| Message | Posted by |
I was informed last week by IC that the apartments in Bergamotto will not include as standard a means for hot water!
IC said that it was not normal for Italians to build flats with an installed hot water boiler, so this would cost extra if one was required (?) but they could not tell me how much.
No wonder they have been very cagey about supplying a detailed spec. What else is not included?
Pete
| Pete101 |
I am a retired Italian Lawyer living in Germany. I am looking for a holiday home in Calabria. I find these forums today and I see that people have many problems which they should not have and I feel sorry.
Your Lawyer should protect you against all outcomes & eventuality and you should always be fully protected in every way. Your Lawyer has his total responsibility to make sure the exact specification of everything, the kitchen, the air conditioning unit, the sizes and the location of the car parking, the size and location of the swimming pool, the tennis court, the exterior plan of the development, and even more details than I print are part of the final contract.
The date for the final signing for your house and the date for the finishing ground work should be parts of the contract. Your Lawyer should provide English translation of every document to make the contract validity. Your lawyer should be acting always wholly in your interest and should warn to you in writing if there is any issues you need to be made aware of in a full written list.
If a lawyer is dealing with a large number of the flats in any development you should ask to yourself how badly their business would be affected if they annoy the developer. A Lawyer could annoy the developer by asking lots of detailed questions and to insist the contract was watertight and strong. This lawyer might fail to be recommended by this developer in the future but should have no fears & concerns if this happened as the outcome if they are totally independent.
A developer might recommend very very highly a lawyer who is happy to proceed without asking too many questions.
If your contract is not good and not detailed and the developer is taking advantage in any way I would recommend you not try to sue the developer as the Italian Legal system is slow and cases take sometimes more than 5 years to be conclude. If your contract is not strong you will not win as the developer say “where is this item written in my contract?”
I recommend to people with problems you complain in writing to your Lawyer if he lets you down. You must always write to the senior partner. If the senior partner not help you in 28 days you can complain to the Legal Complaints Service
I copy and print this exact words from their website www.legalcomplaints.org.uk The telephone number is 0845 608 6565 they
1- reduce their bill
2- pay you compensation for distress and inconvenience (up to £ 15,000)
3- pay you compensation for financial effects of poor service (up to £ 15,000)
4- Take specific action
5- All of the above
| StudioLegale |
| Hi all,
I am not happy about being mislead by the IC during the sales. I feel they should be bending over backwards to help and accommodate their mistakes now. I think i may have to visit too just to speak with these people face to face. When you go are IC paying for your flight and accommodation?
Ali | alison15 |
| Hi folks,
I am still struggling with IC and the kitchen saga. They are saying that the flat shown to a lot of us was only to demonstrate quality and that is what all sales people explain. It seems to be the case that they are just ignoring what people are saying and fitting the basic model. Does anyone have any dimensions for the kitchen or the units? Has anyone had any success?
The other thing i was reminded was that i need to pay my deposit or i would be in danger of the developer putting it back on the market..... Absolutely ridiculous threats now.
Ali | alison15 |
Sorry no, just received another Email saying that a copy of the plans will be sent through to me..they only seem to be able to deal with one request at a time!!
Regards Pete | Pete101 |
| Hi Pete,
Yes i think it must be. I have posted the picture in the photo section. It is nothing like the one in the flat i was shown! It seems that we have all been very badly misled with the whole kitchen package? Still awaiting information on tiles, interior etc and what colours i can choose. Have you had any luck there?
Ali | alison15 |
Hi Alison, was the information that you received on the kitchen much the same as what I and some of the others got ie it's very basic? Basically just a sink unit and one small worktop? I havent signed yet, as we have been in much the same position as yourself in trying to get info out of Medsea. regards Pete
| Pete101 |
| Hi all,
I have just had some information through regarding the building spec and floor-plan. I sent it back with several question and have had some success with answers but have had to contact medsea directly for information re: kitchens, tiles, doors and windows. I am presuming that most of you have signed the contract and are past this stage so have you any other pictures, photos or success stories regarding sorting these out? I have requested this information before i sign and pay the deposit. Looks like the development is coming along though, saw some recent pictures on another website - the italianmarinas.
Hope everyone is managing the process of purchase and looking forward to them finishing.
Ali
| alison15 |
| Hi Tony,
They have got to be joking! I was also taken to the apartment above their offices and told this was the quality of materials and standard of work to expect. Obviously they are trying to get away with anything that they can? Please keep us posted as to how you get on with this?
Ali | alison15 |
Hi All,
Just posted the picture of the kitchen provided by Italian Connection recently. This bears little resemblance to the apartments above the office, which were the indicator of spec and finish. These had granite worktops and solid wood cabinets from recollection.
We will be taking it up with IC.
Cheers
Tony | tony56webb |
Hi
Just in the process of sorting POA here in uk and have just had an unbelievable figure quoted. Just wondered if this is the norm. By unbelievable i am talking £1000.
Shelley | Shelley Seemley |
| Hi Shelley,
It sounds the most sensible option to just stick it out and wait for the required pieces of the contract. I have still yet to see anything but i know my lawyers are in negotiations to sort the initial contract sent to them. The bonus to the slow process now can only be that the exchange rate improves?
