New to The Forum - Moving To Spain Before Christmas 2021

MichaelSloyan wrote on Wed Sep 15, 2021 10:29am:

Hello folks!

We are in the process of selling our house in the UK and moving permanently/retiring to Spain before the end of 2021. We have the main ingredients in place (Irish passport, a house to buy, and good income etc), but we will need advice on the daily ways of life in Spain.

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...>I look forward to reading your comments and joining in with the discussions.

Best wishes to all!

Michael

Cheryl wrote on Wed Sep 15, 2021 11:18am:

If you want to make the first few months easier for yourself, find a gestor to guide you through getting on the Padron, TIE, SIP, IBI, Spanish driving licence and tax returns. Solicitors will offer this service but you will pay much more so compare costs.

Don't expect much in the way of customer service and you won't be disappointed....

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There are no "standard" opening hours in Spain.

Stock up on printer ink and paper for multiple copies of everything.

There are many Ryanair qualified "tradesmen" in the Costas and the phrase "Brit on Brit" is an unfortunate legacy of this.

The most expensive times for using electric are the times you need it most so get used to putting washing machines, dishwashers, electric water heaters etc on timer overnight or all weekends and fiesta days.

Sort out heating for the winter, you will need it. Plug in storage heaters seem an economic choice.

As time goes on, you will adapt and relax into your new way of life. You will get to know where to go for different things, your favourite beach and bar and sitting out socialising in the sun on most winter days and under a parasol in summer, eating delicious fresh produce is just glorious. Enjoy.

tebo53 wrote on Wed Sep 15, 2021 10:49am:

Hello Michael, 

Welcome to the forum. I live in Benidorm and have enjoyed my retirement here for 7 years. 

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Daily life here is as gentle or hectic as you want to make it !!

Our daily lives almost as you'd expect, shopping, paying bills, cleaning etc etc. We often eat out, maybe 4 times a week. We visit the beach and have a few drinks in a beach bar sometimes with tapas.

When we first moved here to Benidorm we were out every evening to clubs, bars and restaurants but when the novelty wore off we were happy to cook at home and sit on the balcony with food and wine. 

Once everything is in place then you will find that daily life is a breeze especially with the excellent healthcare here. 

Life here for us is very serene and relaxing. We would never return to the UK to live.

Steve 

MichaelSloyan wrote on Wed Sep 15, 2021 11:34am:

Hi there,

Thank you for your response. We will actually be living in Bolulla just a few miles inland. Flying in at the end of the month to finalise things and then make the move in mid to late November.

I am very much looking forward to the peace and quiet of  small town

Thanks again

Michael

Kimmy11 wrote on Wed Sep 15, 2021 2:30pm:

Hi Michael and welcome to the forum,

Congratulations on the Irish passport - that makes the move to Spain so much easier for you!  I assume that as you've already found a house to buy that you've obtained your NIE (Número de Identidad de Extranjero), the tax identification number?

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If you're State retirement age, you should be entitled to a Form S1 to transfer your health care rights from Ireland (or UK?) to Spain, but it's worth noting that, depending on your income level, you may have to make a contribution to the cost of any medications you are prescribed.  You can apply for your S1 up to 4 weeks in advance of moving to Spain and you'll need it for your Residency application (Certificado de Registro, rather than TIE, as you'll be applying as an EU citizen), so that's something to do before you leave the UK.  With your S1, you can apply for a SIP card (Sistema de Información Poblacional) which will give you access to Spanish health services - this needs to be done via registration at your designated INSS office (Instituto Nacional de la Seguridad Social, or Social Security office).

I agree with Cheryl that a "gestor" (pronounced "hestor") is usually better placed and cheaper than a lawyer to assist with general Spanish procedures and bureaucracy.  As you're going to be living near Benidorm, it would be worth asking for recommendations in that area from this forum.  The one thing you can do for yourself is obtain your Padrón (Certificado de Empadronamiento) - apply at your local Town Hall when you move to Spain; you'll need your passport, house deeds and some Town Halls ask for a utility bill in your name.  This is another document you will need for your residency application.

As an Irish passport holder, do you also have an Irish driving licence?  If so, as an EU citizen I believe you will still have up to 2 years to exchange your driving licence (unlike UK citizens who, since Brexit, have to do so within 6 months of moving to Spain and have to take a Spanish driving test).  Definitely worth double-checking that one.

The Spanish tax year runs from 1 January to 31 December.  If you have assets in any of 3 categories (bank/savings accounts, property and investments), which exceed €50,000, you will have to complete a Modelo 720 Declaration of Worldwide Assets by the end of February in the following tax year and then a Modelo 100 Personal Tax Return by end of June of the same tax year (if you're married, tax advisors should calculate whether it's more beneficial to file an Individual or Joint tax return).  It's worth noting that, unlike the UK, ISA savings are not tax-free in Spain.  Also, as you're selling a property in the UK, depending on when you become legal residents of Spain, you could become liable for Spanish Capital Gains Tax.  I'd highly recommend seeking professional advice on this point and, again, would suggest seeking recommendations from this forum for a Spanish tax advisor.

