amberley Chalk Museum (as featured in the James Bond movie, ‘A View to a Kill’). The River Arun flows through the town and is an excellent way to view the area from a boat trip or a gentle stroll along the bank. And don’t forget the Sussex Downs, slowly rolling along the horizon and providing a wonderful backdrop as well as many splendid walks.

With so much to see and do in the area, why not spend a little time in the town itself. There are several hotels to choose from, but staying in a local Arundel Town Cottage is an ideal way of really soaking up the atmosphere. Being self-catering means that you can enjoy your own schedule, when and where you want, and there is no shrtage of high quality restaurants and bistro’s in the area if you prefer to eat out.