The old school house - crete

27/01/2025

So 3 months on from last Post. Very little to update apart from engineer has been back to the house. Surveys are being done behind the scenes. Paid them around 30% of their fees. Need to go over at least once this year to sort out my greek bank account and pay them more. Things seem to get done when I'm around so need to keep on them. Hopefully everything can be submitted before the summer.

19/10/2024

So here is the kick in the balls I got from my meeting

The letter we got from archeology includes a list of additional paperwork requested.

"Shortly they inform us that the house is a monument (they refer to the house as monument to the letter) so according to the special legislation for works in monuments they ask for:

- Full architectural study with specific details of wooden windows, floors, ceiling, color of the wall paintings, materials of new floors and windows, materials of the outer space of the building, etc.
- Full static analysis of the buildings (walls, roofs, etc.) and a static adequacy study that will rate the existing static condition of the buildings. If the study reveals static inadequacies then we are obliged
to submit a reinforcement study to the Service for approval and then proceed to implementation of this study.
- Full electromechanical studies of the buildings (electrical, plumbing, firefighting, heating, etc.)
- New topographical plan with details of plot perimeter, doors of the enclosure, etc.
- Technical report for the works of the immediate temporary sealing of the unroofed building (that you are obliged to protect as the roof is damaged)"

So they want me to put a cover on the building with no roof. This is the roof they made us remove when the house was purchased.

It gets worse

All the other reports listed above have been quoted at 24000 euros. Estimated time to complete - up to 2 years from now.

Waited 22 months to be told we have to wait another 24.

I'm getting a second opinion

14/10/2024

Lawyer - paid
Builder - paid
Engineer - meeting Friday
Got to house - falling apart. Someone needs to get their finger out

19/09/2024

Dear Alan,
we finally received the email from the Service of Modern Monuments regarding the additional documentation needed as Mrs Tsichla told us in the autopsy.

We attach the letter from the service as it is and you can use google translate to understand all the details.

Shortly they inform us that the house is a monument (they refer to the house as monument to the letter) so according to the special legislation for works in monuments they ask for:

- Full architectural study with specific details of wooden windows, floors, ceiling, color of the wall paintings, materials of new floors and windows, materials of the outer space of the building, etc.
- Full static analysis of the buildings (walls, roofs, etc.) and a static adequacy study that will rate the existing static condition of the buildings. If the study reveals static inadequacies then we are obliged
to submit a reinforcement study to the Service for approval and then proceed to implementation of this study.
- Full electromechanical studies of the buildings (electrical, plumbing, firefighting, heating, etc.)
- New topographical plan with details of plot perimeter, doors of the enclosure, etc.
- Technical report for the works of the immediate temporary sealing of the unroofed building (that you are obliged to protect as the roof is damaged).

From our side we can make an analysis of the engineering services costs for each of the requested documents, studies, reports etc and a rough estimation about the time needed to prepare each document.

BR,
Dimitris

05/09/2024

Hello Alan,
So Mrs Tsichla finally showed up today and examined the property with her colleague! We discussed about the building, the general need that it has to became inhabitable and all the other things you mentioned (the other building, the openings etc.)

Briefly she ended up to the following:
- She will ask us to submit some further documentation. She didn't tell us orally what would be that, she will send an email with the details.
- After receiving the supplementary documentation she will issue her report.
- As this is a special building (as she pointed out this is 'their building'), her report is not the final permit. This will be her proposition that will be discussed internally in the local commity that will be held from the archeological department in Heraklion and the commity will then issue the final report that will be shared to you officially telling what you can and what you can' t do.

As you can understand all the above will not happen in a day or two but the first step has been done and next steps usually don't take too long.

BR,
Dimitris

04/09/2024

Engineer called to tell me the site visit is a go for tomorrow. What excuse will she use this time?

I'm going to say she couldn't find it so she went home

02/09/2024

Meeting with engineer this morning, planning meeting is Thursday. Met the builder this afternoon and now last job of the day. Irish bar playing nirvana. I'll take it.

01/09/2024

06/06/2024

What an evening.

30/05/2024

Coming back over next week. Lets see if we cant get this planning permission moving. I found there office address lol. Get a few wines in emma and point her in the right direction

21/05/2024

Another deadline date given to us by engineering has passed for planning permission. Think thats 4 times we have been promised now. If this was any other business transaction you could do something about it. If it came in tomorrow they would expect me to pay them instantly. If they make the mistake of giving me the permission i need before payment maybe i should tell them ill pay them in 17 months which is how long we have been waiting. So frustrating

03/04/2024

So the tastes turn (the restaurant next door) just got a mention on the telegraphs page as 1 of the top 10 restaurants on crete. Amazing

From grandma's recipes to meze, discover the freshest and finest menus on the island

19/02/2024

Got to love the blue in greek decor.



























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