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Almost certain to buy in La Marina - Page 9

Ian Italy

Posted: Wed Jan 29, 2020 8:32pm

Ian Italy

Original Poster

Posts: 19

30 helpful points

Location: La Marina

Joined: 27 Sep 2019

Posted: Wed Jan 29, 2020 8:32pm

So I haven't updated the story for a while.  We are now 5 weeks down the line after our move here.  Some things have gone very well, others are frustrating.  All I can say is thank goodness we have 18 years of the Italian experience to draw on and so some of the delays can just be put down to the way things work here.

My views so far largely boil down to a couple of things that just have to be accepted - nothing happens quickly and if you want them to then be prepared to pay considerable sums to agencies to get things done through a third party.  We bought the house (thanks to Barclays who have been tremendous) - I know they make money but the fact is the people we dealt with have always been helpful and responsive.

The first issue was cold weather and a very limited electricity supply.  You simply cannot run any type of heaters or hot water on the minimum supply here so after paying 170 Euros for a survey we finally got the upgraded supply and no longer fear the dreaded click as the supply overloads.

We had all the air conditioning units replaced and now enjoy balmy temperatures on the colder evenings at a very reasonable electricity usage.

The cars are proving to be one of the more frustrating issues.  We finally have the appointment to start the process with an engineers inspection and the ITV this week....All of this for a car with full EU certification and just over a year old.  The registration cost is quite breathtaking!

The official administration started really well, Padron register etc. There seems to be a bit of a delay with getting residencia appointments in Alicante at the moment largely due to the uncertainty amongst the Spanish authorities about the transition period for Brexit.  The same seems to exist in Traffico for the car stuff but I am confident that once formal guidance has been given things will settle down again.  Bottom line is that nobody should be complacent but there is a transition period and nothing will change during that period.

We came here with extremely comprehensive health insurance, commonly known as a gold plated policy, fortunately provided through my former employment.  Unfortunately the cover involves a small co-payment that is not acceptable to the spanish authorities for a residencia application.  Be aware!  We have had to purchase a policy seperately as we are below pension age and that has added quite a sum to our transition budget.

All in all - be prepared to be frustrated and make sure you have allowed a reserve fund to cover all of the unexpected costs.

In saying that - are we glad we did it?  YES - life can only get better as we start to enjoy this beautiful country and make some friends.

MRT1973

Posted: Wed Jan 29, 2020 9:10pm

MRT1973

Helpful member

Posts: 59

56 helpful points

Location: La Marina

Joined: 12 Jul 2019

Posted: Wed Jan 29, 2020 9:10pm

Ian a good report, having said that I think if you relocate to most other countries there will be some slow downs and a bit of frustration thrown in, any way good luck to you and you missus for the future.

ps I would still like to know the reason for leaving Italy, as I love the place and if you are already there I would have thought it would be preferencial over Spain

Michael.

Ian Italy

Posted: Wed Jan 29, 2020 9:26pm

Ian Italy

Original Poster

Posts: 19

30 helpful points

Location: La Marina

Joined: 27 Sep 2019

Posted: Wed Jan 29, 2020 9:26pm

Michael,  Sorry for not replying earlier.  The reason we left Italy was that I was there for my employment and not a lifestyle choice.  It was a beautiful place to live but we were in the the North West and although the summers were great the winters were often very similar to the UK.  I learnt through both employment and living there that the general administration was far more difficult than here.  I was extremely fortunate that I had a largely Italian staff who helped me navigate the difficulties but I have no doubt that setting up without that support would have been a challenge.  Even with the protection of a national staff there were many things that were simply not right.  The utility suppliers were the most inefficient I have ever come across and I am still fighting to get my money back for overpaid bills.  Nothing can be done simply and in the majority of cases require a raccomdata or registered letter to be sent.  That means being in a queue at the post office for at least an hour.

It is a beautiful place to visit.  I would think seriously about relocating there without considerable support and command of the language.

Others may have different views - these are just mine after 18 years living there.

MRT1973

Posted: Thu Jan 30, 2020 12:53pm

MRT1973

Helpful member

Posts: 59

56 helpful points

Location: La Marina

Joined: 12 Jul 2019

Posted: Thu Jan 30, 2020 12:53pm

Blimey, I knew that Italy is bad for getting things done but I didn't think it would be that bad. Anyway thanks for setting me straight about the Italian bureaucracy, I don't think it is for me in that case, so Spain it is up to now for me,

Michael. 

Elli2626

Posted: Fri Jan 31, 2020 8:29am

Posts: 57

17 helpful points

Location: La Marina

Joined: 11 Feb 2018

Posted: Fri Jan 31, 2020 8:29am

Hi Ian, thanks for the update, I was wondering how you are. Yes, we found a few things very frustrating when we arrived in La Zenia in December 2018, especially when you don’t speak the language, but now nearly everything is sorted. We moved to La Marina last April and we really like it here. When we lived in Germany, we went to Italy (near Pisa) for our Camping holiday and loved it, even considering to move there when we retire. But after a burn out I was looking for a slow and more quiet life and we know that the Italiens are fast living ( like the Germans) 😊👍

I hope you have settled in alright 👍
Would be great to meet up sometimes 😊

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