Relocation to Spain

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Annual rates, payable on property, are creeping up but probably still lower than U.K. In some areas a separate charge is made for rubbish collection.

Electricity is quite expensive and, in some areas, so is water.

Some people imagine that it is warm and sunny for 365 days of the year and that they will not have any heating bills. The truth is that in many areas more and more people are installing central heating, as well as air conditioning to cope with those warm and sunny days.

Petrol and diesel are both cheaper.

New cars are generally cheaper but second-hand cars seem to be more expensive.

Road tax is considerably less.

   Language        

   Do they speak the same language all over Spain?
   Yes and no..

Castilian, or Spanish, is the language of Spain. However, many regions have their own language which is not only the main spoken language but is also prominent in schools and public offices.

If you have children who will be enrolled in Spanish state schools, the question of local language is something which cannot be ignored as they will be taught in this rather than in Castilian.

   Buying a Property        

   Can I buy a property without using a solicitor?
   Yes, but don't.

A few important basics:

• always employ a recommended solicitor who speaks your language fluently
• don’t be naïve about believing everything you are told
• make independent enquiries about any property you are considering
• check that the person trying to sell the property has the authority to do so
• make sure that the property is owned by the person who says he does
• confirm that the building, as well as the land, has been registered and appears on the deeds
• insist that checks are made on the property registers to ensure that the property does not have any debts, embargoes or encumbrances of any kind
• compare property with plans lodged with local town hall to make sure no unauthorised alterations have been carried out
• find out if any development is planned for adjacent plots or large undeveloped areas which could affect the property in question
• if buying on a complex, check out the community rules to make sure that they fit in with your requirements (for example, if you have pets, you don’t want to buy an apartment or such and later find out that animals are not allowed or that you want to install a parabolic dish to receive television programmes and then discover that it is prohibited)
• No matter how much you may like a property, it is best to look for something else if there appears to be any kind of a problem or irregularity. There are lots of properties for sale in Spain and it is, therefore, unnecessary to take risks – not unless you have more money than sense.

GO TO BUYING PROPERTY IN SPAIN for more information.