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Why
do so many British, and other Europeans, chose Spain as the location
for retirement or a holiday home?
In
a recent survey by The Economist magazine relating to "Quality
of Life", Britain was rated at 29th in the world with Spain
rating 10th.
We
all know the weather is probably the most important factor in the
decision. The average days of sunshine on the Costa Blanca, Costa
Calida and Almeria are 320 days per year. Even on Christmas day
you see people sitting on the beach in shorts and a tee shirt.
There
are many other reasons too, Spain has so much to offer all ages
and tastes. The relaxed way of life, a healthy climate and Mediterranean
diet certainly appear to be important factors as the Spanish people
live much longer than in any other EU country. The climate of southern
Spain is particularly therapeutic for certain ailments such as chest
complaints, arthritis and rheumatism and the area has been designated
as one of the healthiest climates in the world by the World Health
Organisation.
Although
incomes are lower in Spain, so is the cost of living. For many UK
pensioners this is a very important reason as their pension income
goes so much further in Spain and their quality of life is far improved
from living in the UK. It is not just pensioners who are choosing
to relocate to Spain, many younger couples and families are also
making the move to give themselves and their children a better way
of life.
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Hospitals
and health centres in Spain are modern and well equipped, with highly
trained staff. The quality of care is equal to, and in many ways,
superior to that of the UK.
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public health system in Spain provides free care for anyone
contributing to the social security system, including British
nationals and their families who work and contribute to the
system.
If
you are not working and not in receipt of a UK state pension
then you will not be entitled to free health care and you
would normally require private health insurance, this is much
less expensive in Spain than the UK. |
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For
UK nationals with a residency in Spain, and who are in receipt of
a state pension from the UK, public healthcare is free. You can of
course still take private health cover if you wish to have private
medical treatment, although waiting times in Spain for hospital treatment
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 Another
very important reason for retirees to move to Spain has been the
UK state pension stretches so much further than it ever would in
the UK, giving retirees a higher standard of living and quality
of life.
It
is no problem to have your UK state pension, or other benefits you
may be in receipt of, paid directly in to your bank account in Spain.
The UK Benefits Agency have a number of useful leaflets and are
there to answer all you questions on 08459 154811.
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 You
will often hear the term NIE number, this relates to a personal
number issued to individuals which is required for all non-residents
who have any connection with the Spanish taxation system, for instance
owning a property or receiving interest from a bank account. It
is issued by the local police station.
You
may be asked for the NIE number for all kinds of purposes in Spain.
Your after care consultant will help and advise you on how to apply
for your NIE number as part of the service we provide at completion.
You
will also need an NIE number if you wish to work in Spain and provided
that you have your residents permit also, you will not require a
work permit.
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 Spanish
residency is an official residence permit for individuals; it only
applies to those people who reside in the country for 183 days or
approximately 6 months of the year or more. It is a simple process
and is carried out at the local police station.
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 More
and more people are not simply retiring to Spain, they are making
a life change, often long before retirement age. For many this means
finding schools and colleges for their children and teenagers.
There
are many excellent state and private schools as well as international
colleges throughout all the areas, the local town hall will advise
on local Spanish schools and for International schools you can contact
the ECIS, European Council of International Schools here in the
UK on 01730 268244.
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Your
cat or dog may be taken to Spain to live with you. Your pet
must have had a microchip inserted and you will need certain
health certificates and a rabies vaccination certificate all
legalised and stamped within certain timescales of departure
by the Spanish consulate.
For
further help and advice call the Pet’s Helpline on 0870
2411710. |
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 Many
people ask us about driving in Spain for the first time. The roads
are generally much quieter and once you become used to driving on
the the opposite side of the road, in a right hand drive car, driving
can be quite pleasurable. Just remember to give your full concentration
especially at junctions and roundabouts.
Spanish
drivers are generally quite courteous, have more patience than drivers
on our British roads, and are not as stressed or aggressive behind
the wheel as the British average motorist.
Having
said that, when overtaking on the motorway do not be surprised to
find someone flashing their lights to encourage you to move over
more quickly. This is quite normal, flashing headlights on the continent
often means something quite different than it does in the UK –
it usually means; here I am can you see me!
If
you become a Spanish resident you are not permitted to drive a car
on foreign plates. If you do take your British vehicle you will
need to arrange the transfer to Spanish plates once you receive
your residency.
If
you spend less than 183 days a year in Spain you can drive your
UK vehicle on its original plates, you do not need to register it
in Spain. Remember that you will still need a current MOT certificate
and car insurance so you may need to time your returns to the UK
accordingly.
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 English
is fairly widely spoken in Spain especially in coastal regions so
communication is not often a problem for most things.
When
purchasing a property through Cresta Villas you will have no language
problems as all staff at our Spanish offices are either English,
or Spanish who are fluent in English. The Solicitor and bank staff
will all speak English.
However,
it is always appreciated by the Spanish when you do try to speak
something of the language, so pick up a few cassette tapes, CD’s
or books and start with a little each day. Learning just enough
to be polite will also help you make a few Spanish friends along
the way.
All
the important documentation relating to your purchase through Cresta
Villas and our Spanish associate offices will, including the contract,
will be translated into English for you.
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 Please
advise us when booking your inspection visit if you are intending
to “buy to rent”, we can then ensure you are shown properties
and locations suitable for this purpose.
| Renting
out your property is an excellent way of helping to pay some
or all of the annual costs, as well as helping to cover any
mortgage payments.
Rental
income varies depending upon the facilities you provide, the
location and the facilities on offer, and the seasons; May/June
to September being the high season with maximum rental incomes
and October to April/May being low season.
Rental
agencies in Spain offer key holding and management service,
they will find tenants to rent your property if required,
arranging the cleaning and linen changes and generally ensure
everything runs smoothly. |
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