A British couple are facing the demolition of their £1.3million Spanish home before Christmas, with authorities offering no compensation despite their 16-year ownership of the property.
Lee and Georgie Pendleton's apartment in Majorca's Port d'Andratx will be reduced to rubble alongside 11 other properties after being deemed illegal by the Spanish government.
The demolition order, which was initially issued in 2013, is finally being executed "after years of threats," according to the Pendletons.
The couple were not even in the country when the court issued the eviction notice, forcing friends to rescue their belongings from being discarded.
Lee and Georgie Pendleton's apartment in Majorca's Port d'Andratx will be reduced to rubble alongside 11 other properties
Getty
"It's heartbreaking. We haven't even told our children yet," Lee told The Telegraph.
Georgie revealed the ordeal has caused her sleepless nights, saying they've been "living on egg shells" throughout the years of demolition threats.
The situation has forced the couple to scramble to save their possessions.
"We had to ask our friends to save our stuff otherwise it would have gone in the skip," Lee explained.
The Pendletons are among the latest victims in a widespread planning scandal that has affected numerous homeowners across Majorca and other parts of Spain.
The roots of this crisis trace back to 2005, when then-Andratx Mayor Eugenio Hidalgo was involved in issuing illegal planning applications in exchange for financial incentives.
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The demolition order, which was initially issued in 2013, is finally being executed "after years of threats"
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The scandal led to Hidalgo's imprisonment in 2013 after developer Manuel Zapata admitted to paying him tens of thousands of euros for contracts.
The demolition order for the Pendletons' property was issued in September 2013, marking the beginning of their decade-long ordeal.
The Pendletons and other homeowners attempted to resolve the situation by offering to pay Andratx town hall €100,000 each to change the building's title, but their proposal was rejected.
"As a non-resident, they won't interact with you. Even if you go to the town hall. It's like you're being blocked out of the country," Lee said.
He expressed frustration at the authorities' treatment of foreign property owners.
"They're very happy for you to come in, but then you're on your own if any issues arise," he added.
"How can you do this to people? The government should be issuing us compensation at market rate level."
The couple still have a €200,000 mortgage on the property and only heard from their lender when they contacted them about closing the mortgage after receiving the eviction notice.
The Pendletons had a tenant in the property at the time and were given just two days' notice, with utilities to the building being cut off.
Adding to their distress, there are claims that the sea-facing plot could become the site of three luxury villas worth €20m (£16.6m) each once the current buildings are demolished.
Lee said that while they expect losses, the family are trying to salvage "something from this horrific mess," as they still own a portion of the land.
