Spain Explained

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

Posts filtered by Spanish Law

A mini guide to official translations in Spain – guest article

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 […]

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First occupancy and habitation licences – what’s the difference?

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 […]

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Could you be a Spanish national?

Last updated on October 28th, 2019 at 04:59 pm. As concern about what  Brexit will mean for those living in another European country rises, some people have wondered just what it would take for them to go one step further and become a Spanish citizen. Until now, the benefits of this move for those living in […]

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Making your home perfect

Last updated on October 28th, 2019 at 05:00 pm. Some people like to buy their property brand new and ready to move into. Others prefer to buy a resale property in Spain and customise it to exactly how they want. There are advantages in both approaches. However, at some point, even if you buy a […]

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Tightening up on energy efficiency

Last updated on October 28th, 2019 at 05:00 pm. A new law in 2013 established the requirement for an Energy Efficiency Certificate (EEC) or Certificado de Eficiencia Energética (CEE) to be made available to purchasers of Spanish property. The idea is that making this information more accessible will encourage home owners to make their property […]

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What is happening with holiday lets in the Valencian community?

Last updated on October 28th, 2019 at 05:01 pm. What are the renting laws in the Valencian region? Must you or must you not register your property for letting purposes here? It would seem to be a straight forward question but a straightforward answer could quite easily evade you. The original rental law was the […]

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Keeping the peace

Last updated on October 28th, 2019 at 05:01 pm. How far should we go when it comes to keeping the peace? There is a fine line between freedom of speech and racism, between the right to protest and lawlessness. At what point does a peaceful demonstration become insupportable? Spain’s new Public Security Law or Citizen’s […]

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Money Laundering in Spain

Last updated on October 28th, 2019 at 05:01 pm. You’ve probably heard of ‘money laundering’ but not thought you would personally be affected. However, concerns about money laundering activity in Spain means that people are suddenly finding it cropping up in quite ordinary circumstances. A number of non-residents and residents have recently been asked for […]

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What is the google tax?

Last updated on October 28th, 2019 at 05:02 pm. The word ‘google’ is part of our day-to-day vocabulary. In the Oxford dictionary paperback version it is defined as ‘search for information about someone or something on the Internet, especially with the Google search engine.’ The last part of that definition is perhaps particularly interesting. There […]

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Making 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 […]

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New traffic laws in Spain

Last updated on October 28th, 2019 at 05:03 pm. Whether new traffic laws in Spain are designed to make the roads safer or increase revenue for the traffic department, will always be debated. Whatever your conclusion the new raft of legislation aimed at road users is going to keep trafico busy for the foreseeable future. […]

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Drugs and prostitution and other tax reforms in Spain

Last updated on October 28th, 2019 at 05:04 pm. The debate over whether prostitution and soft drug use in Spain should be legalised has continued for centuries. Who would have thought it would be the taxman who would start to get involved. It is now being suggested by the Organisation of Tax Inspectorsthat the debate […]

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The new driving laws in Spain you should be aware of

Last updated on March 31st, 2020 at 10:31 am. It can be difficult to know what you should and shouldn’t be doing when it comes to driving in Spain. New laws are adding further to the confusion. Ley 6/2014 modificando la Ley sobre Tráfico, Circulación de Vehículos a Motor y Seguridad Vial 339/ 1990  came […]

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Tougher laws on home improvements in Spain

Last updated on October 28th, 2019 at 05:04 pm. The laws in Spain around extensions, refurbishment and home improvements are strict. All changes you might make to your home need approval from the town hall. Home improvements in Spain fall into two categories: Major works e.g. building an extension, conservatory or swimming pool Minor work […]

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Tax, Tea and Travel

Last updated on October 28th, 2019 at 05:07 pm. It is perhaps an unusual combination, but we know that talking tax isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. Talking tax and travel in our offices During the month of March we are inviting people into our offices to find out more about resident taxes. To make it […]

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Evicting a tenant

Last updated on October 28th, 2019 at 05:07 pm. The vast majority of lettings in Spain work well. The tenant pays on time and the landlord is earning money on his investment. However, on occasions, problems do develop and tenants in Spain can default on their rent or even damage property. Previously, there was limited […]

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An optimistic outlook for landlords in Spain

Last updated on October 28th, 2019 at 05:07 pm. Letting property in Spain can be a safe option.  However, our lawyers at Ábaco are well aware of the issues to do with paper work and legal regulations that can appear so obstructive to the course of justice. Systems in any country can be slow to […]

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Looking after landlords in Spain

Last updated on October 28th, 2019 at 05:08 pm. The economic crisis in Spain has caused hardship for many people. There has been recent press coverage of the difficulties that mortgage holders and tenants in Spain have found themselves in when they have suffered a drop in income. It’s not just tenants who have found […]

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Stay legal when letting Spanish property

Last updated on October 28th, 2019 at 05:08 pm. In the majority of cases, landlords and tenants in Spain get on well. They make mutually agreeable arrangements and both benefit from the business relationship. Unfortunately, it doesn’t always work this way. Not all tenants in Spain are prompt with their rent and some landlords of […]

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What to do when your tenant defaults in Spain

Last updated on October 28th, 2019 at 05:08 pm. Letting out Spanish property is perhaps more popular now than it ever has been before. Difficulties in selling property and uncertainty about the property market have led people to consider other options – letting out Spanish property being at the top of the list. It means […]

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Legalising documents – the Apostille

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 […]

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Changing your status as a resident in Spain

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 […]

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Knowing your gestor from your abogado in Spain

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 […]

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Clamp down on building work in Spain

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 […]

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Cash limits on payments

Last updated on October 28th, 2019 at 05:10 pm. Anti-Fraud Laws continue to make the Spanish news.  One of the most recently implemented measures is the cap on cash payments. At first glance, this can seem to be straight forward legislation that should not be hard to implement: Residents are no longer allowed to use […]

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