NEWSLETTER – August 2011
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Spanish General Elections
The Spanish Prime Minister José Luis Zapatero has announced that Spain will go to the polls on November 20th this year, breaking his pledge to stay in power until March 2011, a date on which he would have completed two full terms in office.
During the regional and municipal elections in May the PP absolutely wiped the floor with the PSOE and the latest polls indicate that the pattern may be repeated during the national elections. El País has put the PP at 14% lead over the socialists, giving them 44.8% of the vote, as opposed to 30.8%.
Prime Minister Zapatero will not be standing himself in the next elections, Alferedo Peréz Rubalcaba, the former Miniter of Interior who resigned from the government recently to focus on his own electoral campaign to become the party leader picked up the reins for the socialist candidacy.
Whoever wins faces a difficult task ahead. Although the International Monetary Fund published encouraging words about the economic steps taken to combat the current economic crisis, it noted that ” Spain is not out of the danger zone” and also said that “Many of the imbalances and structural weaknesses accumulated during the boom remain to be fully addressed. Rubalcaba will be fighting against the PP´s Mariano Rajoy.
Carthaginians and Romans Fiesta
From Sep 16, 2011 to Sep 25, 2011
This very special fiesta commemorates the capture of the city in 209 BC by the Roman troops of Escipion, marking a festive week in which alternate days are devoted to one or the other band of the “Romans or the people of Cartagena , who dress up in costume, looking like they stepped straight off a film set.The wedding of Hannial and Himilce or the day of the Roman Circus, with its gladiators and wild animals, lead into the great parade on Saturday, the big day of the fiesta, when all the troops and legions march through the city and perform a mock battle on the field below the castle walls complete with sound and light effects. As fiestas go, this is one with with much pomp and ceremony, the usual tapas, wine and beer, sweets for the children, laughter and fun. It is a great spectacle and definitly worth a visit.
http://www.cartaginesesyromanos.es/
Title Deeds Insurance
Many of the clients who have used us as their lawyers for the purchase of their property in Spain in recent years know about title deeds insurance, but for those of you who don´t we can arrange this very useful protection cover for you through the large insurance company Caser, who speak and produce documentation in English.
Title deeds insurance is a 20 year legal protection relating to your property in Spain that can be purchased for a one-off premium of 294 euros.
The insurance covers fraud (including document forgery), fraudulent transactions relating to your property, border disputes, demolition orders, compulsory purchase, legal claims against your property, community disputes and other types of financial and legal problems that could arise in 20 years of owning a property.
Please email Amanda on sales@spanishsolutions.net if you would like further information regarding this useful insurance protection.
CAR ISSUES- Practical Advice
We have heard of someone who sold their car privately in Spain and gave their car documents to the buyer who said he would get the car ownership transfer sorted. Now many months later, they have noticed that the SUMA (annual car tax for the car) has come out of their bank account and have realised that the car ownership transfer has not been done.
They couldn´t find the details of the person they sold it to and didn´t know what to do. If you should know of anyone that this happens to, the advice that you need to give them, if they are absolutely sure that the transfer is never going to be done, is that they need to go the police and report the car as stolen as otherwise the previous owner will continue to have to pay the SUMA each year and also be responsible for any fines incurred by driver of the vehicle.
If you require any assistance with car issues please contact Helena onfrontdesk@spanishsolutions.net or Amanda on sales@spanishsolutions.net
Renting Out your Spanish Property
As many property owners are considering renting out their property in Spain in order to generate a little income to cover their ownership expenses and pay for their trips to Spain etc., we thought we should draw your attention towards the main points that you should remember in relation to this:
· In Spain the law in very based towards the tenant. The law that relates to renting out property is “La Ley de Arrendamiento Urbanos” – 29/1994, November 24th
· It is recommended to have a rental contract with the identity of the landlord and the tenants, the address of the property, the duration of the rental property, and the amount of the rent
· A deposit should be taken, equal to one month´s rent and refundable at the end of the contract
· With regard to the duration of the contract – this can be mutually agreed between both parties but Spanish law dictates that after one year has passed, annual renewal of the contract is obligatory up to a minimum of 5 years.
· For this reason many contracts are usually for 11 months initially. The contract can then only be cancelled in the event that the tenant gives 30 days prior notice of cancellation or that the landlord requires the return of the property for his own use as a permanent home
· If the contract is 5 years or more, then if neither party gives 30 days prior notice of cancellation the contract can be extended a further year up to a maximum of 3 years.
· Payment of utilities and council tax and community fees are generally decided at the outset, and agreed between both parties and included in the contract.
