Palma Court orders 113,000 euros in moral damages to ground-floor neighbors after long renovation dispute
The Palma court has ruled that a German citizen must pay compensation to neighbors who live on the ground floor of his property for the distress endured during a lengthy renovation. The decision, stemming from a dispute over the reform of the building on Calle Cataluña, awards a total of 113,000 euros to address non-pecuniary harm suffered by several residents. This amount is intended to reflect the moral impact of the disturbance, as documented in the court file and supported by the plaintiff’s legal team.
The compensation follows the lawsuit filed on behalf of the affected residents by Eva Munar, a lawyer who represented the group in court. The court confirmed that moral damages are payable in addition to any direct costs associated with the refurbishment. A key element of the ruling is that the compensation recognizes the emotional and psychological strain experienced by the residents rather than just financial losses.
From the outset, the German owner purchased two top-floor units within a central building with the aim of merging them into a single duplex. The project required a comprehensive renovation to create the shared residence on two floors. The owner expressed a willingness to introduce himself to the neighbors before starting work and offered a gesture of goodwill in the form of a bottle of French champagne to each household—a symbolic act to acknowledge the inconvenience caused by the upcoming works.
Despite the cordial introductions, the construction activities proved disruptive. The residents on the lower floors faced months of noise and structural vibrations as the work progressed. A portion of the roof collapsed during the renovation, though there were no injuries, and several windows shifted enough to cause frequent flooding whenever rain fell. A stand-alone crane was used to lift materials to the seventh floor, placing the neighbors directly under the most intense phase of the renovation and raising concerns about safety and access to their homes. Some residents even avoided leaving their homes or taking vacations due to fear and ongoing disruption.
The court’s description of the period as a type of ordeal underscores the severity of the impact. The couple living below the renovation site reported continued anxiety, restlessness, sadness, fear, and uncertainty caused by the unresolved construction timeline. They sought legal counsel who advised pursuing a claim for moral damages against the German neighbor responsible for the project, in addition to the costs associated with the reform.
When the initial demand for remediation did not receive a response, the case proceeded to determination by the court. The judge noted that the facts anticipated a demand for compensation, and the decision ultimately recognized the moral harm suffered by the downstairs neighbors. In ruling against the German owner, the court stated that beyond the structural and renovation costs, the neighbors are entitled to compensation for the moral injuries incurred during the refurbishment process. The ruling emphasizes that the impact on the residents’ daily lives and sense of security warranted financial redress. According to the court, the neighbors endured a prolonged period of distress as the construction progressed, a situation described in the record as a form of torture for the affected households. The final decision confirmed that the property owner must cover both the costs of the reform and the moral damages awarded to the lower-floor residents.