Palma €200,000 flat sale: woman held over fake lift vote

A buyer in Palma bought a fourth-floor flat without a lift for about €200,000 after being told the building’s owners had unanimously approved one. Police arrested the seller on 30 August on suspicion of deceiving the buyer during the sale. The buyer had made a lift a condition of going ahead.

During talks and a viewing, the seller said she was the building’s president and administrator, according to the National Police. She allegedly put the work at about €60,000 and said public grants were available.

Before the deeds were signed, she showed the buyer the building’s minutes book. It listed the supposed lift agreement on the meeting agenda.

Neighbours say no vote ever took place

Weeks after the purchase, the new owner became president of the building and called a neighbours’ meeting to begin the process and seek quotes from companies.

Other co-owners told her that the lift had never been approved or even put to a vote. After checking the minutes book, they concluded that the lift item had been added later without their knowledge or consent.

Officers from the National Police’s Economic Crime and Technology Crime Group identified and detained the suspect after the buyer filed a complaint. She has been handed to the relevant judicial authority.

Police urge buyers to check before signing

Police say buyers should verify claimed building decisions, special charges and debts directly with an external professional property administrator, where there is one. They also advise speaking to other people in the building before signing a deposit or purchase agreement.

Buyers should request an up-to-date land registry extract and inspect original documents with professional advice, police say. They also warn against pressure to sign quickly and recommend consulting a lawyer, property adviser or the notary handling the sale before the public deed is signed.

Topics: Police · Politics · Palma

Source: Europa Press / Mallorca.com