· Repairs and Building Works:
According to the law, the landlord is responsible for any necessary repairs to the property to keep it habitable but not if the damage is caused by the tenant. In turn the tenant is responsible for informing the landlord of any damage. If the damage is serious and needs urgent repair then the tenant can undertake this, then request payment from the landlord.
Small day to day repairs are the responsibility of the tenant and as the law does not stipulate what a small repair is, it is advisable to stipulate a maximum cost in the contract.
Building works to modify the property must be authorised by the landlord. It is sensible to attach an inventory of furniture and fittings to the contract.
If you are considering renting out your property you should be aware that depending on whether you are non resident or resident in Spain, income derived from renting is taxed differently. If you have any queries regarding your tax affairs contact Poli on info@spanishsolutions.net.
Spanish Solutions regularly prepare rental contacts (in Spanish and English). If you would like a quotation, please contact Helena on frontdesk@spanishsolutions.net
We are also able to introduce you to local property agents who deal with long term rentals of properties or sale of properties should you wish to discuss this with someone. Contact Amanda on sales@spanishsolutions.net
Olive Farm Wanted
Maybe it´s everyone´s dream, but we actually do have a client who wants to buy an olive farm with 50 to 100 hectares of land and possibly a farmhouse (but this is not essential).
If you know anyone interested in selling, please let Amanda know onsales@spanishsolutions.net.
Raise the Roof Kenya
One of my colleagues had the idea that we should draw your attention to a charity every so often. A little while ago in Spain I met a close friend´s young niece who was visiting, who is attempting a trek up Mount Kenya in December for Raise the Roof Kenya.
Her friend, Holly Bantleman, set off on a “round the world” trip for a year. ‘Raise the Roof’ began after her experiences in Kenya and in particular, after visiting a village on a dump site, called ‘London’ in the town of Nakuru, Kenya, which came about after the 2007/2009 electoral violence in which so many people were displaced.
Over 250 people, many children, set up camp on the landfill, and found themselves with no means of escape, surviving on other peoples waste. The idea behind the ‘Raise the Roof’ project was to initially raise the money to buy tin roofing for the more than 250 people living on the landfill, without food or shelter and to eventually provide a long term solution for their plight.
This year, she was able to provide the roofing that gave shelter to many needy homes. ‘Raise the Roof’ works towards building sustainable lives and providing an independent future for these people living basically on a rubbish tip. Faye and Holly (only in their 20´s) are doing such worthwhile things with their young lives to help people. What an extreme contrast to the rioters that we have seen in the UK…
Take a look at: www.raisetheroofkenya.com To donate, go to the Fundraising page and there is a donate button
Amanda
ON-LINE GROCERY SHOPPING
For those of you who are super organised (not me), and like the idea of planning ahead and having a delivery organized for the morning after you arrived, or don´t have a car, did you know… some supermarkets do online shopping and delivery?
Mercadona have an online shopping site (it’s in English too). You are charged 7.21€ but there is no minimum order fee.
www.mercadona.es
Carrefour have online shopping which includes food as well as all their household goods. It’s in Spanish but could perhaps be a godsend especially in the summer.
www.carrefour.es
Eroski have online shopping in Spanish and Englishwww.compraonline.grupoeroski.com
Masymas will arrange a free home delivery for orders over 60€ www.masymas.es
Latest news
There has been an unexpected reduction in VAT on the purchase of new properties in Spain with effect from 19 August 2011. The Spanish Government has announced a reduction in IVA (the Spanish equivalent of VAT) on new properties from 8% to 4%. This measure has been put into place in order to stimulate the construction sector. The reduction is only temporary and is scheduled to last for the next 4 months. This reduction means that people buying new properties could save thousands of pounds in taxes alone on a purchase!
Travel Deals
This month they have 2 for 1! Special All-Inclusive Offer!
Athens to Istanbul or Istanbul to Athens departing on 24th & 31st October and 7 November 7 nights, all inclusive of drinks and taxes from just 526€ per person, and includes one nights in Athens & Istanbul plus 5 nights on board the Grand Celebration. Visiting Athens, Crete, Santorini, Mykonos, Rhodes, Efeso andIstanbul!
Flights, taxes and airport transfers included! Must be booked before 31st August.
And Dominican Republic – Puerto Plata – 27th September flights + transfers + insurance + taxes + 7 nights
All Inclusive 5* Be Live Grand Marien or Grand Carey from just 789€ per person!
Tlf: 966 761 492 - Fax: 966 730 222 Email: orihuelacosta@estivaltour.comwww.lazeniatravel.com
The team :
Poli Borisova
Ana Maria Barbadora
Eva G. Gilmartin
Lynne Henderson
Helena Labarta
Angie Real
Silvia Sanchez
Amanda Thomas
sales@spanishsolutions.net 00 34 966761741 Visit us online atwww.spanishsolutions.net