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Sell up and buy

Posted: Sun Sep 26, 2021 9:26pm
9 replies228 views4 members subscribed
Mel1960

Posts: 31

4 helpful points

Location: Benidorm

Joined: 1 Aug 2021

So. My lump sum is due in December. I’d like to take a longish holiday to recce the lay of the land. I can come for up to 90 days in a rolling 180 days? In actual fact a month would do in Feb. Then I’d like to buy a static caravan and use it / my daughter use it, and rent it out when it’s empty to help with the site fees. So my questions are:

1) can I holiday in December if I jump through all the hoops?

2) can I buy and let without getting Spanish Citizenship?

3) can anyone recommend a good letting agent and solicitor to use for the purchase (if allowed).

4) a good site recommendation would be nice. It would give me targets to seek out on my potential holiday...

Many thanx

Mel

The Monty in The Village, East Kilbride supplied for Stevec2x as promised. Loved the place. Back again for Christmas & the New Year👍🏻

Kimmy11

Posted: Mon Sep 27, 2021 2:11pm

Kimmy11

Legendary helpful member

Posts: 6869

12554 helpful points

Joined: 8 Aug 2017

Posted: Mon Sep 27, 2021 2:11pm

Hi Mel,

I can answer your first couple of questions, but I'll leave the last two to Steve (Tebo53), who is much better placed than me to respond to queries for that location:

1)  Not sure which hoops you're talking about - there will probably still be some Covid-19 regulations, forms, etc. to comply with.  To confirm, as a non-resident, you can come to Spain for a maximum of 90 days in a rolling 180 days, in line with Schengen Travel Zone regulations, so no problem to come for the whole of February.  Currently, you don't need a tourist visa or an international driving permit to visit Spain and I'm not aware that those things are on the horizon, but always worth checking later this year before you travel.

2)  Yes, you can buy in Spain without holding Spanish citizenship or even Spanish residency, but you will need an NIE number (a unique tax reference), as you'll need to pay non-resident tax (this is due annually in December, but if you rent out your property, you will have to do quarterly tax returns).  I'd recommend this company to do your tax returns - they have a really helpful website that explains all the background:

https://www.spanishtaxforms.co.uk/copy-of-spanish-property.html

If you want to use your property for holiday lettings, you'll need a Tourist Licence.  It's quite a protracted process to obtain one and you shouldn't take a selling agent's word for it that they're easy to obtain.  You'll have to ensure that the site rules where you're buying allow you to rent it out and you'll also need to obtain a Certificate of Conformity from your Town Hall, before you can even apply for the licence.

As you're planning quite a long trip, you could apply for the NIE number when you come to Spain - it would be worth asking for recommendations for a gestor in the Benidorm region who could help you with this.

Kind regards,

Kim


tebo53

Posted: Mon Sep 27, 2021 3:11pm

tebo53

Legendary helpful member

Posts: 4778

4960 helpful points

Location: Benidorm

Joined: 29 May 2018

Posted: Mon Sep 27, 2021 3:11pm

Mel1960 wrote on Sun Sep 26, 2021 9:26pm:

So. My lump sum is due in December. I’d like to take a longish holiday to recce the lay of the land. I can come for up to 90 days in a rolling 180 days? In actual fact a month would do in Feb. Then I’d like to buy a static caravan and use it / my daughter use it, and rent it out when it’s e...

...mpty to help with the site fees. So my questions are:

1) can I holiday in December if I jump through all the hoops?

2) can I buy and let without getting Spanish Citizenship?

3) can anyone recommend a good letting agent and solicitor to use for the purchase (if allowed).

4) a good site recommendation would be nice. It would give me targets to seek out on my potential holiday...

Many thanx

Mel

The Monty in The Village, East Kilbride supplied for Stevec2x as promised. Loved the place. Back again for Christmas & the New Year👍🏻

Hi Mel, 

Kimmy has given you excellent advice and information. I agree with all that she has said. 

I will answer points 3 and 4 together:

If you do eventually purchase a caravan and are allowed to rent it out then I would expect that the site owners/administration would be expected to take that duty and expect a fee. 

There are several camping sites in and around Benidorm which have a mix of rentals and residential caravans. The sites are generally located on the outskirts of town but public transport is plentiful. Each site around Benidorm is exceptionally well maintained. Each has its own club house, some with evening entertainment. I can't recommend one in particular as I have not lived on any, however I do know that annual and added extra fees can add up to the same costs as renting a two bedroom apartment in the same area.

Steve

Davebev1

Posted: Mon Sep 27, 2021 10:06pm

Davebev1

Legendary helpful member

Posts: 1560

2200 helpful points

Location: Playa Flamenca

Joined: 7 Nov 2017

Posted: Mon Sep 27, 2021 10:06pm

Caravans are not covered by Tourist Licenses laws as they are not a permanent building, but are covered by the laws governing caravan parks and campsites.  Some sites are residential only, some allow for holiday lettings, so be careful that you buy on one that does permit the caravan to be let out.  They may have a lettings management option too.  You will be liable to pay tax in Spain on all your rental income.  Take your time to check out the rules and fees of the sites you visit before committing to buying anything, and have it all the paperwork checked by an independent lawyer.  Then enjoy your holidays for many years to come.  Good luck.

