Spain Explained

A guide for foreigners on every aspect of safe property ownership in Spain

Posts filtered by Spanish Law

Improving your home – what you need to know

Home Improvements

Congratulations on owning a property in Spain! You might now have some ideas for how you would like to improve it. There are lots of options, but you must also be aware of what the legal implications are. In this article we explain what licences you must have and the implications.   It’s natural that […]

Read more

To Option to Donate in Spain

When thinking in having things tied up for the future of your love ones, most people make a will to prepare the inheritance for when they die. They want to ensure that they help the people they love by bequeathing their assets to them. However, the inheritance process in Spain is not the same as […]

Read more

Protect your property from squatters in Spain

Protect your property from squatters in Spain

If you own a property in Spain but are not a resident here, then the prospect of squatters may be a worry. The okupa movement has gained ground here and there are stories of people moving into unoccupied properties. So, how can you protect your property from squatters in Spain and what can you do […]

Read more

Sell a property in Spain: How to get everything ready

Sell a property in spain

Someone wants to buy your property! It’s a great feeling when you can set the conveyancing process in motion. But have you got everything in place so that you can sell a property in Spain without a hold-up? If you have had building work done on your house you might discover that the sale will […]

Read more

Is it time to update your Spanish will?

You might have signed a Spanish will some time ago and think that it is now arranged. Indeed, your will is still in place and perfectly valid, but it is important to have its content and wording checked from time to time to ensure that it is in line with the latest law updates so […]

Read more

A mini guide on Spanish non-lucrative visa

Spanish non-lucrative visa

Last updated on July 16th, 2020 at 12:24 pm. Are you thinking about living in Spain but not needing to work because you have your own financial means? If yes, the Spanish non-lucrative visa is your visa. What is the Spanish Non-Lucrative Visa? A non-lucrative residence visa entitles the applicant to reside in Spain while […]

Read more

What is the Spanish residency permit and how to get it?

spanish-residency-permit

If you are living in Spain, one of the most important documents you will need is a Spanish residency permit. Applying for residency is compulsory if you intend to spend more than three months in the country and is essential for various administrative processes. For example, If you are a pensioner, you will need a […]

Read more

Legal and tax lawyers in Spain: Why should you choose Ábaco Advisers?

Tax lawyers

Last updated on June 30th, 2020 at 09:27 pm. As a client of Ábaco Taxes you are entitled to a number of ‘extras’. We want to make sure you are getting the full benefit from them. We explain how Abaco Online and our team of tax lawyers can help you keep in touch and informed. […]

Read more

A mini guide on Spanish citizenship

Spanish Citizenship

Last updated on July 13th, 2020 at 12:55 pm. Your Spanish citizenship will allow you to remain living in Spain permanently, no more the 90-day rule, no more applications for your residency, no more renewals, no more fear of having your Spanish residency removed. And, most importantly, at the end of the process, this will […]

Read more

What Spanish building regulations mean for your property

Spanish building regulations

Even the most perfect dream home in Spain will need some renovation from time to time. Whether it is anything from glazing a balcony to building a new pool, there are some legal implications that you need to be aware of. Also, if you are buying a property that has had work done on, there […]

Read more

Understanding gift tax in Spain

gift tax in spain

As we all know, time goes by and circumstances change. A common question our clients ask us is about gifting a property. If you own a property in Spain, you may wish to gift your home in Spain to someone else, either as a true gift or as a way to reduce inheritance expenses. In […]

Read more

Do you require planning permission in Spain? Find out how to get it

Planning permission Spain

Did you know that even minor works to Spanish property need a planning permission? Many home owners in Torrevieja have found out to their cost that work they’ve had done has not been legalised. Here, we explain what might happen next. Types of planning permissions in Spain Improving their property is something that many people […]

Read more

Voting in Spain: How can you vote as an expat?

Voting in Spain

In this article we talk about the process of voting in Spain: how the voting works, how you can register to vote, how you can vote and what happens after the voting. Spanish government The government in Spain is arranged according to four tiers: National – the elected government of the country Regional – the […]

Read more

Applying for Spanish residency: Requirements and tips

Spanish residency

Last updated on June 15th, 2020 at 07:55 am. More and more people are recognising the importance of obtaining Spanish residency if they live in Spain. But it isn’t just civil residency that is important. There’s fiscal residency too. In this article we explain what civil and fiscal residency are and how you can obtain […]

Read more

Knowing your gestor from your abogado in Spain

Gestor

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’. What is a gestor? Many people who find themselves living in or visiting Spain frequently, have had some contact with the multi-talented ‘gestor’. It might […]

Read more

Property renovations in Spain: Everything you need to know

Property renovation in Spain

At different times of our lives we need different facilities. The swimming pool and villa in a rural location can be perfect for a growing family but less attractive as you become older. There are times when we all need to take stock of our family or holiday home and perhaps make a move to […]

Read more

Understanding the padrón, empadronamiento & residencia

empadronamiento

Many people who are emigrating to Spain wonder, which comes first, the padrón or the empadronamiento? For those who aren’t familiar with these terms, the padrón is the town hall’s register of those living in the area. Essentially, the local government uses the register to keep a headcount of how many people are resident, and […]

Read more

Can I apply for an NIE number online, in person or by proxy?

nie number online

Last updated on February 29th, 2020 at 06:06 pm. Spanish bureaucracy can be complex and unfortunately, you can’t apply for an NIE number online. However, with a helping hand, applying for an NIE is simple.  If you are moving to Spain or have any economic, professional or family connection with the nation, you will need […]

Read more

Weighing up the pros and cons of Spanish residency

pros and cons of spanish residency

Moving to another country is a big decision. Perhaps you know someone who has taken the leap or you’ve been on holiday somewhere and fallen in love with the people and its culture. Whatever your motivation or inspiration, it’s important not to jump too quickly. Your move will have implications not just for you but […]

Read more

New law affects home improvements

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 […]

Read more

Register your civil partnership

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 […]

Read more

Meet our notary

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 […]

Read more

Improve your property, but legally

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, […]

Read more

A new urban law that affects rustic properties

Last updated on November 22nd, 2022 at 05:09 pm. Did you know that even minor home improvements and refurbishments need planning permission in Spain? The town hall must give a licence for work to go ahead or you risk a hefty financial penalty. In this article we explain about building licences and what you can […]

Read more

Obtaining a building permit

Unfortunately there are less-than-scrupulous builders who will claim they have obtained a building permit on your behalf, when, in fact, they have not. Having the correct building licences is, ultimately, your responsibility. In this article we explain how to make sure your reformed or extended property is legal.

Read more