PROPERTY owners across Spain can legally refuse to pay controversial community levies after the Supreme Court ruled in favour of residents who had fought a decades-long battle against contributing to building improvements they never wanted. Back in 1994, residents in one community voted on installing a lift, with the majority supporting the project. Fast forward to 2018, and the same community tried to tear up that agreement, demanding all residents – including the original dissenters – start paying community expenses. Property owners who have existing exemption agreements cannot be forced to pay if communities try to override historical arrangements without full consent. However, there’s a catch – property owners must have documentary evidence of any prior exemption agreement.