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charges etc of utilities etc in the region

Posted: Sun Jan 19, 2020 12:19pm
11 replies638 views5 members subscribed
cpat49

Posts: 8

1 helpful points

Location: Castalla

Joined: 19 Jan 2020

dear all,

am living in cyprus and thinking seriously of moving to spain. have identified this region as a place that i would like to move.

have seen the average temps etc and would like to know are these houses constructed to hold in the heat during the winter months unlike cyprus.

do most houses come with central heating or does one have to install

what is the average costs of electric bills through the year and if gas available what is the cost as well.

what is the cost of all utilities and other taxes one may have to pay in a year.

Cheryl

Posted: Sun Jan 19, 2020 1:09pm

Cheryl

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Posts: 2973

3533 helpful points

Location: Albatera

Joined: 8 Jun 2017

Posted: Sun Jan 19, 2020 1:09pm

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news but traditional houses here are not built with insulation in mind. In smaller properties air conditioning is probably the most economical way to heat the house in winter with the added benefit of cooling it in the summer. Central heating is rare unless retrofitted, usually by ex-pats from more northern climes.
Electric is quite expensive, https://paylesspower.com/blog/european-cost-of-electricity-per-kwh-by-country/ 
This one shows overall consumer costs and shows Spain is slightly higher than Cyprus, https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php/Comparative_price_levels_of_consumer_goods_and_services  I think the biggest expense will be purchase tax for your property which is currently at 10%.

Mains gas is very limited so bottled gas is the norm.
My take on previous posts is that noise is a problem between attached properties and people use a combination of heating types such as an open fire, wood or pellet burners, plug in radiators and bottled gas fires. Use the search bar for "heating" under "everywhere"
Read up on the Gota Fría, a weather system in these parts, one is arriving right now with high winds, heavy rain and snow at higher levels and flooding is likely wherever the rain is heaviest. Have a look on Ventusky over the next couple of days, looking at rain, snow and wind gusts.
That said, for me, the benefits of living here far outweigh the disadvantages.

cpat49

Posted: Mon Jan 20, 2020 5:16am

cpat49

Original Poster

Posts: 8

1 helpful points

Location: Castalla

Joined: 19 Jan 2020

Posted: Mon Jan 20, 2020 5:16am

my sincere thanks for the reply and the links. yes it is the same here semi detached properties-- can hear everything next door does. 

understand you lived in Episkopi and am very close and live in Sotira near Paralimni.

i am trying to weigh up the pros and cons of moving and am trying to collate all the information of costs etc.

yes understand the 10% tax on purchase but during the winter does the log fire heat up the house sufficiently or does one need other forms of heating in the bedrooms etc.

yes would like very much to move to Spain but have to look at the costs and in particular the climate.

i still do part time work off the coast as a Captain .

thanks for the help and will revert shortly

charles

Basil brush

Posted: Mon Jan 20, 2020 7:52am

Basil brush

Helpful member

Posts: 275

223 helpful points

Location: Almoradí

Joined: 9 Apr 2018

Posted: Mon Jan 20, 2020 7:52am

Morning Charles,

Unfortunately even new houses have little or no insulation and still they haven’t addressed the sound insulation for neighbours!

As the earlier person said most people use the AC for heat in the winter and we have two log burners which when one is lit the AC goes off( takes the chill off) and then we feed the burner which keeps the house toasty! All depends on size and place of house for what works for you and friends of ours swear by a bottle gas mobile heater but I think they cause condensation if  used in unvented rooms? Also with the log burner we have a man drop 1.5M3 of hardwood logs ( almond,orange, lemon ,olive and oak) for 120 euros and this typically does us a winter season with maybe a top up from a local wood yard where you can pick what you want and in what ever box/basket you like and pay accordingly! 

Electric is expensive here but weighed up against other factors like the yearly council tax etc then it all works out better ! I don’t know against prices in Cyprus but definitely against Uk it is better for us.