The one procedure for which I would recommend you use a lawyer is your house purchase - ensure that their service includes the transfer of all utilities into your name, including the IBI (Impuesto sobre Bienes Inmuebles), i.e. Council Tax.  This is often incorrectly referred to as your "SUMA" bill, but SUMA is the agency in the Alicante province which collects local taxes on behalf of the Town Halls, so they also issue bills for car tax and rubbish collection (Basura).  In some areas, the charge for rubbish is included in your water bill - don't ask, this is Spain, hahaha!  Always use a lawyer independent of the estate agent - another item where forum members should be able to help with recommendations for you.

So that's a bit more detail on the essential administrative stuff.  My other recommendations, if you haven't already done so, would be to sign up for Spanish lessons and ask your Town Hall for a calendar of local fiestas - my favourite is the tapas trail, which we greatly missed last year because of Covid restrictions.  I'm hoping they'll go ahead this year, albeit with face masks and social distancing.

I hope everything goes well for you.

Kind regards,

Kim

Kimmy11 wrote on Wed Sep 15, 2021 2:30pm:

Hi Michael and welcome to the forum,

Congratulations on the Irish passport - that makes the move to Spain so much easier for you!  I assume that as you've already found a house to buy that you've obtained your NIE (Número de Identidad de Extranjero), the tax identification number?

Read more...

If you're State retirement age, you should be entitled to a Form S1 to transfer your health care rights from Ireland (or UK?) to Spain, but it's worth noting that, depending on your income level, you may have to make a contribution to the cost of any medications you are prescribed.  You can apply for your S1 up to 4 weeks in advance of moving to Spain and you'll need it for your Residency application (Certificado de Registro, rather than TIE, as you'll be applying as an EU citizen), so that's something to do before you leave the UK.  With your S1, you can apply for a SIP card (Sistema de Información Poblacional) which will give you access to Spanish health services - this needs to be done via registration at your designated INSS office (Instituto Nacional de la Seguridad Social, or Social Security office).

I agree with Cheryl that a "gestor" (pronounced "hestor") is usually better placed and cheaper than a lawyer to assist with general Spanish procedures and bureaucracy.  As you're going to be living near Benidorm, it would be worth asking for recommendations in that area from this forum.  The one thing you can do for yourself is obtain your Padrón (Certificado de Empadronamiento) - apply at your local Town Hall when you move to Spain; you'll need your passport, house deeds and some Town Halls ask for a utility bill in your name.  This is another document you will need for your residency application.

As an Irish passport holder, do you also have an Irish driving licence?  If so, as an EU citizen I believe you will still have up to 2 years to exchange your driving licence (unlike UK citizens who, since Brexit, have to do so within 6 months of moving to Spain and have to take a Spanish driving test).  Definitely worth double-checking that one.

The Spanish tax year runs from 1 January to 31 December.  If you have assets in any of 3 categories (bank/savings accounts, property and investments), which exceed €50,000, you will have to complete a Modelo 720 Declaration of Worldwide Assets by the end of February in the following tax year and then a Modelo 100 Personal Tax Return by end of June of the same tax year (if you're married, tax advisors should calculate whether it's more beneficial to file an Individual or Joint tax return).  It's worth noting that, unlike the UK, ISA savings are not tax-free in Spain.  Also, as you're selling a property in the UK, depending on when you become legal residents of Spain, you could become liable for Spanish Capital Gains Tax.  I'd highly recommend seeking professional advice on this point and, again, would suggest seeking recommendations from this forum for a Spanish tax advisor.

The one procedure for which I would recommend you use a lawyer is your house purchase - ensure that their service includes the transfer of all utilities into your name, including the IBI (Impuesto sobre Bienes Inmuebles), i.e. Council Tax.  This is often incorrectly referred to as your "SUMA" bill, but SUMA is the agency in the Alicante province which collects local taxes on behalf of the Town Halls, so they also issue bills for car tax and rubbish collection (Basura).  In some areas, the charge for rubbish is included in your water bill - don't ask, this is Spain, hahaha!  Always use a lawyer independent of the estate agent - another item where forum members should be able to help with recommendations for you.

So that's a bit more detail on the essential administrative stuff.  My other recommendations, if you haven't already done so, would be to sign up for Spanish lessons and ask your Town Hall for a calendar of local fiestas - my favourite is the tapas trail, which we greatly missed last year because of Covid restrictions.  I'm hoping they'll go ahead this year, albeit with face masks and social distancing.

I hope everything goes well for you.

Kind regards,

Kim

janiceroquero wrote on Thu Sep 16, 2021 8:26am:

Just to congratulate Kimmy on her instructions. An example to us all. Thank you.