I had a horrendous experience with Rui. He charged me 2,500 Euros and made a mistake calculating the property sale tax, which I luckily picked up on otherwise it would have cost me almost 1,500 Euros extra. He then took out a clause in the contract without first asking me, relating to guaranteeing t...

To be honest, weekend flights weren't foremost in my mind. The villas is for summer rentals and for use for my friends and family for weekly (or more usage). I only started to consider the idea of maybe flying over for the weekend when I started to appreciate how cheap you can get flights for, and t...

Thanks for you input Sunman. I did have an idea of who flies down here, but was surprised simply that there are no flights late Friday and Sunday specifically for people who work in the UK. I did look at Spain initially, but was put off by the quality of beaches, the sales taxes and the untold issue...

Thanks. Yes - I do use SkyScanner and have been looking to fly with different airlines, but it generally means coming back to a different airport from whence you came from. Lisbon is an interesting option I hadnt considered. There seem to be more options there. Google maps seems to think its about 2...

Hi all, I have found it quite frustrating trying to find flights from any London airport (I gave up on Luton, which is my preferred departure point), that fly out Friday evening or Saturday morning, and returning Sunday night back to the same airport. I know it is off season, but surely it would mak...

Hi all, My solicitor has the deposit in his client account, but we haven't paid it across as yet, so the money should be safe! I spoke to my surveyor this morning and he was incredibly friendly and helpful and pointed out that most of the issues raised where easy to fix and shouldn't cost an arm and...

Thanks LB. I have had quite a tussle with the agent following my request for builders to go and view the property. He reckons he is too busy to waste his time on this, that there is nothing major wrong with the property and that I should crack on and pay my deposit, and that the surveyor should be a...

Thanks Sunman. I did have a quick look, and there are some interesting properties, I have to admit. Anyway, I have builders going in this week to establish how serious the problems are. If they are as bad as they sound then I will be looking to make an offer on one of the other villas in my shortlist.

Hi Farol, Agreed, but apparently a lot of properties in the Algarve suffer from damp problems, based on their construction and the relative humidity, especially if they are not lived in during the winter months, and there is no de-humidifier. I have come a long way and spent a reasonable amount of m...

Hi all,

The survey has just come in and there is a fair few signs of rising damp. I am considering sending in three independent builders with a copy of the survey to identify how much it would cost to rectify all the problems identified.

Can anyone recommend any?

Thanks,
CB

I like your style widge! I did think about making a very cheeky offer on all the properties on my shortlist, but then the one that was top of the list accepted when I budged 2,500 Euros...

Funnily enough, the garden is actually very tidy and well kept!

Apart from the one crumbly area (which was a small patch), the interior was very nice and there wasnt any whiff of damp that I got in some of the other properties I saw, and the South facing part of the villa looked well kept.

Well, Im just grateful to Licy for taking the time to post this very useful information.

Thanks Licy,

I have responded to your message. There is no licence and there is no sign of any health and safety notices around the pool or house, although it has been let out apparently.

CB

Here is the picture of the new development....I say new - apparently it was built a while ago.