Spain Explained

Last updated on February 19th, 2020 at 01:37 am. Many people are confused when it comes to what they need to apply for residency in Spain. In this series of four articles, David Ruiz of Torrevieja Translation, explains what the general requirements are.   Welcome to the Mini guide to Spanish residency. This is the first […]

Last updated on June 5th, 2020 at 06:16 pm. Like many words, ‘embargoes’ has different connotations in Spain to what it does in the UK. For most British people when you talk about embargoes you picture a prohibition from one country on another. So what does embargo mean? It comes as something of a shock […]

Last updated on September 13th, 2019 at 09:08 am. When Bob Bray first fell in love with Harley Davidsons at eight years old he didn’t envisage that he would be touring Spain on one. Now, he plans to share the varied and marvellous scenery with his wife too. ‘I was in Bognor Regis when I […]

Last updated on October 28th, 2019 at 04:05 pm. When Paul and Donna Mclaren bought their first property in Spain they didn’t realise just how much they would fall in love with Gran Alacant. Now, thirteen years later they’re on the move…down the road.  Paul and Donna bought their first Spanish property in 2003. ‘We’d looked […]

Last updated on April 9th, 2020 at 12:25 pm. Spain is famous for its wine and deservedly so. It has a huge number of vineyards many of which welcome people to come and find out about the grapes that are grown there and the wines that result. The bodega is officially the warehouse where the […]

Last updated on October 28th, 2019 at 04:57 pm. The EU Court of Justice has ruled that banks in Spain must return all the interest on mortgages that they have over-charged prior to 2013 as well as after. During the property boom, many Spanish banks got their customers to sign mortgage agreements that included a […]

Last updated on April 8th, 2020 at 11:41 am. Spain has a reputation for having one of the best national health services in Europe. How can you make sure you can access it if you come to live here? Caroline Clinton explains what the options are. For those people considering coming to live in Spain […]

Last updated on April 30th, 2020 at 05:42 pm. Like most countries, you must pay council tax in Spain. But what is it and how is it calculated?  In this article Linda Robertsson Posada, from the fiscal department, explains IBI and the role that the valor catastral has to play. However, we would like to […]

Last updated on October 28th, 2019 at 04:06 pm. It’s often said that to find your perfect property you must compromise. After all, you can’t expect to have everything you want in one location. But perhaps there is an alternative- why not build your own in Spain? In this article we find out more about […]

Last updated on September 13th, 2019 at 09:08 am. The HSBC survey aims to give people an opportunity to see how others rate the country they’ve moved to. In this article we look at the overall results and summarise opinions on Spain. If you live in Spain but are of a different nationality, what made […]

Last updated on October 28th, 2019 at 04:06 pm. When buying a property in Spain the additional costs of the buying process can soon add up. Paying for a solicitor is one of the main additional expenses that people incur and it is understandable that they might look for a short cut to reduce the […]

Last updated on October 28th, 2019 at 04:57 pm. Post Panama, more people are probably aware of the issues around money laundering. In Spain, long gone are the days when few questions were asked about the source of your finance. We explain. If you buy a property now in Spain you will be asked to […]

Last updated on March 19th, 2020 at 02:06 pm. Making sure your loved ones benefit from your hard-earned money is a priority for the majority. You can’t take it with you but it’s nice to have control over who you’re leaving it to. For some, ‘gifting’ their property seems like the best option, particularly now […]

Last updated on March 19th, 2020 at 02:06 pm. Most of our British clients are worried about the implications of Brexit. In this article we look at some possible tax consequences in Spain; helping you take matters in hand and provide peace of mind for you and your family.   Have you ever considered donating […]

Last updated on October 28th, 2019 at 04:57 pm. A judge has ruled that a clause included in 30% of mortgages in Spain is illegal. Ábaco’s legal department explain why and what this might mean for you. In the past, Spanish banks have not always been transparent when selling their products, particularly when it comes […]

Last updated on March 19th, 2020 at 03:09 pm. As speculation continues into the implications of severing ties with Europe, there are some emerging realities that we should already be contemplating. The impact on donation and inheritance tax in Spain is one. There are many imponderables when it comes to considering what the implications of […]

Last updated on September 13th, 2019 at 09:08 am. How is it best to travel around Spain’s 500,000 sq km of land?  With 17 autonomous communities and countryside varying between the rugged and the rolling it really is worth exploring if you have the transport to do so. And if you don’t? You can take […]

Last updated on October 28th, 2019 at 04:58 pm. Ever wondered what an official translation is? Can just anybody produce official translations? In David Ruiz’s mini guide he includes his advice for hiring an official translator. An official translation is an accurate and legal translation of a document completed by an official translator. Official translations […]

Last updated on October 28th, 2019 at 04:07 pm. Anthony Dewhurst had seen a property he wanted to buy. With a little extra funding, it could be made even more ideal for his family’s trips out to Spain. But could he get a mortgage to help with the cost? Anthony and his family are regular […]

Last updated on May 8th, 2020 at 08:02 pm. With a hot, dry climate you might have low expectations of what’s possible when it comes to creating colour in your garden. However, you might be surprised. Nico Clinton provides some gardening tips to help your garden in Spain flourish. In the height of the summer, […]

Last updated on September 13th, 2019 at 09:08 am. Some people have a travelling vein in their body. They simply can’t stay in one place for too long. Some people take advantage of their early twenties to tour foreign countries whilst others prefer to wait until they retire. Some, make it a life choice earlier. […]

Last updated on October 28th, 2019 at 04:58 pm. They are both very important documents and yet many people haven’t even heard of them, let alone know what the difference is.  Not until they want to sell their property that is. Jessica Martinez explains why they’re so vital. Every new property in Spain must be […]

Last updated on February 25th, 2020 at 03:12 pm. There are different rules in Spain to other European countries when it comes to dangerous dogs. Dogs are not banned in the way they are in the UK but the owners and those walking a dangerous dog in Spain must be licensed. The law that governs […]

Last updated on March 19th, 2020 at 03:10 pm. Two changes within Spanish law have meant that our inheritance department has been very busy this year. In our question and answer section we try to address some of the queries that we have been receiving.  I would like to donate my property in Spain to […]

Last updated on September 13th, 2019 at 09:08 am. Most people know that there is an airport in Malaga but not much else about this city in the south of Spain. For those with a base in Marbella or Fuengirola, Malaga is the airport they will probably use, although Gibraltar is also another option. It […]