Items filtered by date: June 2022

A list of National and Valencian holidays can be found via the following link

https://publicholidays.es/2022-dates/

Emergency Medical Centre 

There is a local medical centre, Nuevo Centro de Salud which, at the time of preparing this document, is staffed 24 hours a day. 

It is situated not far from the Farmacia at the roundabout by the bridge over the N332, exit 48 at Campoamor. As you enter the roundabout take the 9 o’clock exit and follow the road until a “Y” junction where you will find the centre which is signposted.

Take your EHIC card  (European Health Insurance card, issued in your home country) and passport/EU identity card, without these items you will have to pay for the consultation. 

You can telephone for an appointment by calling 9657 21400 – 09.00 – 22.00 & Sat 09.00 -15.00. 

For those living permanently in Spain we suggest, as soon as it is possible, that you register there and this needs to be renewed every year.  Remember Your EHIC card needs renewing – frequency varies by country.

Non EU-citizens need to inquire on any applicable regulations re Health Insurance card/policy.

Torrevieja University Hospital (Road from Torrevieja to San Miguel, visible from N332)

https://torrevieja.san.gva.es

Private Hospital Quiron (N332 – Between Torrevieja and La Mata)

https://www.quironsalud.es/torrevieja/en/services/accident-emergency

• Water:
  • Hidraqua: hidraqua.es
    • Tel: 900 210 100
• Electricity & Gas:
  • Iberdrola: iberdroladistribucionelectrica.com/consumidor
    • Tel: 900 225 235
• Internet:
  • Vega Fibra: VegaFibra.es
    • E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
    • Tel: 966 318 700
  • Nolimit: nolimit.en
    • Tel: 865 662 400
• Satellite TV:
  • Nortons:
    • Tel: 966 760 335 

The above list is non-exhaustive and other options exist. The purpose is to give newcomers information to start.

Spanish law provides for the community to establish it ́s building rules. Our rules relevant to building alterations are as follows:

1. The full rules of our community and that of the local Council must be adhered to.
2. The application form for building permission must be submitted fully completed to the Administrator: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
3. The application form is obtained from our website – see below
4. Where an extension or alteration of a property is proposed, the administrator will seek the opinion of relevant neighbours.
5. Having consulted with neighbours and having received a completed request, the Administrator will bring the request to the next Committee Meeting for evaluation.
6. The Committee is then in a position to make a preliminary decision.
7. The administrator will inform the applicant of the Committee preliminary decision and a time frame for the job is communicated. Such preliminary decision still requires a confirmation in the following AGM to be final.
8. The owner is obliged to communicate start and end of the works to the Administrator
9. Upon a completion a formal reception of the works will take place, followed by a written approval/acceptance by the Committee, provided the works have been completed in line with the approved request. If the works are not in line with the request, appropriate action will be taken by the committee.
10. No alterations are allowed if this unduly restricts the light of others (right of view is not protected)
11. In order not to disturb people during the main holiday period, construction – outside maintenance works are not allowed during June, July and August. Emergency repairs (storm damage, water damage, electricity damage, fire damage etc) are an exception, subject to obtaining approval from the President.
12. It is the responsibility of the property owner having building work undertaken to arrange for a suitable means of disposal of any rubble. The provision of a skip or some kind of container is essential, and no rubble must be left within the community. Skips/containers are not allowed during the June, July and August.
13. Prior to placing a skip, agreement must be obtained from the President! This includes the location, duration and security of the skip. Any road closures by crane or deliveries must be agreed upfront.
14. The owner is responsible for any damage to community property caused during building work. Please ensure your builder is covered by relevant insurance.
15. Owners submitting plans for approval must ensure that the drawings are clearly defined to show the legal boundary lines of all relevant properties.
16. All owners should be aware that the onus for ensuring that all planned building work is legal is their responsibility.

Please feel free to speak with the President for any queries.

Download Here

To maintain the residential area in perfect condition and to ensure all residents enjoy the use of their property without hazard or nuisance, owners and any temporary tenants are asked to follow the regulations stated below: 

Roads

Speed limit within the entire Las Ramblas urbanizations is 30 km/h

Avenida Ramblas de Oleza (main road) is owned by the city of Orihuela, who decides the rules and regulations and is responsible for maintenance.

All other roads are private roads and belong to our community within the limits of the Altamira urbanization. For private roads, our community is responsible for rules and regulations as well as maintenance.

Parking rules apply as per Spanish law. All road users are asked to park any vehicle sensibly and with due consideration to other road users and without causing a nuisance to residents.

