1. Referring to the law I ask that the roof above my apartment are among the first parts of the building to be repaired, now when the enforced renovation finally is about tot start.
2. Referring to the fact that all neighbors facing the street have air conditioning machines on their balconies, they cannot seriously believe I will accept a ban (that in fact did not even exist) for air conditioning units in the patios. Especially since placing the machines on the balconies definitely is against city regulations.

Hallelujah moments in the "Junta"

• That the roof above my apartment are in a horrible state and must be replaced
• That I have not been able to start the renovations of my apartment during the 8 months since I bought it
• That this means I have costs both for the apartment and the rented flat where I am living until I can move in

1. Even if the local authorities gives you permission to, lets say, open a window or make an existing one bigger. 100% of the neighbors must agree to it. This goes for everything that is considered "structural changes" and can even be valid for non bearing walls. Hence a construction expert may say; Yes, no problem this wall can be taken down, but a neighbor who want to make your life miserable can stop this by simply refusing it. Better invite them all for drinks from time to time to keep everyone on your good side.
2. Until recently, an installation of an air conditioning machine required 100% of "yes" votes as well. This has changes to 51% of the votes a few years back. Note that this is even if the authorities gives permission
3. But also; If the community of neighbors gives permission to set up an air conditioning, the authorities can still say no. Imagine the bureaucratic nightmares you may end up in.
4. I also learn that if an apartment is inhabitable due to structural damages or likewise, the Community of Neighbors must make the necessary reparations, and do them good and correctly (hence not just changing a few tiles, in my case).

Finally the renovation will start

1. Old tiles become brittle and they also shift easily when walking on the roof. Hence you need to change whole portions of the roof to do this right. Not just a tile or two.
2. A leakage can actually origin from another point in the roof than were the water finally comes into the spaces below. This also means a bigger investigation and repair project.
3. Due to decades of water pouring down on the beams some of them clearly needed to be investigated and maybe replaced
4. We already know that the roof laths were broken in many places and should also be repaired

1. What kind of actions can I take against the former owners who obviously lied to me and also signed a contract with a clause where they state they know nothing about the bad roof and the, by the community of Madrid, enforced renovation
2. What does the legislation say bout the responsibility the Community of Neighbors have, when an apartment is inhabitable
3. In what way can I prepare and get everything in order for taking any possible legal actions

Actions against the former owners

And it starts to rain...

1. First I propose to the troika, that the community let me buy a small attic that is just above a minor part of my apartment. That way the community would get the necessary funds for the renovation and I would get a bigger apartment. This offer is turned down.
2. I then tell them that I can pay for the renovation, but that the community in that case will have to pay me back during a few years. That offer is also turned down.

Ok, so you can afford it, after all

1. Language issues (do not expect anyone to speak English)
2. Strange, slow and messy bureaucracy
3. Legislation from the time dinosaurs walked the earth, which in some cases makes it impossible for a buyer to get vital information about a property. Hence you need to buy the property before you get to know all the problems you would have liked to know before paying all that money
4. Amigismo; that people protect each-other because of friendship no matter what. This includes real estate agents hiding facts and administrators of the neighbor community protecting the old, and even deceased owners of the property you are to buy

1. the square meters are never correct. They say 80.  It will probably be 60. Be aware that in Spain the thickness of the walls count as usable square meters. So does part of the stare case and any other areas "of your property that you have no access to".
2. A building in Spain may be (and more than often, is) subject to enforced renovation. They will never tell you if it is and... and here comes the important part... IT DOES NOT EVEN SHOW UP IN PUBLIC RECORDS. 
3. You should try to talk to the president and administrator of the community of neighbors to know if:
1. If there is some kind of embargo on the apartment you are trying to buy. Hence ; if the bank actually owns your apartment or house, and you will lose it if you buy it.
2. If the previous owner owns money to the community of neighbors
3. if there are any renovations pending

How it all started

• First warning: A lot of the apartments on the web sites has no or very few images, but the word "luxury" is definitely used abundantly
• Second warning: If they have images, try not to scratch your eyes out while browsing the apartments. In Spain there is no one even trying to make the place they want to sell look nice. Just look at these pictures I found today:

• Third warning; You will see the same apartment, with different locations and different price various times. This is due to the fact that there is no coordination, no exclusivity and hence the websites are cluttered with duplicates. 
• Fourth warning; do not believe a word they say in the advertise. Read between the lines and if you find something you think you may want to buy, you need to double check all the "facts"