Have you got your facts right?
Last updated on September 13th, 2019 at 09:09 am. What percentage of the population do you think are immigrants in Spain? Out of every 100 people in Spain how many do you think are over 65? These are two of the questions on Ipsos MORI’s new global survey, ‘The Perils of Perception’. The survey highlights […]
Read moreTips for selling property in Spain
Last updated on June 3rd, 2020 at 07:22 pm. Just how far should you go to sell your property in Spain? We all know it’s not a sellers’ market at the moment but the lengths that some people are going to is, quite extraordinary. Getting a good estate agent, making sure the house is in […]
Read moreSupporting Elche c.f.
Last updated on September 13th, 2019 at 09:09 am. There’s a phrase that states that you are never too old to learn. Some people may disagree with this. Certainly if you’ve tried to learn Spanish at an older age you’ve probably recognised that it doesn’t fall into your lap easily. But what about developing an […]
Read moreMaking a denuncia in Spain – the right way
Last updated on September 13th, 2019 at 09:09 am. In the article ‘Making a police report (denuncia) in Spain’, David Ruiz explained what a denuncia is and how to go about making one. In this article he takes us through the right and the wrong way of doing it. Since 2010 I’ve been helping my […]
Read moreSpanish succession law and its implications
Last updated on March 19th, 2020 at 03:12 pm. When you are living in a country that’s different to the one you were born in, many variations in the law can pass you by. Succession law in Spain is one of those that can take foreigners living here by surprise. Recent EU legislation relating to […]
Read moreTaking account of the weather in Spain
Last updated on September 13th, 2019 at 09:09 am. It seems an obvious thing to state but, it’s important that we take the weather into consideration. Anyone watching the electric storms in September in Spain must have felt just a little humble in the presence of such a force of nature. We are, after […]
Read moreWhere to go in Alicante
Last updated on May 20th, 2020 at 06:05 pm. Have you ever been guilty of not visiting the places on your doorstep? It can often happen that where you live is the place you’re least likely to fully explore. For example, it’s all too easy for Alicante just to become a stepping stone on the […]
Read moreInheritance tax for non-residents in Spain – is it time to claim?
Last updated on March 19th, 2020 at 03:12 pm. In some countries, inheritance tax applies to only the wealthy – those with estates worth an amount out of the reach of most ordinary people. This is not the case in Spain. Spanish inheritance tax applies to most people when they bequeath their property and there […]
Read moreBritish passport problems continue
Last updated on September 13th, 2019 at 09:09 am. It’s one of the nightmare scenarios – you’re holiday’s booked but your passport needs renewing. It’s getting closer and closer to the date when you fly. Will it arrive back in time or should you make a last minute ditch attempt to retrieve it in person […]
Read moreChanges to Spanish capital gains tax
Last updated on June 3rd, 2020 at 07:25 pm. It’s perhaps a symptom of government austerity that taxation is a particular target for change. It is one of the best means of increasing revenue but must also be handled carefully if your electorate are not to be upset as an election year approaches. As the […]
Read moreWhat is a vado in Spain?
Last updated on September 13th, 2019 at 09:09 am. You’ll have seen the signs on the outside of walls – a circle with a line through it that seems to appear at every spot where you want to park. The ‘Vado’ sign is usually found outside garages, entrances to drive ways and other places where, […]
Read moreThe community of owners in Spain
Last updated on October 28th, 2019 at 04:22 pm. There are countless urbanisations each hosting their own community of property owners (Comunidad de Proprietarios) throughout Spain. On the whole they can be beneficial organisations. The intention is that through the annual general meeting decisions are made relating to the community and its upkeep. Common elements, […]
Read moreMaking a police report (denuncia) in Spain
Last updated on February 25th, 2020 at 03:18 pm. Making a denuncia is an important part of the law and order system in Spain. In this article, David Ruiz tells us more about them. Having to report an event (or someone) to the police is something that nearly all of us have to do at […]
Read moreProposals for capital gains tax in the UK
Last updated on June 3rd, 2020 at 07:26 pm. It might come as a surprise to know that in the UK, until now, capital gains tax (CGT) wasn’t payable by non-residents when selling property there. This is perhaps one reason why house prices in London have risen to such exorbitant levels. They have become a […]
Read morePrescription charges in Spain
Last updated on September 13th, 2019 at 09:09 am. Whether you are on holiday or living in Spain, chances are that at some time you will need to pay a visit to the Spanish chemist or ‘farmacia’. The chemist in Spain is usually extremely good and in most outlets at least one member of staff […]
Read moreHealthcare for retired expats in Spain: Who’s entitled?
Last updated on June 5th, 2020 at 06:45 pm. One of the main concerns for anyone coming to live in another country must be ‘how will I obtain the healthcare I need?’. This is particularly the case where you are perhaps a little older in years and know that more, rather than less, healthcare is […]
Read moreMusic is big business in Spain
Last updated on September 13th, 2019 at 09:09 am. Apparently, Spanish is becoming an increasingly popular language to learn. Why? Alongside Spain’s popularity as a holiday destination comes its attraction to young people as a ‘cool’ place with ‘cool’ people. Some of this undoubtedly comes down to the passion for party, late nights in […]
Read moreFinding your own piece of Parador in Spain
Last updated on September 13th, 2019 at 09:09 am. Have you come across this Spanish word before? A ‘Parador’ is a state-run tourist hotel usually found in rural beauty spots or places of historical interest. The Parador in Spain is often converted from interesting buildings such as castles or monasteries and offers much more than […]
Read moreWhat to do about noise in Spain
Last updated on September 13th, 2019 at 09:09 am. Walk out into a bar or café area late at night in summer in Spain and you will be greeted by chatter. The Spanish talk, and often seem to talk loudly. Everyone seems to have a comment to make and usually at the same time. Depending […]
Read moreCleaning up the act – dogs in Spain
Last updated on September 13th, 2019 at 09:09 am. Once a week I go for a run. I don’t go far and I certainly don’t break the sound barrier. Over the summer in Spain it can be difficult to find the best time to go. Ideally it would be early in the morning before the […]
Read moreWho is buying property in Spain?
Last updated on October 28th, 2019 at 04:23 pm. One headline after another has provided a confusing picture over the last year of just how well the Spanish housing market is doing. With the release of the ‘Estadística Registral Inmobiliaria’ we can begin to see the true picture. What is clear is that overall, a […]
Read moreThings are getting better in Spain, aren’t they?
Last updated on October 28th, 2019 at 04:24 pm. At one time a glance at the Spanish skyline, at least in any coastal region, was likely to take in a handful of cranes. Then came the downturn and the cranes disappeared and went into storage. Until now. In some parts of the country, the giants […]
Read moreGlossary of legal and tax professionals in Spain
Last updated on October 28th, 2019 at 04:24 pm. Abogados, gestorias, asesores, inmobiliarias, notarias, economistas… the list of Spanish professionals you might come across when buying and selling your Spanish property, just goes on. Which would you use and what might the equivalent be in your home country? This glossary can help you get to […]
Read moreWater parks in Spain
Last updated on September 13th, 2019 at 09:09 am. What happened to the day when a little paddle in the sea was more than enough? No longer a simple slide into the water or an inflatable dinghy, the Spanish water park experience has to get more and more thrilling to keep them coming. Water parks […]
Read moreHow to keep cool in Spain – top ten tips
Last updated on May 18th, 2020 at 05:46 pm. As July and August descend in Spain, the Spanish people come into their own. The streets will be deserted at 2.00 as they retreat inside, only to emerge again as the sun starts to set and temperatures are returned to a sensible level. Contrast this with […]
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