Over the years, property developers have been coming up with all manner of things to get people to buy brand new houses. At the lower end you can part with hundreds of thousands of pounds to bag a free iPad, to the other end, where you even get a free car, a gazillion Uber credits or even a free holiday.
Obviously, the “free” isn’t all that free when you consider the amount of cash you have to part with, but there, I’m being pedantic.
Anyway, so today I was driving back and I saw a new development which has shot up. It’s called “Casilla De Costa”. It’s located some 8km out of town from Corralejo, but the stark, ultra-modern white buildings caught my eye, and being the intrepid property explorer nosy cow that I am, I turned off to take a look.
Introducing myself to the sales girl, I expressed interest in the development. I was surprised by how quickly it had taken shape and I cooed sufficiently on the tour.
Making small talk I asked a few questions about the place and soon discovered that it was a development where NO CHILDREN were allowed.
I stopped and looked at her to make sure I had understood her correctly. “No children?” I asked again, surprised by the admission.
“Yes,” she replied, unfazed by my surprise.
“OK,” I said, surprised by such a bold policy. “So, how’s that working for you?”
“Very well,” she replied, “we have only one apartment left from this phase left to sell. We have sold all of phase one and two, with just the one apartment left and now we begin phase three.”
“Oh,” I reply, “so what age is a child?” I probe further.
“I think 14 years,” she replies, “not under that, that would be a child.”
I nod and wait for her to continue.
“We find our clientele are older and they don’t want the noise or the children.”
“I see,” I reply, looking around at the perfectly white buildings, manicured gardens and quiet aquamarine pools. “And where do your clients come from?” I enquire.
“All over – Italy, Belgium, France, Germany, Spain, some English.”
Walking around the show home I was impressed with the space and quality on offer. The two-bedroom apartment was spacious at 115sqm (including the terraces) and had an upscale feel – something between a hotel and a serviced apartment. At 199,000 euros (excluding the kitchen) I also didn’t feel the price was too bad.
However, while the concept in principle, of no children, may be an attractive proposition to some buyers, I couldn’t help but wonder, how in the future such a policy may be enforced? And what happens when those same owners have grandchildren who they want to visit – do those same rules apply? Is it that no children are also not allowed as visitors?
Casilla De Costa is a really interesting social experiment – I’ll be interested to see in years to come if this succeeds.