Spain Explained

Last updated on April 23rd, 2020 at 12:25 pm. If you live in Spain or visit during the springtime, you might have heard people talking about the pine processionary caterpillar.  This specie is often mentioned by dog owners who are warning others of the danger. They’re a real threat too; we don’t usually associate caterpillars […]

Last updated on February 24th, 2020 at 05:19 pm. Post-2008, the Spanish banking sector made a series of gains from property repossessions. Now, banks are eager to sell these properties to recoup losses from the recession era. These homes are available at extremely attractive prices – however, it is essential to be vigilant when searching […]

Last updated on March 19th, 2020 at 01:33 pm. If you have property in Spain you will want to have arrangements in place so that everything goes smoothly when you die. It’s a difficult subject, but failing to look ahead can leave your inheritors with unexpected inheritance tax bills. Nobody is really prepared for a […]

Last updated on September 25th, 2019 at 06:23 pm. Did you know that all changes made to your home, however small, need approval from the town hall in Spain? If you go ahead without the proper permission you may have to go through a process of having it legalised. Alternatively, you might even have to […]

Last updated on October 14th, 2019 at 11:24 am. Nowadays it is very common for couples to live together without getting married. However, this can have legal and tax disadvantages. If you don’t want to marry but do want to keep your costs down then there is an alternative in Spain. This option rests somewhere […]

Last updated on February 19th, 2020 at 01:21 am. Imagine that before you die you have the privilege of rubbing a magic lamp, just like Aladdin, to make a wish come true. You perhaps have opportunity to wish for something that you have never been able to do before. A last wish. Four health workers […]

Last updated on February 19th, 2020 at 01:21 am. Many people travelling up and down the old Alicante Road or Cortes Valencianas in Torrevieja will never have noticed ALPE (Asociación Comarcal para la Rehabilitación del Discapacitado). It’s on the side of this very popular stretch of road and provides education and life-long learning opportunities for […]

Last updated on March 19th, 2020 at 01:33 pm. As we move closer to the Brexit due date many British people are increasingly anxious about what to expect. However, the reality is that even at this late stage, we don’t really know what will happen once Britain leaves the EU. What we do know is […]

Last updated on October 28th, 2019 at 03:45 pm. Between April and June 2018, 134,196 properties have been sold which is 12.4% up on the previous year. This figure is the highest recorded since the same period in 2008 when 152,630 sales were registered in Spain. This renewed interest in purchasing houses is not expected […]

Last updated on March 19th, 2020 at 01:33 pm. Most people are aware of the importance of making a will. Ensuring that those you love receive the inheritance you’ve worked for is recognised as one of those tasks we should do in good time. However not many people are aware that you can also make […]

Last updated on March 19th, 2020 at 01:34 pm. Now, we interview our expert, María Wiedemann, from our Legal Department to find out just what the advantages are of making a will in Spain and what the disadvantages can be, if you don’t. Maria Wiedemann has been helping foreigners in Spain protect their assets for […]

Last updated on April 30th, 2020 at 05:33 pm. One thing you will soon become familiar with if you spend time in Spain are the range and variety of taxes. Most of them are the same as you would expect in your home country. However, one or two might take you by surprise. Like all […]

Last updated on March 19th, 2020 at 01:34 pm. It’s not a subject that we like to talk about. However, not preparing for when you die can leave those you love with additional arrangements to make. Ábaco’s Inheritance Planning Pack can help answer those difficult questions and prepare for when the time comes. You have […]

Last updated on October 28th, 2019 at 03:52 pm. The role of the notary in Spain can be a little confusing to people who are not familiar with the system here. We’d like to introduce you to Doña Tatiana Martín Ruiz, the notary that many Ábaco clients have already had the pleasure of meeting. If […]

Last updated on March 19th, 2020 at 01:34 pm. If you have property in Spain you will want to have arrangements in place so that everything goes smoothly when you die. It’s a difficult subject, but failing to prepare can leave your inheritors with unexpected inheritance tax bills. We can all be reluctant to make […]

Last updated on October 28th, 2019 at 03:51 pm. If you have taken the decision to put your Spanish property on the market, we’d like to offer some advice. People can think that solicitors are only useful when you’re buying but sellers need their interests protected too. Most people know that having a solicitor to […]

Last updated on October 28th, 2019 at 03:53 pm. Perhaps you’ve got your eye on a bargain, or it’s just time to make some changes to your house in Spain. It’s a good time to refurbish property, just make sure that the Town Hall know what you’re doing too. Jessica Martínez, from our Legal Department, […]

Last updated on March 17th, 2020 at 02:53 pm. Rental property is in demand and many investors are making their money work for them by purchasing property to rent. It’s important that if you do, you take the time to ensure that legal requirements are met. In this article Susan Partridge from our Fiscal Department […]

Last updated on March 19th, 2020 at 01:57 pm. In the UK it is very common to have an executor, ‘albacea’ or ‘contador partidor´, to help ensure that your wishes are carried out when you die. However, in Spain this is much less frequent and executors are only usually named when a will is particularly […]

Last updated on October 28th, 2019 at 03:55 pm. The phenomenon that is Airbnb is proving to be lucrative for those renting out their property in Torrevieja. It is estimated that around 3,153 properties are being rented through the online platform and that there is the potential availability of 250,000 places altogether. In 21 months, from February […]

Last updated on March 19th, 2020 at 02:02 pm. It’s a difficult but very important subject. We recommend to all our clients that at some point they make a Will in Spain, even if they have made provision in their home country. Here we list some frequently asked questions to help you take that step […]

Last updated on March 19th, 2020 at 01:59 pm. Could your dreams of enjoying Spain, its climate and lifestyle, be taken over by a series of unfortunate events? We plan for our retirement, we look forward to putting the alarm clock away and then – we’ve all heard the stories, “He had his retirement party […]

Last updated on March 19th, 2020 at 01:58 pm. In Spain there are different levels of allowance you can receive before inheritance tax must be paid. The allowance is dependent upon the inheritor’s relationship to the deceased. This article provides information about the different inheritance groups. It comes as a surprise to some people. Not […]

Last updated on March 19th, 2020 at 01:58 pm. The Spanish inheritance procedure is complicated and the requirement to pay Spanish inheritance tax can make the transfer of property more difficult. Making a Spanish will can help inheritors in the long run. You quite often see them in Spain. Abandoned properties, sometimes in the middle […]

Last updated on March 19th, 2020 at 01:58 pm. You have enough to cope with when someone close to you dies without adding the additional complications that come with managing Spanish inheritance. In this article we suggest four steps you might take if Spanish property has been left to you. When someone close to you […]