Let’s take one particularly disturbing example of what can happen. Mrs Jones is a non-resident who used to own a property in Spain. In July, unknown to her, it went to property auction and was sold to a third party for a price of less than half its value. The reason? She had failed to pay her I.B.I (council tax) bill and combined with fines and interest she owed €1,700. What was perhaps even more worrying was that Mrs. Jones hadn’t a clue what was happening as she had not been in Spain to receive her mail and there was no one available to check her post box. The other means of informing her of her debt also passed her by. The Boletín official del estado is a list of debts and other … [Read more...] about Avoiding the risk of Spanish property embargoes
spanish property
From abroad or in Spain? Obtaining a foreigner’s identification number
You need an NIE if you live in Spain. Your foreigner’s identification number (Número de Identificación de Extranjeros) is the key to everything from buying your home to collecting your mail. It can also be essential for the non-resident too. If you want to make a house purchase or you have been left Spanish property in a relative’s will you need an NIE to make the transaction. If you need to get an NIE as quickly as possible then you may prefer not to have to travel to Spain at all. Until 2011 it was possible to obtain a power of attorney in your home country which enabled someone in Spain to act on your behalf and obtain the NIE for you. However, in April 2011 a new regulation stipulated … [Read more...] about From abroad or in Spain? Obtaining a foreigner’s identification number
Refurbishing your Spanish property
Permission comes in the form of a building licence and is a very important document if you want to be sure that your extension stays extended. If you are considering anything from an outside shed to a major refurbishment you should check that: You have permission from the Town Hall in the form of a building licence. Any works you have done are included in your Title Deed. The Catastro has been informed. Permission should be obtained before the builder starts work. Your builder is unlikely to draw your attention to the need for a licence and if they claim to have already obtained one, ask to see it. They cannot apply for one without you knowing and if a problem emerges later it … [Read more...] about Refurbishing your Spanish property
Spanish property auctions
The following information about what is involved has been supplied by ‘Spanish Property Auctions.’ Auction house practice will differ. What does the auctioneer do? In most cases they will take clients to view homes, give them advice on legal matters, help them find mortgages and point them in the right direction when they need it. Who benefits from a property auction? It tends to be people who have tried the traditional estate agent route and it hasn’t worked. They’re probably keen to sell-up as quickly as possible. For the buyer the advantage is the number of bargain properties on sale. What are the safeguards? You can arrange to inspect the documents for a possible purchase prior to … [Read more...] about Spanish property auctions