Problems With Buying Spanish Property

[mitchell]

Hi everyone,
We've just come back from the Costa Tropical area of Spain where we've bought a small house. We have done everything right, went through an estate agent, we thought we could trust. Used a Spanish solicitor, paid everything promptly and fully. We had some work done on house and at end of January our water was cut-off. The water board said it was because we hadn't set up a direct debit, so we asked our solicitor to get this done (we previously asked for this back in July).

We have now found out the previous owner was getting his water illegally for 8 years and we are now being told, we have to foot the bill.

Has anyone had similar problems or know where we stand on this.
Thanks

[kristopher]

Hey Mitchell,
Your lawyer, as part of his convincing work, should have asked for copies of the most recent bill for each of the services prior to your purchase when this problem would have come to light. This is basic stuff for which there is absolutely no excuse. Go back to him and tell him you hold him responsible for this.

I'm afraid you will have to take 'send the boys round' type action because you will get absolutely no help whatsoever from his professional body if you try to make a complaint about him.

If he is unwilling to help your best bet is to keep going to his office and making a fuss, in the presence of other clients if possible, and make sure that everyone knows who he is and the predicament he has left you in.
Many thanks