Dozens of British families who purchased homes in Spain's Murcia region starting in 2003 have detailed a two-decade ordeal involving illegal developments, alleged threats, physical assaults, and financial ruin. Residents claim they were assured the properties were legal by estate agents and builders, only to find themselves embroiled in protracted legal battles and facing eviction.
Many of these families sold their homes in the UK and invested their life savings with the expectation of enjoying retirement in Spain. Instead, they describe a nightmare that included being driven from their homes, spending thousands on legal fees and renovations, and in some cases, returning to Britain after exhausting their finances. Some residents allege they were threatened by armed individuals, physically assaulted by builders demanding additional money, and witnessed strangers occupying homes they believed they owned. Several also believe the stress of the situation contributed to the deaths of loved ones.
One homeowner, Anne, who moved to Spain with her husband David after recovering from cancer, said they took redundancy, sold their UK home, and sought a new life. They purchased a villa in the La Montana neighborhood of Gea y Truyols through selling agent Mark Spencer, with construction by Jose Antonio Soner. "We did stringent checks of the company, took copies of their passports, and all seemed above board," Anne stated. Another resident, Mary, recalled asking Mark Spencer directly if the build was legal before paying a 3,000 euro deposit, and being assured it was.
Construction appeared to progress initially, but many buyers returned to find the sites deserted and homes incomplete. Anne described finding the development taped off by police upon her return after making the first payment. Residents gradually realized that basic infrastructure, including electricity, running water, and plot boundaries, had never been completed, despite many having paid almost the full purchase price. John and Alice, who moved from Essex in 2003, stated they had paid 90 percent of the agreed price before discovering the site was an illegal build.
Former homeowner Eleanor alleged that Soner had forged documents to falsely claim ownership of the land. Instead of completing the development, residents claim the builder repeatedly demanded more money. Eleanor stated that Soner refused to hand over title deeds unless buyers paid thousands of euros extra for various supposed works. Some felt compelled to continue paying, fearing the loss of their initial investment. Anne recounted being warned by the agency that she would lose all money paid if she did not make subsequent payments.
Raymond and Patricia from Reading reported paying €90,000 before learning the developer did not own the land. After losing a civil case to recover their money, they intended to pursue a criminal case. Soner then offered a new agreement, promising to sign over the land once the site was legal and he completed the purchase from the farmer who owned it. Years passed with the development stalled, leaving many homeowners paying mortgages, rent, and storage costs simultaneously. Mary and her husband, having already sold their UK home, paid over €10,000 in rent, plus VAT and storage, while waiting for a villa promised for March 2004. Anne and David spent nearly two years in rented accommodation, with belongings in storage in England, before eventually shipping them to Spain and storing them in a friend's garage, ultimately returning to Britain and living with David's parents.
After finding new employment, Anne and David aimed to reclaim their Spanish home. They visited La Montana regularly, overseeing new construction efforts. However, Soner continued to demand more money, and homeowners collectively spent tens of thousands of euros on lawyers in an unsuccessful attempt to legalize the development.
Stephen and Rose bought their villa from Spanish owners who had acquired it on La Montana, claiming they were never informed of the development's illegal status or problems. After paying €110,000 in cash, they learned of the issues from existing neighbors upon arrival. Like others, Stephen spent years paying additional costs to make the property habitable, arranging their own electricity and water supplies after the builder's temporary connections were cut. John and Alice stated their villa was little more than "a hole in the ground" when construction stopped, and they paid thousands for water tanks, septic systems, and electricity to use it for holidays.
Residents alleged that builder Jose Antonio Soner terrorized the neighborhood, demanding money and locking residents out of their homes. Eleanor claims Soner threatened homeowners, cut off utilities, and blocked the development's entrance. She described one confrontation where Soner allegedly attempted to retrieve a gun from his car. Eleanor believes the stress contributed to her husband's death in 2006. Mary recounted an incident where Soner allegedly confronted homeowners with a pointed stick, injuring her husband's arm. Residents reported sleeping with baseball bats for protection and, despite winning a lawsuit over the assault, never received compensation.
More than a decade after purchasing, residents discovered Soner had sold part of his interest in the development to another businessman, Antonio Tovar, in 2017. Homeowners claim Tovar then began a campaign of intimidation to force them out. John and Alice allege that villas belonging to neighbors who had returned to Britain due to ill health or financial hardship were broken into, their belongings burned or moved to storage without their knowledge. Tovar allegedly secured the villas, at times with electric gates and walls, to prevent owners from accessing them. Stephen stated that Tovar broke into occupied villas, rummaged through belongings, and locked residents out, moving their possessions to storage.
When Stephen and his family returned in 2024, they found a security guard at the entrance and were denied access to their house and belongings, being told everything had been moved to storage. In January 2025, John and Alice were informed their villa had been broken into and was being shown to potential buyers. They reported being refused access to their possessions by the Civil Guard. 
Anne and David, back in England, received photographs showing their villa had been taken over, with personal items displayed. Mary stated thieves broke into her villa while she visited neighbors, stealing family jewelry. Tovar allegedly hired Desokupa, a company specializing in evicting squatters, to intimidate residents.
Residents claim police inaction, with Mark and Louise reporting that officers appeared to side with Tovar during a break-in, laughing and joking with him and refusing to take solicitor's calls or names. In 2025, Raymond and Patricia found their home's locks changed, belongings removed, and the property listed for sale. The sale was halted only after Raymond objected to the Land Registry. 
Over two decades later, many original owners report having lost everything. Some have died, while others returned to Britain after their savings were depleted by legal fees and repairs. Now in their seventies and eighties, they feel their planned retirement was stolen. Anne, 70, struggles to accept strangers living in her villa. John and Alice, nearing 80, express devastation at losing their life savings, stating they were never squatters. Raymond's legal battle continues, having spent €25,000 on legal fees over more than 20 years with little resolution. Eleanor has burned reminders of La Montana due to painful memories.
Residents claim repeated appeals to police, lawyers, and authorities yielded little action. Only one of the original British families is believed to remain on the development. Attempts to contact the original builder and estate agent have been unsuccessful, with all online traces of them reportedly vanished. The Daily Mail has reviewed contracts, payment records, and court documents supporting the homeowners' claims. Your Home in Spain, a company associated with Antonio Tovar, was contacted for comment, while Mark Spencer and Jose Antonio Soner could not be reached. 
