You gave your phone number to the administrator of your building. Could it be passed to the community president without asking you? A Spanish lawyer says it can be used for community business, but there are limits to how they can use it beyond that, where privacy rules kick in.

Can the president really get your number without asking?

A president of a Spanish community of owners asked their building administrator for the phone numbers and email addresses of its 57 owners. The administrator refused, citing data protection, and in a report by El País, lawyer Isabel Martínez said that refusal misunderstood who controls the information.

It get’s a little messy, and like many Spanish beaurocratic procedures, it feel like it could be much simpler. The way it works is the administrator holds owners’ contact details for the community. Because the president represents that community, Martínez says they can access details needed for community business without asking every owner for permission first. The administrator, if reluctant to give said details away, cannot simply refuse by citing data protection law. Spain’s data protection agency confirms that the community is responsible for its owners’ data, while the administrator handles it on the community’s behalf.

That doesn’t give the president free rein though. The details may be used for community matters, such as dealing with building problems or communicating with owners. They cannot then be passed around to other neighbours, used to pursue a personal disagreement or kept for an unrelated purpose.

The WhatsApp rule many buildings could overlook

There is a difference between contacting an owner and putting their number into a group chat where other members can easily see it and save it.

The AEPD’s guidance for communities of owners says a number an owner has provided may be used for community communications through WhatsApp. Adding that owner to a group, however, requires their express, informed consent. The lawyer also warns against sending a group email with every recipient’s address visible; the addresses should be hidden using BCC.

The consequences of sharing too much are real. In one case, a community faced a €2,000 penalty after its president posted a resident’s bank receipt in a building WhatsApp group, exposing her name, address and bank details. That case showed the extent to which the situation can get to when information is shared in bad taste and without consent in a group chat, far passed simply adding someone’s number. 

EWN has previously reported a separate €1,000 community privacy fine involving details of a neighbour’s debt displayed on a noticeboard. 

What if the administrator refuses?

If you are the president, ask in writing for the contact details already held by the administrator, explain which community duties require them, and ask for a specific reason if access is refused. The lawyer’s answer addresses access to existing records; it doesn’t mean every owner must supply a phone number or email address.

Home owners should know that their details may be available to the president of their urbanisation or building for community business, but that does not make their number available to the whole neighbourhood.

Engines have been roaring through the hills of Andalusia for eighteen years, and this October 6, the Classic & Sportscar Club Southern Spain will mark the date with an anniversary dinner and party.

An evening of celebration for petrolheads old and new

Members and guests are invited to gather at La Sierra Restaurante, the beautiful restaurant perched in Cerros del Aguila, where the club regularly host their evenings, on Tuesday, October 6. Doors open at 7.30pm, with celebrations getting fully under way at 8pm. Arrivals will be greeted in style with a crisp glass of cava, before settling in for an evening of celebration.

Founded in 2008, the club has spent nearly two decades bringing together fans of vintage and sports motoring across southern Spain. This anniversary dinner is to celebrate those that share enthusiasm for beautifully kept cars and the friendships that have formed along the way, and to make new ones.

How to get involved, come along and support the club

Dinner, dancing and live music are on the cards for the evening to keep you fed and on your feet well into the night. Tickets are priced at €35 per person, and is open long-standing club members, people wanting to support the club or those curious and want an evening to soak up the atmosphere. A semi-formal or smart dress code applies, so guests are encouraged to dust off their glad rags and get glam for the occasion. Menu’s will be posted on their website and social media channels close to the time for you to see what mouth watering treats await.

Those hoping to secure a place at the table are advised to act quickly, given the popularity of the club’s events among the local motoring community. Bookings and enquiries can be made by emailing csccspain@gmail.com or visiting csccspain.com for further details.

So pop the date in your diary and gather together your friends and family to enjoy a night of good food, good company and a celebration of 18 amazing years.

San Pedro del Pinatar is celebrating its recent participation in the European CIRCUS4ALL project, alongside local non-profit organisation AIDEMAR, which combined sports, art, circus performances, and inclusivity.

Circus arts and inclusion come together in San Pedro del Pinatar

During the event, which took place at the Geli Albaladejo Theatre on Wednesday, September 23, attendees were invited to take part in a dynamic experience combining elements of circus arts, movement and teamwork, all of which were accessible to people of all skill levels.

AIDEMAR, founded in 1982, is a well-known association in the region that supports people with disabilities. The non-profit organisation, in addition to San Pedro del Pinatar, also operates in the municipalities of San Javier, Torre Pacheco and Pilar de la Horadada.

Through CIRCUS4ALL, the organisation demonstrated how performances, coordination exercises, and group participation can help to create confidence, social interaction and a sense of belonging. Inclusion was a strong goal of the fun-filled workshop, and during the event, the participants made friends, socialised, and supported each other.

CIRCUS4ALL included dancing performances, magic shows, impressive tricks, and a lot of spectacle.

The event also served as a meeting point for the community, bringing together families, participants and organisers in a positive and supportive environment. The atmosphere encouraged people to participate at their own pace and skill level, while still feeling part of a larger group.

Performances, participation and social impact

The event formed part of a wider European programme aimed at promoting inclusion through creative and physical activities. Projects like CIRCUS4ALL underline the growing importance of inclusive programmes across Europe, particularly in coastal towns like San Pedro del Pinatar, where tourism, community life and social initiatives all intertwine. With this effort, the town continues to build a more open and welcoming future for residents and visitors alike.

“San Pedro del Pinatar is a municipality that believes in inclusion and opportunities for all,” stated the San Pedro del Pinatar Town Hall in an Instagram post about the event. “We are proud that, from San Pedro, we continue to create a municipality that is more and more inclusive.”