hello! anyone got any advice about moving to spain please! (1 Viewer)

sandra

Free Member
Apr 15, 2012
6
3
west midlands
Funster No
20,581
MH
rv
Exp
6 years
We are re locating to the costa del sol in about 4-5 months time and plan to live in our rv for the first 12 months until we get established,can anyone recommend any sites that can take a 30ft rv, and any advice about re locating will be very welcom. very excited but aprehensive too:Smile::Eeek:
 

vwalan

Funster
Sep 23, 2008
8,835
5,798
roche cornwall
Funster No
4,148
MH
lynton5th wheel
Exp
since a child
hi .in reality you may be jumping in to the fire . as regards mot tax insurance . registering your rv in spain . with no address and not paying their establishment something or other. many drive around with out changing but now some are being pulled . you may have to change your plans i think. unless you come back to mot . in spain if you are there more than 6 months you are supposed to register the vehicle etc .not quite as easy as it first seems .
sorry if this seems off putting but better warned than find out later.
 
OP
OP
S

sandra

Free Member
Apr 15, 2012
6
3
west midlands
Funster No
20,581
MH
rv
Exp
6 years
Thank you for the advice, i have looked into that side of it, we intend to come back to visit family so will get the mot etc done at the same time.living in the rv is only short term until we get on our feet,but will register our tow car when we have been there 6 months, to be honest if it all works out we may sell the rv when we are settled so want to keep it on uk plates if possible, any more advice is very welcome :Smile:

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 

chatter

Free Member
Aug 3, 2009
3,689
937
cheshire
Funster No
7,812
MH
5th wheel
Exp
10+
forget registering a right hand drive car over there, they dont allow it anymore as far as i know, my sis tried with the Rav she had kept over here - i drove it over nearly 2 years ago, she tried to import it(register) and was refused so the car is now back over here she was given a date by which time the car had to be out of the country by them when they refused.
Left hand drive cars are ok to import (register) though
 
OP
OP
S

sandra

Free Member
Apr 15, 2012
6
3
west midlands
Funster No
20,581
MH
rv
Exp
6 years
ooohh will have to have a good look into that,glad i found this site your all very clued up thank you::bigsmile:
 

vwalan

Funster
Sep 23, 2008
8,835
5,798
roche cornwall
Funster No
4,148
MH
lynton5th wheel
Exp
since a child
there are books living and working in spain by david hamshire .isbn 1-901130-62-2
and buying a house in spain david hamshire isbn..1-901130-72-x
i found them quite intersting . they were reprinted in 2003 but i magine later ones are available . i thought about it a few times but decided against it.
have friends that do live there some have never registered their vehicles there . but some are coming back now as they say its getting hard to earn a crust. too many black africans taking all the jobs for peanuts and also alot of petty theft going on more . but best of wishes have fun.
some friends are near albox . more around malaga area. one up near lieda . but its cold there in winter . gets quite a bit of snow.

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 

Carol

LIFE MEMBER
Oct 2, 2007
14,042
111,433
North Wales.
Funster No
519
MH
A class
Exp
18 years s Motorhome (33years caravans)
I know this is not what you want to hear, but please please be very careful, we know from friends 1st hand not hear say.

They bought some land through Spanish Lawyers everything checked and rechecked got planning permission, put a house on it and small camp site.

For all this planning permission was given for 3 years they worked really hard put a couple of chalets up and a small swimming pool.

Two years ago they were suddenly told that it was no longer legal, and over a period of 12months the local council moved in filled the swimming pool, and knocked the chalets down. The place is now empty and derelict.

They are now managing a pub and working all hours again having lost everything.

Other friends have houses there and been trying to sell for years.

As I said not what you wanted to hear but please check and then double check.

The motorhome and touring Europe though even fulltimeing now thats a different idea all together.
 