Mel1960

Posted: Mon Sep 27, 2021 10:21pm

Mel1960

Original Poster

Posts: 31

4 helpful points

Location: Benidorm

Joined: 1 Aug 2021

Posted: Mon Sep 27, 2021 10:21pm

Kimmy11 wrote on Mon Sep 27, 2021 2:11pm:

Hi Mel,

I can answer your first couple of questions, but I'll leave the last two to Steve (Tebo53), who is much better placed than me to respond to queries for that location:

1)  Not sure which hoops you're talking about - there will probably still be some Covid-19 regulations, forms, etc. to comply with.  To confirm, as a non-resident, you can come to Spain for a maximum of 90 days in a rolling 180 days, in line with Schengen Travel Zone regulations, so no problem to come for the whole of February.  Currently, you don't need a tourist visa or an international driving permit to visit Spain and I'm not aware that those things are on the horizon, but always worth checking later this year before you travel.

2)  Yes, you can buy in Spain without holding Spanish citizenship or even Spanish residency, but you will need an NIE number (a unique tax reference), as you'll need to pay non-resident tax (this is due annually in December, but if you rent out your property, you will have to do quarterly tax returns).  I'd recommend this company to do your tax returns - they have a really helpful website that explains all the background:

https://www.spanishtaxforms.co.uk/copy-of-spanish-property.html

If you want to use your property for holiday lettings, you'll need a Tourist Licence.  It's quite a protracted process to obtain one and you shouldn't take a selling agent's word for it that they're easy to obtain.  You'll have to ensure that the site rules where you're buying allow you to rent it out and you'll also need to obtain a Certificate of Conformity from your Town Hall, before you can even apply for the licence.

As you're planning quite a long trip, you could apply for the NIE number when you come to Spain - it would be worth asking for recommendations for a gestor in the Benidorm region who could help you with this.

Kind regards,

Kim


Fantastic info Kim. Thanks!😀. But what’s a gestor?🙄

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Mel1960

Posted: Mon Sep 27, 2021 10:26pm

Mel1960

Original Poster

Posts: 31

4 helpful points

Location: Benidorm

Joined: 1 Aug 2021

Posted: Mon Sep 27, 2021 10:26pm

tebo53 wrote on Mon Sep 27, 2021 3:11pm:

Hi Mel, 

Kimmy has given you excellent advice and information. I agree with all that she has said. 

I will answer points 3 and 4 together:

If you do eventually purchase a caravan and are allowed to rent it out then I would expect that the site owners/administration would be expected to take that duty and expect a fee. 

There are several camping sites in and around Benidorm which have a mix of rentals and residential caravans. The sites are generally located on the outskirts of town but public transport is plentiful. Each site around Benidorm is exceptionally well maintained. Each has its own club house, some with evening entertainment. I can't recommend one in particular as I have not lived on any, however I do know that annual and added extra fees can add up to the same costs as renting a two bedroom apartment in the same area.

Steve

Thanks very much tebo53. Fascinating to here about long term rental rental v buying costs.  I’m hoping to spend my days in Feb tramping around all the sites to build up my local knowledge. Cheers!

Mel1960

Posted: Mon Sep 27, 2021 10:30pm

Mel1960

Original Poster

Posts: 31

4 helpful points

Location: Benidorm

Joined: 1 Aug 2021

Posted: Mon Sep 27, 2021 10:30pm

Davebev1 wrote on Mon Sep 27, 2021 10:06pm:

Caravans are not covered by Tourist Licenses laws as they are not a permanent building, but are covered by the laws governing caravan parks and campsites.  Some sites are residential only, some allow for holiday lettings, so be careful that you buy on one that does permit the caravan to be l...

...et out.  They may have a lettings management option too.  You will be liable to pay tax in Spain on all your rental income.  Take your time to check out the rules and fees of the sites you visit before committing to buying anything, and have it all the paperwork checked by an independent lawyer.  Then enjoy your holidays for many years to come.  Good luck.

Great stuff! But is there a difference between static caravans and towing caravans? Or are all covered by caravan park laws? 

Kimmy11

Posted: Mon Sep 27, 2021 11:12pm

Kimmy11

Legendary helpful member

Posts: 6869

12554 helpful points

Joined: 8 Aug 2017

Posted: Mon Sep 27, 2021 11:12pm

Mel1960 wrote on Mon Sep 27, 2021 10:21pm:

Fantastic info Kim. Thanks!😀. But what’s a gestor?🙄

Hi Mel,

A "gestor" (abbreviation for "gestoria") is someone who specialises in Spanish bureaucracy, typically at a much cheaper hourly rate than a lawyer ("abogado").  They can manage most processes on your behalf; the only time I've used a lawyer, instead of a gestor, is for our house purchase.

Kind regards, 

Kim 

Davebev1

Posted: Tue Sep 28, 2021 12:11am

Davebev1

Legendary helpful member

Posts: 1560

2200 helpful points

Location: Playa Flamenca

Joined: 7 Nov 2017

Posted: Tue Sep 28, 2021 12:11am

Mel1960 wrote on Mon Sep 27, 2021 10:30pm:

Great stuff! But is there a difference between static caravans and towing caravans? Or are all covered by caravan park laws? 

I was referring to static caravans and mobile homes on permanent sites. 

Mel1960

Posted: Fri Oct 1, 2021 12:51pm

Mel1960

Original Poster

Posts: 31

4 helpful points

Location: Benidorm

Joined: 1 Aug 2021

Posted: Fri Oct 1, 2021 12:51pm

Kimmy11 wrote on Mon Sep 27, 2021 11:12pm:

Hi Mel,

A "gestor" (abbreviation for "gestoria") is someone who specialises in Spanish bureaucracy, typically at a much cheaper hourly rate than a lawyer ("abogado").  They can manage most processes on your behalf; the only time I've used a lawyer, instead of a gestor, is for our house purchase....

...

Kind regards, 

Kim 

👍🏻

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