Spain Explained

Last updated on October 28th, 2019 at 04:39 pm. Do you have a property extension in Spain without the proper building licence to go with it? Many people have built upwards and outwards without applying for a licence. Something they would never do in their home country. Town halls are cracking down on people who […]

Last updated on September 13th, 2019 at 09:11 am. There is no doubt that it is harder to scowl than to smile when the sun is shining. The wonderful weather makes such a difference to your outlook as well as your way of life.  But is this just an impression we get or is there […]

Last updated on March 19th, 2020 at 10:02 am. During the months of April to June, fiscal representatives around the Spain are very busy. This is the time of year when the Spanish resident tax declarations are completed.  If you are over a basic threshold then you are required to complete an annual tax declaration […]

Last updated on September 13th, 2019 at 09:11 am. For as long as most people can remember, Benidorm has been a household name. Unfortunately its reputation isn’t always a desirable one. For many, this Costa Blanca seaside town is the epitomy of bad behaviour abroad, with a variety of nationalities throwing caution to the wind […]

Last updated on June 3rd, 2020 at 07:23 pm. Most Spanish property purchasers recognise the importance of having good legal representation. However, not all Spanish property sellers are as aware of the need.  Although the buyer’s solicitor will take the lead during the buying and selling process in Spain, you do need your own representative […]

Last updated on September 13th, 2019 at 09:11 am. Valencia has had some bad press. Most people now have heard about the extravagant years when money was no object and bizarre buildings and projects were springing up all over the city. But to only see Valencia in this light is to do it an injustice. […]

Last updated on October 28th, 2019 at 04:40 pm. It should be a time for rejoicing for anyone with a mortgage. With interest rates so low, provided you are still in employment, you should at least be enjoying the lowest level of mortgage repayments you could hope for. However, not all home owners with a […]

Last updated on March 19th, 2020 at 10:03 am. In 2012 the Spanish tax authority uncovered 4,700 undeclared rentals as a result of information received from the electricity companies. This is probably the tip of the iceberg. Many non-resident property owners who rent out their property in Spain still seem to be unaware of the […]

Last updated on September 13th, 2019 at 09:11 am. Probably everyone has been caught out at some time whilst driving in Spain. Sometimes you know you’ve taken a risk and perhaps allowed your attention to  drift from the speed dial. Other times it’s a genuine lack of awareness. This can be particularly common when you’re […]

Last updated on September 13th, 2019 at 09:11 am. Experiences will always differ. However, by and large, the health care in Spain is good. The Spanish hospitals are clean, the service efficient and the investigations into whatever your ailment is, are thorough. However, there are differences in the approach taken here that are worthwhile you […]

Last updated on April 28th, 2020 at 10:59 am. The Spanish Government has to increase the amount of tax it collects alongside saving money through austerity measures. One of the main ways that countries have been doing this across Europe is through increasing the rate of VAT (IVA in Spain). Spain followed suit in September […]

Last updated on September 13th, 2019 at 09:11 am. Learning another language isn’t easy. There are all those verbs to learn, tenses to navigate, masculine and feminine to commit to memory and many words that sound so similar but one wrong vowel and it could change the whole meaning. So any little help along the […]

Last updated on March 19th, 2020 at 10:05 am. It’s no longer just a case of making sure you don’t lose your credit card or have it stolen. You have to watch out for internet fraud too if you’re going to protect your bank account. Occasionally, someone will contact us concerned about an email they […]

Last updated on October 28th, 2019 at 04:42 pm. There are two Spanish property registers. This can be confusing for people used to a different system in their own country. What is even more confusing is that each register contains a different type of information about the property. The Catastro The Catastro register includes the official valuation […]

Last updated on September 13th, 2019 at 09:11 am. We rely so much on our services that when they are cut off it comes as something of a shock. If you lose your electricity in Spain, in particular, you suddenly realise just how much you rely on it. There’s no television, internet, phone line. You […]

Last updated on October 28th, 2019 at 05:09 pm. If you have property in Spain there is a chance that at some point you will be asked to provide a legalised version of an official document you have from your home country. In order to do this you will need to obtain the ‘Apostille’ of […]

Last updated on September 13th, 2019 at 09:11 am. There are many wonderful holiday destinations in Spain, and they don’t just involve lying on a beach. A fantastic holiday experience I have had was walking the ´Camino de Santiago’. To walk the ‘Camino de Santiago’ or the Way of St. James is included on the […]

Last updated on April 24th, 2020 at 04:22 pm. We might talk about legal advisers and executives, solicitors, barristers and lawyers. But there’s one professional in Spain who is even more difficult to pin down – the Spanish ‘gestor’. Many people who find themselves living in or visiting Spain frequently, have had some contact with […]

Last updated on September 13th, 2019 at 09:13 am. We all know how difficult it can be to work your way through small print. Who actually does? Often written in legal terms, and as the name suggests, in very small letters, it is unintelligible to the majority of us. So, no wonder it caught some […]

Last updated on October 28th, 2019 at 05:09 pm. There are a number of official actions you need to take to achieve full Spanish residency. This doesn’t just include obtaining a civil residency but fiscal residency in Spain too. It is also important to make sure you complete the necessary paper work and inform authorities […]

Last updated on October 28th, 2019 at 05:10 pm. Have you made any of these improvements to your Spanish property? built a shed enclosed your conservatory by installing windows built a conservatory built a swimming pool paved the patio increased the height of a wall installed solar panels If you have or if you’ve made […]

Last updated on October 28th, 2019 at 04:42 pm. The good news is that the Swedish are continuing to buy houses in Spain. Although the British share of the market may have fallen, there is interest sprouting and growing in other parts of the world. Between 2008 and 2010 the number of Swedish buyers in […]

Last updated on April 22nd, 2020 at 01:33 pm. When you tell people that you live in Spain or have a house there, their first thought is usually of hot weather and beaches. The Spanish coastline is famous and people from across the world like to holiday here for just that reason – it’s hot […]

Last updated on March 19th, 2020 at 10:07 am. Spain is one of 11 countries who have added their signature to the request to implement the Tobin Tax or Financial Transition Tax (FTT). This is a tax that would be levied on bank transactions and is seen as one way of funding economic recovery. Although […]

Last updated on September 13th, 2019 at 09:11 am. Spain has a good reputation for the construction of its Spanish high-speed trains. Its AVE are the fastest trains in the world with a speed of up to 300 km/h (186 mph). Spain manufactured the first high speed train in the middle east and has been […]