Illegally Built Properties in Sardinia - the Impact on Owners

Building Amnesty and Amnesty applicable to Illegally Built Properties in Sardinia

Sardinia is a region well known for its beautiful beaches, coves and crystal clear waters.  For years, it has been a destination for major real estate investments by foreigners, who fall in love with the region and its natural resources, such buyers emanating particularly from England, France, Russia and Germany.  The value of property available varies and can be less than 100,000 euro to the dizzying numbers over one million euros

However, less known is the unfortunate statistic that sees Sardinia amongst the leading offenders in Italy of cases of illegal building.  Often the local and national newspapers report news concerning the “demolition” sentences  served on luxury villas which have been bought by influential and wealthy people (among others, Amii Stewart and Gertrude L. Swarovski) or seals placed in hotels and resorts a few meters from the sea.

Regrettably, many property developers, over the years, have built in violation of the limits imposed by law, for purely speculative purposes and with dire consequences for the environment and land aesthetics, not mention the unwary purchasers.   This results in illegal buildings being subjected to sanctions, which may be administrative, civil or criminal.  Hence the property is likely to be demolished, confiscated and is not marketable.

There are solutions to the problem that can, in certain cases, to some extent restore a building’s legal status and prevent the sanctions being visited upon the property, including that of demolition.   Clearly it is better to ensure that a property is legally built before purchase.

For information regarding property purchase in Sardinia and how to deal with the consequences of purchasing a property which has been built in contravention of the law, please contact: clientservices@giambronelaw.com