Hope that helps and all the best for your move, oh one other thing we found...we brought one log burner in the Uk and brought over and one in spain and made in spain....the Uk brought one is far more superior and economic! Like everything it pays to do your homework!

Regards BB

cpat49

Posted: Mon Jan 20, 2020 8:06am

cpat49

Original Poster

Posts: 8

1 helpful points

Location: Castalla

Joined: 19 Jan 2020

Posted: Mon Jan 20, 2020 8:06am

hey BB,

many thanks for all the info and seems the "log burner" is the answer. yes have a portable heater here but my "baby",  -- dog--- take command of it. however i am really lucky and have actual central heating but the gas is expensive as it comes in a very large cylinder situated outdoors.

would really like to move to Spain and at present am weighing up all the costs for moving etc. lot of them will be one off and providing can afford this would be fine.

one last question-- how many months of the year do we need to heat the property-- summers are fine and dont care.

regards charles

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Basil brush

Posted: Mon Jan 20, 2020 8:25am

Basil brush

Helpful member

Posts: 275

223 helpful points

Location: Almoradí

Joined: 9 Apr 2018

Posted: Mon Jan 20, 2020 8:25am

Hello Charles,

I would guesstimate that we have the burner on for around 12/14 weeks of the year? All depends on our winters and to be honest the house warms up nicely with winter sun and south facing windows etc but drops as soon as the sun goes down as Iam sure your aware but in the Vega baga area we very rarely even get frosts but it can still drop  to very nearly freezing on some nights and I know in the higher and more mountainous areas it definitely is cooler!

Again depends on your location of house and even things like the type and quality of windows can make a massive difference to the overall efficiency of the house! Many older Spainish homes have poor quality glazing and are very draughty.

Again good luck in your search and hope it all pans out well for you, there are many people who offer good advice on here and I would say don’t be scared to ask as many have “ been there and done that” and have first hand info to share!

Regards

BB

cpat49

Posted: Mon Jan 20, 2020 8:38am

cpat49

Original Poster

Posts: 8

1 helpful points

Location: Castalla

Joined: 19 Jan 2020

Posted: Mon Jan 20, 2020 8:38am

Hi BB,

my sincere thanks for the effort taken. it is best on these forums as one gets the correct info. same as cyprus--about 12 weeks for the winter period. 

today has started off as 5C and the sun will appear-- then about 13C and when it goes down it comes down to asap to 8.

have seen a house i like in Castilla and am looking at others ones as well. will keep you informed.

thanks again charles.

jimtaylor

Posted: Mon Jan 20, 2020 4:06pm

jimtaylor

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Posts: 5612

8738 helpful points

Location: Mudamiento

Joined: 2 Feb 2017

Posted: Mon Jan 20, 2020 4:06pm

Ref costs, the following is a bit dated, but might help. Three bedroom finca, small pool, two people resident full time:

August 2016 - Sept 2017

Car insurance €376

Car tax €50

Council tax €173

Electricity €1309

Gas bottles €140

House insurance €499

ITV (MOT) €44

Landline, 2 mobiles, internet €682

Logs €290

Water (including rubbish collection) €338

Food - couldn't work out a total, only what we've bought on debit card, but it will be less than it would be in the UK.

Depending on your income, you might well find out that income tax is higher than in the UK.

cpat49

Posted: Wed Jan 22, 2020 5:59am

cpat49

Original Poster

Posts: 8

1 helpful points

Location: Castalla

Joined: 19 Jan 2020

Posted: Wed Jan 22, 2020 5:59am

sorry for the delay in replying. thanks for the costs and it is very similar to cyprus. have just seen the pictures of the storm and also the snow in the area. never knew weather like existed in the alicante region.

cyprus is also freexing with temps down to about 3C.

thanks charles

cpat49

Posted: Wed Jan 22, 2020 11:29am

cpat49

Original Poster

Posts: 8

1 helpful points

Location: Castalla

Joined: 19 Jan 2020

Posted: Wed Jan 22, 2020 11:29am

i am in Sotira, it is 7 km from Ayia Napa

charles

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