Ali | alison15 |
Hi Pete
Not sure where I am going to head on this, but have some time as not yet got POA sorted. I think I may stick it out for spec as it is a requirement of the law. From what i can gather on other forums this information is generally provided without question (up to 6 pages long). How can you protect yourself on completion if you have no idea what the standards and quality are set at.
As for the currency rate, as not yet ready to exchange just hope the rates will bounce back.
Shelley | Shelley Seemley |
Hi Shelley,
Interested in what you say about a specification. We put a deposit down back in June, I think we were about the second to do so. We received a draft contract in August but it was for a different apartment! I also noted that there was no specification and very little technical detail even though I understand that since 2005 both have been required by Italian Law. It has been a battle to get info from Medsea via our legals ( Giambrone). We eventually got a single page generic style specification that was lacking in any detail..but did receive a plan drawing marked up with the sizes of the rooms along with a new draft contract. I had also requested a number of other details including what was actually included in the kitchen area...I have now received a photo of a sink unit by way of reply!! They also mentioned that a better kitchen could be supplied and fitted but at extra cost..details available later!
As yet we have not signed the provisional contract and have found it hard to decide whether to go ahead anyway without any further info or to stick it out and see what happens.
The other problem of course is the current exchange rate...any thoughts on that?
Pete | Pete101 |
Hi Ali,
September 2009 is the date I was given. However, I was also told that almost all developments finish before their build time, to avoid paying the delay penalty. Manzanares mentioned that the 24 months build window commences from the date you signed with the initial deposit, but no sure this is true. I would expect that the whole development would need to be complete for safety reasons before you can move in.
Were you contacted regarding furniture packs?
There is an IKEA in Naples if all else fails!!
If you hear of anyone who has air conditioning I would be interested to know the costs.
It would be useful to start sharing information with others around local tradesman nearer the time. I will be learning Italian but not sure it would stand the test in a DIY store!
Cheers
Tony
| tony56webb |
| Hey Tony,
Thanks anyway, the sky and sunshine looks fantastic considering our weather at the moment. It would be interesting to find out which blocks are being built first and will be completed first. Is the completion date in Sept 2009 for the whole development?
Ali | alison15 |
Hi Ali,
Sorry, no idea which blocks are in the photo's. The blue sky backdrop looks appealing though...
Cheers
Tony | tony56webb |
Hi, Just received the draft contract from Manzanares.
I have asked them if I can see the guarantee and specification of building materials, before I sign.
They have replied that I will see the guarantee after I have signed (and obviously paid 50%) and they do not have a specification of the work.
Has anyone else had this information? Have you signed without seeing it?
Shelley | Shelley Seemley |
| Hi Tony,
The photos look as if things are coming along. Any idea which blocks they are of or what order they are constructing the development in? If anyone has any idea i would be please to hear.
Ali | alison15 |
| Hello,
i also spoke to my Lawyer regarding the viscal code and was informed that i do not need one until i complete on the property?
There also seems to have been a few complications with the contracts and exactly who owns the land the development is being built on. I am awaiting the solicitors agreeing to the amendments on my contract before it is sent to me. It has taken 7 months to get to this point so hopefully things will progress a little quicker over the next couple of months.
Good to hear from folks
Ali | alison15 |
Hi Everybody, Just spoke to the Solicitor (Manzanares) and was told that my POA has been sorted I should have the contracts soon, they told us there was a slight law change in Italy last year which means that all forign buyers have to have an Italian viscal code (social security number). Having already purchased an apartment in Calabria before I know that the contracts are taking longer because of this new law(we didn't need a code the last time), the solicitor has also confirmed this. Not sure of any updates re Ryanair but was sent a link to www.skyscanner.net which I find great for checking times etc. | somersj |
Hi All, We signed in June and still waiting to exchange. We are using Manzanares as recommended by Medsea. Good to see that progress is being made. We bought in block F, top floor, all being well we may have a sea view. According to the contract September 2009 is the target completion date. Sorry no pics but I have to say that I was impressed with the area. Hopefully Ryanair run more flights to Lamezia as demand increases.
Cheers Tony | tony56webb |
Hi only just bought so no contracts signed yet. Good to see progress and photos. Does anyone know when completion is likely? Led to believe Sept 2009!
Does anyone have any photos of the area they could let me have? Bought after returning from viewing trip and as this was all sold out at the time didn't view this site.
Thanx Shelley
| Shelley Seemley |
| Hello Keith and Janet,
I too have bought at VB. Keith thank you for posting the photos, its great to actually see things getting underway at the development. Which block have you bought in? I have purchased in block C on the top floor and cannot wait.
Can i also ask which solicitors you are using and have you signed the contracts yet? I put my reservation on in May and am still waiting on the contracts being sorted out, still i am sure things will be finalised in the new year.
Look forward to hearing from more buyers.
Alison | alison15 |
Hi Keith,
Great to see the photo's. I am also looking forward to getting the keys for my finishd apartment. Especially with the weather at the moment and complete lack of a summer this year!! roll on lazy summers evenings on my balcony with a nice glass of Calabrian wine in hand. Janet | somersj |
Hi all,
Recently purchased a 2 bed in VB. Can't wait to get my hands on my new slice of Italy. I really love the area and was delighted when the agent I booked through sent me some pic's of the started development work (I have uploaded them to the this site) would love to hear from others who have purchased here. | keith79 |