Posted: Sat Mar 11, 2017 11:25am
I've lived in Spain 32 years and things have changed out of all recognition. The days of cheap Spain seem to have gone forever. Thankfully I am out of the employment market as I have been retired for many years but I do know that it is not easy to find decently paid work. To be taken on as a paid employee (cuenta ajena) is rare and the conditions can be derisory. Most people who do work have to be "autónomos" or self employed. They pay a reduced rate of social security for an initial period (I believe it's two years) in order for them to get started but of course you have to become known and begin to get recommendations whatever the trade you chose. That of course means (expensive) advertising. Many do succeed in this way but the runway must be long to achieve effective take off! That means having sufficient capital to survive for a fairly extended period. Having said all this, rents are very cheap compared with what I believe people pay in England. Also tax overheads like car tax, property tax etc are far lower than in England.
One essential you'll need at the start is a NIE or foreigners ID number. You can do this yourself or pay a "gestoría" or lawyer to do it for you. I would suggest that you move over for an extended period to thoroughly explore the lie of the land - and DO NOT buy property because once bought it is extremely difficult to sell again if your needs change. The transaction / transfer costs are exceptionally high compared with England and the market operates far more slowly than in England.
Another obvious problem is the collapse of the English pound. Whatever anyone says to you about the situation for foreigners after Brexit, the truth is that no one knows. Equally, we have no idea if the English pound will recover or when but with the parlous state of the Euro, the future is still more cloudy. I would proceed with your plans, especially if your life in England is becoming intolerable as I believe it is for many.
I hope all this helps a little.