Only one vehicle can be parked by dwelling on Community private roads and parking areas.

Long term parking is not permitted on private roads and parking areas and any damage to the road surface (oil, subsidence, construction and maintenance works, deliveries etc.) where repair/reinstatement is necessary is the responsibility of the party concerned.

General Issues

Care must be taken when arriving or leaving at night not to cause a noise disturbance to other neighbours.

When entertaining etc. people should refrain from playing loud music after 24:00 hours.

If your "unit" is left unoccupied for lengthy periods (without due provision for property inspection) please make sure that the water tap to the house is turned off. This is to avoid any potential damage and waste. A separate tap is normally installed to facilitate garden maintenance.

Communal Electricity

Communal electricity is to be used, only for communal purposes

Household Waste

Household waste should be deposited in the big grey bins situated throughout the urbanisation.  Please do not leave waste outside of your property.  If you have large items for disposal telephone the town hall, 966760000, ext. 29, ask for Veronica who speaks good English.  Leave the items by the bins, they will be collected independently from the usual evening/night collection.

Garden & Garden Waste

All garden waste, either produced by you or your gardener must be deposited in the designated main road areas for collection. Garden waste or packaging must never be burned as this can cause disturbance and be a health risk.

All owners must maintain their gardens in good conditions. If in the opinion of the President, or in his absence one of his vice presidents, a garden is becoming overgrown, or an "eyesore" then formal notice will be given to the property owner to address the problem.

Failure to carry out suitable improvements within two weeks will result in the community undertaking remedial work, the cost of which will be submitted to the property owner.

Recycling

There are several recycling containers for glass across Las Ramblas. At the entrance additional recycling containers can be found:

• Clothes & Shoes (dark brown)
• Plastics (yellow)

Swimming Pools (Opening hours 08.30 – 22.30)

There are six pools and a Jacuzzi in the Altamira Community:

• Los Lirios Pool (Block 8)
• Cazorla Pool
• Salvador Pool
• Cazorla Cascade Pool (2x)
• Arneva Pool
• Los Lirios Jacuzzi (Block 4)

As a resident you are entitled to use any one of them.

POOL RULES -  The following rules apply: 

• There is no lifeguard at any of the pools.
• Children younger than 9 years of age should at all times be accompanied by an adult, able to swim
• Bathing suits are mandatory as well as showering before using the pool
• For the security of all tenants, no glasses and glass bottles are allowed at or around the pool – picnics and barbecues are not allowed at the pool area
• Courtesy and comfort for everybody is key:
  • No floats, rubber boats, surf, etc. are allowed
  • No ball games (football, handball, etc.) allowed in the pool or surrounding area.
• Loud music is not allowed at the pool area as this may cause annoyance to the residents living around the pool
• Dogs are not allowed at the pool area.
• No jumping, bombing or diving in pool.
• You are requested that during the Spanish siesta time (typically 1400-1700) to use the pools ‘’quietly’ ’and to generally respect the privacy of those living near the pools.

Pets and wild animals

It is forbidden by Spanish Law and our own Community’s rules to abandon pets or feed wild animals including, of course, feral cats. 

Dogs

Please keep your pet on a lead at all times when out walking in the Urbanisation and pick up any waste produced.  Dogs should not be taken on the grass areas around the swimming pools.  Owners should note that in Spain it is illegal to walk a dog off-lead and to leave fouling. Owners can be reported and fines of 500€ - 3000€ can be imposed. 

Post Boxes

The post will be put in your box by the post office. In case you do not have the key, please contact a locksmith to change the lock and keys. Keys should be handed over on the completion of the sale.

Painting

You, as the owner, are responsible for the painting of your own property and the walls enclosing it. Spanish law governing Altamira states that the paint must be as close to the original colour as possible. If you are in any doubt as to the correct colour to be used please contact one of the committee who will be happy to advise.

Renting

The owner has the responsibility to ensure that anybody renting your property:

• Is made aware of the community rules
• fully adheres to the community rules.

A notice should be displayed in a prominent place within the house/apartment explaining the rules and the location of facilities such as the waste bins.

