Spain Explained

If you buy a property in Spain then you will need to take out insurance. Insurance in Spain works very similarly to that in other European countries, more or less. You pay a Premium and, unless you have to make a claim, that is it. However, there are a few differences and some issues that […]

Noisy neighbours, barking dogs, bars and restaurants playing music to the early hours. We’re often asked what can be done about noise in Spain. In this article Marina Lorente from our legal department looks at the issue and the possible actions that can be taken. Spain is not renowned for being the most restrained of […]

Buying a holiday home in Spain when you retire continues to be a popular option. For Claire a little luck helped her secure the perfect spot to enjoy her free time.   When Claire retired, buying a property in Spain as a holiday home was on her list of things to do. She was already […]

This is the third article of a series of five articles on Spanish residency for EU and British citizens. David Ruiz of Torrevieja Translations explains the process and what you need to comply.   The table of contents is: Spanish Residency Overview Pensioners Workers Self-employed/business Unemployed This article focuses on EU and British job seekers. You can […]

The number of tourists visiting Spain keeps on rising. In 2015 68.1 million people came to Spain whilst in 2016 the number recorded had reached 71.6 million by November. In this Infograph we can clearly see how the number of tourists visiting Spain over the past three years has been growing. The increase has been […]

Jamie Oliver certainly caused a storm when he recommended that paella be made with chorizo. Eduardo Simón from the Customer Care Department at Ábaco explains what should and shouldn’t be in this very important Spanish dish.  What conjures up Spain more than a large, colourful paella? It’s a truly fabulous dish, not only because of […]

Carnaval, the Spanish spelling of carnival, is quite an event in many parts of Spain. It can also be something of a conundrum if you are not a native of the country. In this article we delve a little into what ‘carnaval’ is all about. It’s February in Spain and it’s not warm. At night […]

We have written before about the benefits of donating or ‘gifting’ your assets rather than bequeathing them when you die. ‘Donación de bienes’ is an alternative way of handing over your property which has a number of benefits. Arranging this handover sooner rather than later means you can be sure that you are avoiding inheritors […]

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 specific requirements are for pensioners. This is the second article of a series of five articles on Spanish residency for EU and British citizens. […]

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 article of a series of five articles on Spanish […]

Like many words, ‘embargo’ has different connotations in Spain to what it does in the UK. For most British people when you talk about an embargo you picture a prohibition from one country on another. So it comes as something of a shock to some people with Spanish bank accounts to discover that rather than […]

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 saw my first Harley Davidson. It was love at […]

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 around,’ explains Paul, ‘but we just loved it in […]

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 wine is stored but it has come to mean […]

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 floor clause. This floor clause meant that the amount […]

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 permanently, how to access the health care in Spain is […]

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. We all know that whatever country we buy in there will be property taxes […]

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 what this might entail. Only need two bedrooms but […]

Of course it’s not only dog owners who want to know what is and isn’t allowed in Spain. Anyone spending time here is affected by the way in which others look after, or not, their pets. Barking dogs, dangerous dogs, dog mess left on the pavements have an impact on everyone. In this article we […]

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 you choose this country and not another one? For […]

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 cost of this. One of these short cuts can […]

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 disclose the source of your money. This isn’t because […]

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 when you can benefit from certain tax advantages in […]

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 your Spanish assets to your children? Donation is a […]

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 to mortgages. They have taken advantage of people’s lack […]