Mar 21, 2009
1,367
874
Harwich, Essex
Funster No
5,989
MH
C Class
Exp
4 years
We have had a house in Spain for the last 8 years, my parents moved out to live in it when we bought it and we visit 5-6 times a year sometimes for a couple of months at a time.
During that time we have seen many Brits come and go, most move back as no work out there - everyone doing odd jobs for next to nothing - or because they miss familly in the UK.
We know several couples who want to go back to the UK but can't sell their house as market is flooded and prices are so low.
I don't know what you position is with age, money etc... but my only piece of advice is DON'T BURN YOUR BRIDGES IN THE UK just incase you want to come home.
With regards to registering a vehicle in Spain we've also done this and ended up buying a 2nd hand Spanish registered car as by the time we had paid imp0ort duty and taxes it was uneconomical to import one. Beware, the price of cars is very high in Spain compared to the UK!
Having said that my mum & dad love it and don't want to come back to the UK after 8 years!
 

vwalan

Funster
Sep 23, 2008
8,835
5,798
roche cornwall
Funster No
4,148
MH
lynton5th wheel
Exp
since a child
i have over the years thought about spain ,portugal ,france . even maroc . but i must say i find coming back for summer going away in winter suits me best. i have had extended stays in most of the eu at times but find uk the best place to have a base. english licence insurance etc . i,m only on holiday can get you out of lots of bother. shame we have cold winters .
have lots more books on france you name it i have a good library here.
wanted to live in spain when i was 16yr old .fell in love with a spanish girl . passed my m,b ike test at 16and one week . packed my job and drove to calella, got there saw her kissing another tourist . i turned round and drove home . we live and learn. good m,bike ride though on a bsa c15star250cc . that was my first solo trip. never stopped since . still in love . but guess who with ...me ... hee hee

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 

slobadoberbob

Free Member
Jun 1, 2009
6,151
1,960
Kent, garden of England
Funster No
6,953
MH
Winnebago 23' something
Exp
25 years & counting
Remember towing a car on an A frame is illegal in Spain

To add to the list of problems...A frames or toads are illegal in Spain.. Many motor hoe owners have now been fined by Spanish police.

This is a good site and it will be well worth paying £10 subs for a years membership.. Let's of help and advise... But welcome and hope you sort out the issues, but Spain has high unemployment these days, work s hard to find and many pitfalls if you have not done full time overseas.


Bob
 

beachcaster

Free Member
Dec 18, 2010
3,044
3,161
east sussex
Funster No
14,709
MH
C Class
Exp
a few years
The economic situation in spain is dire.............unemployment with the under 20's reaching 50%........unemployment across the board is 22.8% this year
about double any other eurozone country.

Crime is increasing on the back of this..as is general social unrest.

Stock markets have plunged this week with Spain taking centre stage as the latest basket case in europe.Spains banks are on the edge....its a time bomb waiting to explode.

It would seem to me the only thing they have over us here in blighty..is a better climate...but that alone is no reason to go to live there without an ongoing source of income

If you are a well qualified person fluent in Spanish you may have a chance of getting a job
if you are not...........you will not get employment. Even supermarket checkout girls need more than one language to get the job.There is no casual work there now.
I belong to the expats forum and read what they are saying in spain............its very very tough there.

Good luck with your decision... but go with your eyes open.












barry
 
Last edited:

wander

Free Member
Jul 29, 2011
53
36
Calpe, Alicante, Spain
Funster No
17,547
MH
Coachbuilt
Exp
since 2007
We love it!

We’ve lived in Spain permanently for the last five years and we love it. Yes you read lots of horror stories about legal problems over land etc, because that’s what makes news but for every problem story there are hundreds of Brits and other northern Europeans who have never had a problem. My advice is get a good independent lawyer, not one recommended by an estate agent or property developer and you shouldn’t go wrong. As others have said unemployment is very high so if you need a job then think again but if you are coming to retire then it is still a lot cheaper to live over here. A few things are more expensive but there are a lot of things that are cheaper and with the warmer climate the heating bills are much reduced and the lifestyle and health much improved. There are lots of good books around to give you advice and the UK Gov. have a website with all the legal stuff on it. Far better to buy a Spanish reg car than go through all the fairly expensive hoops to re-register a brit car and if you shop around you can still get a good deal. If you have any other specific questions send me a PM and I’ll try and help. :Smile:
PS Don’t know what it’s like in the UK today but we have wall to wall sunshine, not a cloud in the sky and temp in the lower 20’s and it’s not 10am yet!:thumb::thumb::thumb:

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 
Aug 27, 2009
19,788
23,032
Hertfordshire
Funster No
8,178
MH
Van Conversion
Exp
40 years
If you have money in the bank every day then anywhere can be wonderful. If you don't, then you are better with the devil you know.
If you can really afford to live in Spain then it would be great.
Apart from the cooking summer temperatures the cost of Air Conditioning, the fly's the dust the high crime etc.:Sad:
 

chatter

Free Member
Aug 3, 2009
3,689
937
cheshire
Funster No
7,812
MH
5th wheel
Exp
10+
If you have money in the bank every day then anywhere can be wonderful. If you don't, then you are better with the devil you know.
If you can really afford to live in Spain then it would be great.
.:Sad:

I second that - have seen many go there on a shoestring thinking it will be simple and straightforward and its anything but. A lot are even trapped so to speak, they cant afford to stay really but they have bought a property which they cant sell so they cant afford to come back to england either.
 

Geo

Trader - Funster
Jul 29, 2007
11,757
14,563
Mansfield,Notts
Funster No
35
MH
Autotrail Tracker FB
Exp
45 +years with breaks
To add to the list of problems...A frames or toads are illegal in Spain.. Many motor hoe owners have now been fined by Spanish police.

This is a good site and it will be well worth paying £10 subs for a years membership.. Let's of help and advise... But welcome and hope you sort out the issues, but Spain has high unemployment these days, work s hard to find and many pitfalls if you have not done full time overseas.


Bob

Bob Your typos are hilarious, im sure you do it on purpose.
You can use the word "Pimp" on here you know:ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO:

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 

slobadoberbob

Free Member
Jun 1, 2009
6,151
1,960
Kent, garden of England
Funster No
6,953
MH
Winnebago 23' something
Exp
25 years & counting
I was using the iPad in bed last night

Bob Your typos are hilarious, im sure you do it on purpose.
You can use the word "Pimp" on here you know:ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO:

Geo, I was using the IPAD in bed last night.. on the limit of the wifi range in the house, it was not good.. you type a word and it changes it or cuts it short... this post is on the Macbookpro in the lounge ... so much better..

but by now most people know what I mean or should do Geo.


Bob:Blush:
 

wander

Free Member
Jul 29, 2011
53
36
Calpe, Alicante, Spain
Funster No
17,547
MH
Coachbuilt
Exp
since 2007
Apart from the cooking summer temperatures the cost of Air Conditioning, the fly's the dust the high crime etc.:Sad:

As I said in my earlier post, problems and bad things always make the news. Our own experience here over five years is that it's a far safer place to live than the UK. I can walk the streets at night without any worries, the locals are very friendly and if there are ever any problems it's usually noisy drunken Brits and Germans or petty theft by eastern Europeans. I'm not trying to paint a utopian picture, sure we have our share of crime, but I'd rather live here than a lot of places in the UK. :Smile:
 
Aug 27, 2009
19,788
23,032
Hertfordshire
Funster No
8,178
MH
Van Conversion
Exp
40 years
As I said in my earlier post, problems and bad things always make the news. Our own experience here over five years is that it's a far safer place to live than the UK. I can walk the streets at night without any worries, the locals are very friendly and if there are ever any problems it's usually noisy drunken Brits and Germans or petty theft by eastern Europeans. I'm not trying to paint a utopian picture, sure we have our share of crime, but I'd rather live here than a lot of places in the UK. :Smile:
I'm sure your are right wander, I have only ever been robbed once in Spain so it cant be too bad.:thumb:

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 

chatter

Free Member
Aug 3, 2009
3,689
937
cheshire
Funster No
7,812
MH
5th wheel
Exp
10+
As I said in my earlier post, problems and bad things always make the news. Our own experience here over five years is that it's a far safer place to live than the UK. I can walk the streets at night without any worries, the locals are very friendly and if there are ever any problems it's usually noisy drunken Brits and Germans or petty theft by eastern Europeans. I'm not trying to paint a utopian picture, sure we have our share of crime, but I'd rather live here than a lot of places in the UK. :Smile:

I have to agree again with this post, my family have lived over 20years in spain, my sister married into a Spanish family and spanish people on the whole are friendly and helpful, but things are starting to change and they are getting fed up of not being able to afford property with the price hykes caused by other europeans that bought homes in the sun and now want to sell at a high price so they can go home, low paid jobs with a high proportion of those jobs being seasonal where they work 12hr days 7 days a week for about 36 weeks of the year. The recent influx of chinese who all seem to have set up cheap bazars or eating places which is killing the trade of the locals (family are feeling this with their restaurants,bars and shops). The east europeans who seem bent on stealing most things. Not to mention some of the Brits that seem to think they are better than others and that all around them should speak english.
 

Momo

Free Member
Sep 19, 2008
2,499
3,041
Valencia City, Spain
Funster No
4,088
MH
just looking
Exp
I'm a newbie.
Agree completely with Chatter's posts. I've lived here over 40 years - came in Feb 1968 to teach English at the British Institute (British Council) for six weeks and I'm still here and would never consider leaving!

On the other hand I do not lead a British life as I am totally integrated and only have one British girlfriend who has been here even longer than I have! Infact, very rarely do we speak English - especially if accompanied by other Spanish friends. Also, I live on the Costa Blanca (Valencia city) which until recently was only a "passing through" place for tourists en route to Alicante or Southern areas.

We used to have a villa in Javea for weekends and summer holidays but when my husband died I decided to sell it as the place had been completely taken over by the wrong type of British - even in local government! - wanting to run the show and convert Spain into Little Britain!

The advice I would give to anyone wishing to relocate to Spain is to make a real effort to integrate and to learn the language. I would definitely not consider selling a right hand drive car in Spain unless you go through one of the many garages that are down the coast who specialise in selling to expats who are returning to UK.

Spaniards are very friendly and welcoming and love to practice chatting in English and will make you feel really welcome as long as you reciprocate.

Good luck with your new venture and please keep us updated. If you require any other info just let me know.

Momo
 

castalla

Free Member
Jan 16, 2010
12
3
Spain + Yorkshire
Funster No
9,960
MH
Van conversion IH Tio R
Exp
Since 2007
We did it nine years ago, no good if you need to work, grow all our own fruit & veg, have a detatched place, pool and acre of land, the rates are €112 a year, we got our place 30Ks inland from Alicante airport, in the mountains, away from the tourists. We go back to MOT the motorhome every year and insure it in the UK. Go for it! :thumb::thumb::thumb:

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 

patyogi

Free Member
Feb 8, 2012
64
29
Deal, Kent
Funster No
19,741
MH
self convert, left hooker
Exp
too long
La Mang

We are re locating to the costa del sol in about 4-5 months time and plan to live in our rv for the first 12 months until we get established,can anyone recommend any sites that can take a 30ft rv, and any advice about re locating will be very welcom. very excited but aprehensive too:Smile::Eeek:

We lived in Cartagena Murcia for 7 yrs, returned to Blighty over year ago. Try La manga, Murcia, just the other side of Cartagena & Marziron, they do take huge campers there and cheeepo rate for long termers. :thumb:
 

patyogi

Free Member
Feb 8, 2012
64
29
Deal, Kent
Funster No
19,741
MH
self convert, left hooker
Exp
too long
Full timing

If you still want to try long term don't buy rent first and see how you get on. Dead cheap to do this at mo....agree with all and everything previous on this thread, don't be put off, just do it !!
Good luck :Eeek:
 

Join us or log in to post a reply.

To join in you must be a member of MotorhomeFun

Join MotorhomeFun

Join us, it quick and easy!

Log in

Already a member? Log in here.

Latest journal entries

Funsters who are viewing this thread

Back
Top