Last updated on October 28th, 2019 at 04:56 pm. If you are convinced that Spain is your home and you want to take the next step in showing you belong here, you might want to consider becoming a Spanish national. In this article María Wiedemann tells us what it entails. Most people who come to […]

Last updated on June 5th, 2020 at 06:16 pm. Like many words, ‘embargoes’ has different connotations in Spain to what it does in the UK. For most British people when you talk about embargoes you picture a prohibition from one country on another. So what does embargo mean? It comes as something of a shock […]

Last updated on October 28th, 2019 at 04:57 pm. 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 […]

Last updated on October 28th, 2019 at 04:57 pm. 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 […]

Last updated on October 28th, 2019 at 04:57 pm. 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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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. […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]