Posted: Fri Oct 16, 2020 12:26pm
Hi, I think we are in a similar situation to yourself, agonising, "should we, shouldn't we". We bought in 2006, expecting to retire permanently in 2008 when hubby was 65. However, being totally ransacked in 2007, Spanish insurance Co.refusing to pay out, and other time delaying situations now this year is our last chance for residency as our incomes won't meet new requirements (32,000k€ Yr) We too need to live half year in both until our UK home is ready for rental (if we choose to rent) as we couldn't afford to sell due to 40yrs profit going to Spanish CGT. We don't need to sell financially but would still be liable for the upkeep and maintenance, so am surprised when I read of other members who have kept on Uk homes not rented out and still paying for their upkeep defeating object of retiring to Spain.
We have found several obstacles we can't get over to gaining residency before January 1st. One is healthcare. If we obtain our S1,s to use in Spain we need GP use in Uk to prescribe us our medications free which we,ve checked on and apparrantly Spanish Dr,s will not prescribe 3-6mnths supply in advance as our UK GP does. On obtaining S1's for Spain, whilst having emergency use of NHS while in Uk, how can we get free medications in Uk?
Our other major obstacle is also the driving. I, ve read in this thread how we can get spanish insurance to cover our UK vehicles but we have a van bought to bring items over which were bought in Uk to replace all belongings stolen in the Spanish home. We can not replate van due to left side door and if we have a Spanish licence can't drive it in Spain on UK plates. Side door rule seems stupid to me as all vehicles have doors on left side anyway(car passenger doors??).
I read Kelvins reply re Admiral accepting insurance cover after becoming Spanish resident with amazement as we too were with Admiral and they flatly refused to cover our UK car being left in Uk if we became Spanish resident. I have read of a specialist UK insurer to cover expats but they don't have good feedback. As we already have a Spanish car in Spain, it's our van that is a problem, driving on UK plate.
We have decided (partly due to our ages 70 and 77) we won't be obtaining residency this year as we would still need to spend time in Uk home to refurbish and empty it out). Although the 90 days in then out etc determines the periods of stay, we can still get 6months in each country albeit missing out on some of the hotter weather.
Good luck with your plans, hope all goes well.
Regards
Pauline.