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