Myself and my husband are looking to relocate to Catral next year, we have already viewed a few houses here and love the feel of the town. As we are both in our 40,s we will still need to work. Currently my husband is a roofer by trade but runs a successful handyman business working mostly for estate agents. We are thinking of doing the same in Catral, do you think there would be a market for roofing/handyman services. I myself work in rentals and property management so hoping to also find work in the surrounding areas. We have a 15 year old son who will also be coming with us. Any advice from catral residents will be appreciated. Thank you
Posted: Wed Aug 28, 2019 9:49am
Helpful member
Hello Jersey how are you
With the extremely high levels of unemployment in Spain finding decent paying work can be a challenge. If you are not fluent in Spanish that would rule out a significant amount of opportunities. From what you describe you are looking at the expat market, much of which is illegal cash in hand and low paid. Probably not having the benefit of any healthcare provision. What you are planning is a bold move and risky, but that does not mean you are bound to fail.
Good luck you will need it. Sorry if it’s not what you wanted to hear.
Before making any plans at all you need to wait and see what happens on Oct 31st. !
Apart from Brexit, should things go better than any of us can hope for, how would your son complete his education? As you say you will be planning to move next year, maybe he will have taken his GCSEs before you leave, but what then? Youth unemployment is very high and if he doesn't speak Spanish he will struggle. Although Catral has a decent ex-pat population, most of them will be retirees. What will he do? I would guess that any Spanish friends he may meet will either go on to college, work in the family business or be unemployed. If he wants to learn to drive it will be hard to find an instructor who speaks English but the test will be in Spanish and you can't teach them yourselves.
Unless agreements are in place post Brexit, you will only be able to stay in Spain for a maximum of 90 days without becoming official residents so in the worse case scenario, you need to ensure you would qualify as non EU immigrants and the financial requirements are a lot higher.
Unless you both secure permanent work "on the books" you will have to pay for private medical insurance or pay into the system as Autonomo (self employed). The rates for this rise to nearly €300 pppcm within 3 years. The whole area is already awash with those in the building trades, qualified or not, registered or not but you may have more luck in the property business.
Most of all, speaking Spanish will be key for all of you.
Posted: Wed Aug 28, 2019 10:58am
Super helpful member
Have your boy finish school in the UK. A change at this age is by no means advisdable.
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Posted: Wed Aug 28, 2019 1:28pm
Sorry I should of said, my father is Spainish so not concerned re Brezit as I can obtain Spainish nationality at any point. My son will finish his GCSEs then move over to take A Levels. We will also only need to work part time
Posted: Wed Aug 28, 2019 1:29pm
Thank you. I have been offered work already but unfortunately can’t move until my son finishes his exams
Posted: Wed Aug 28, 2019 1:46pm
Helpful member
Jerseygirl wrote on Wed Aug 28, 2019 9:14am:
Myself and my husband are looking to relocate to Catral next year, we have already viewed a few houses here and love the feel of the town. As we are both in our 40,s we will still need to work. Currently my husband is a roofer by trade but runs a successful handyman business working mostly for es...
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...tate agents. We are thinking of doing the same in Catral, do you think there would be a market for roofing/handyman services. I myself work in rentals and property management so hoping to also find work in the surrounding areas. We have a 15 year old son who will also be coming with us. Any advice from catral residents will be appreciated. Thank you
Hello Jersey how are you.
Well if your father is Spanish you probably know far more than most expats about all the items you have mentioned.
Good luck and all sorted.
I find asking people just confuses everything as advice gets given from their emotional point of view and how one would actually feel and react.
Why not call a few Estate Agents see how the land lays with them. I came over on my own 3 years ago. Few bumps in the road but now a good.
Go with your heart/gut feeling. We all have our own internal sat nav we just need to trust it.
I feel you already know what you want to do and are perhaps looking for reassurance. My advice. Be positive look forwards expect fantastic outcomes and enjoy.
Am a great networker so if I can help to connect you and your family to the right people I would gladly help.
Oh I do not speak Spanish fully more around cafes and talking about my dog :0)
All the very best to you and your family.
Gilly
Posted: Thu Aug 29, 2019 10:40am
Good for you !! this site can have so much negativity its a wonder anyone ever follows their dream and they all have not moved back to England?? Best of luck to you and your family
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