Varies rules and regulations apply to various types of rentals as per Spanish Law. Please find below a useful link:

https://www.turisme.gva.es/opencms/opencms/turisme/es/contents/tramitacion/empresa_turistica/faq_preguntas_frecuentes_viviendas_turisticas.html

Our administrator has provided following additional information:

Reform of the HPA by the Royal Decree 7/2019 of March 1st

USE OF PROPERTIES FOR TOURIST RENTALS

ARTICLE 17 SECTION 12

• Qualified majority agreement of 3/5 of all owners (presumed absentee voting is allowed) to LIMIT or CONDITION tourist rental activity and to establish quota increases not exceeding 20%. The 20% increase in the quota for owners, who register for tourist rentals after March 2019 may be applied, not to those who had already done so and had been working, as it cannot be retroactively used on them.
• The agreement that establishes the limits or conditions should be motivated.
• The limitation or prohibition agreement must be submitted to a public deed and must be recorded in the Statutes and registered in the Land Registry so that it has an impact on third parties.
• The agreement will also have to be notified to the Tourism Registry of the Valencian Community under the Tourism Agency.

PROPERTIES THAT EXERCISE THE TOURIST LEASE ACTIVITY SHOULD GET:

• The Registration Number in the Tourism Registry of the Valencian Community.
• Favourable report of urban compatibility of the City Council where the dwelling is located.
• Signage for tourist establishment of the Valencian Community.

THE VACATION RENTAL ACTIVITY CAN BE CONDITIONED:

• Upon prior administrative authorization from the council.
• When registering the activity.
• That the tenants do not violate the rules of coexistence of the Community of Owners, the landlord adopting the surveillance measures for this.
• That the dwelling be used by a maximum number of people attending to the capacity and surface of the dwelling.

The Community of Owners may adopt specific agreements of an individual nature against those community members who fail to comply with their obligations to the Community and whose tenants bother and cause damage in it without any type of measures being taken by the owner.

Owners renting out their properties are responsible for the damage caused to communal elements by their tenants.

Packing material

When household or white goods are delivered it is also important that boxes and packaging are taken away and not just left on site. Big boxes to be crushed before they are disposed in the waste bin

Private Pools

Owners are responsible to maintain their private pools. In case any private pool deteriorates to a point that it is a possible health issue for neighbors, the President will require the owner to correct the issue. If the owner does not perform such maintenance within 2 weeks, the President can request maintenance from a 3^rd party whereby the costs will be charged to the owner.

The community of Las Ramblas – Altamira is located within Las Ramblas Golf, surrounded by the tranquil beauty of orange and lemon groves set within a protected nature reserve and with stunning views to the sea and the distant mountains.

Las Ramblas comprises ten communities of which our own, Altamira 1, is the largest with a mixture of 247 apartments, townhouses and detached villas.

Altamira is built on a beautiful south-facing slope overlooking the 18-hole Golf Club Las Ramblas with its excellent Club House, restaurant, lush greens and pines.  Our community is enhanced by the variety of its architecture, a myriad of palm trees and we are blessed with an average of 320 days of sunshine. 

In addition to being well-maintained and managed Altamira has 6 attractive pools and a jacuzzi for the sole use of owners and guests.

Altamira has so much to offer and besides being such a lovely place to live or have a holiday home we are only 5 minutes away from the small commercial development at La Fuente with its numerous restaurants, bars and local shopping facilities.  Just 15 minutes away we have access to the wonderful beaches of the Orihuela Costa and the excellent shopping centre of La Zenia Boulevard.

The daily average temperature at the Costa Blanca ranges from about 12 °C in January and February to about 26 °C in July and August. Even in mid-winter, there are many sunny days, with daytime temperatures reaching or exceeding 20 °C. In winter, very cold days are rare, but on colder periods, the minimum temperature can drop to about freezing; in practice, it never snows. 

Rainfall in the Costa Blanca is scarce, since it is even lower than 300 millimeters (12 inches) per year, and follows the Mediterranean pattern, in fact, most of it occurs from September to March, while in summer, it almost never rains. Rainy days are particularly rare, but when it rains, it can rain a lot, and the rains can sometimes be intense and concentrated in time, causing floods. Owing to the scarcity of rainfall, the landscape is arid.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO) our area is one of the healthiest places on earth. A balanced microclimate - sunny days, pleasant temperatures and the geographical location are among the main factors that contribute to the quality of life in this region.

Costa Blanca is surrounded by the warm waters of the Mediterranean Sea from the east, and a few kilometers further to the west there is a mountainous area - the inland mountain range from Murcia to Denia. The height of the mountains ranges from 1000 to 1500 meters. It acts as a buffer against conditions coming in from both the sea and inland, maintaining great weather inside and out.

Costa Blanca is particularly conducive to people with respiratory problems, asthma, skin problems such as open ulcers, psoriasis and allergies. In addition, this microclimate significantly improves the well-being of people with rheumatism, other muscle or joint problems.