Residents - Help me start a new info section!?

[Owen]

Stacks of people email me to ask & enough ask here about the basics for moving and living here.

I wanted to do a couple of things along those lines. Main thing is to pool together what we know and publish it on te web site. Basic stuff such as registering with the police for a NIE, aplying for residencia, geting social security and a medical card sorted out, finding schools for the kids, starting work and what contracts to expect (or hope for) and various other basic essentials.

I think I'm pretty savy on the NIE, residencia, social security, medical card and employment procedures and contracts, not so much on the other stuff though I have a pretty good idea.

Would any residents be interested in helping me out?

If we add our names to this thread and what we know most about then we could PM/email each other with what we would like to comment on. If two or more people know about a particular topic then one couldwrite the basics and the second could read through and add their comments and so on.

We would start by making a list of the topics we think should be covered then allocate names to them.

In the "good old days" I would look into all this myself though nowadays I just haven't got any time and have meant to do this for a while now but am getting nowhere on my own.

Let me know your thoughts, proposals etc... and here's the topics I think should be covered :-

NIE NUMBER - OWEN
RESIDENCIA - OWEN
SOCIAL SECURITY CARD - OWEN
NATIONAL MEDICAL CARD - OWEN + MARY
PRIVATE MEDICAL INSURANCE - MARY
SCHOOLING - MARY + ???
EMPLOYMENT CONTRACTS - OWEN + ???
RENTING ACCOMMODATION - ???
BUYING ACCOMMODATION - OWEN + ???
BUYING A BUSINESS - ???
EMPLOYMENT - ???
TELEPHONE, LANDLINE & MOBILE - OWEN + ???
BUYING A CAR - ???
BRINGING YOUR DOG/PET? - OWEN + ???
BRINGING YOU CAR? - ??? (includes getting a Spanish driving license from traffico)
OPENING A BANK ACCOUNT - OWEN + ???

Would be nice to get a section on each sorted with a link to a discussion for each here on the forum.

[mary]

As always, happy to help, but i never know what i know until someone asks a question. I'm not always right and am pleased you are proposing that we check each other before its 'printed'

Just been going through the residencia thing for my son - better system than 3 years ago but still a bureaucratic nightmare

[Owen]

Just been going through the residencia thing for my son - better system than 3 years ago but still a bureaucratic nightmare
I just went through it again for yours truely. I left it longer than 3 months from my last one expring before leaving the application forms so I had to start from scratch.

[MARCUS]

Well yes you can "count me in" as a helping hand! i can give some very good advice on buying and selling property(which i have done twice now) i know all the"tricks of the trade" and would always give my advice for free(Yes free!!!) if anybody was interested in buying anything,we can discuss it over a coffee(nice coffee), i have learnt a lot in this field.
Marcus

[LYNNE100]

Great Idea Owen - Im Moving Over Later In Year And The Info Will Be Greatly Appreciated - Looking Forward To It

Lynne

[BigBaz]

Sounds good to us Marcus ,,,,,, coffee's on us !!!!!!!!

Less than 4 weeks now 2nd time around this year so far

BigBaz & MidgetMary

[tenerife hen]

Hi there owen.

I may be able to help if you like. I have children in spanish schools and know details of paperwok for this plus lots of other stuff i may be able to help with on Tenerife.

let me know if you need me :bronwen:

[2-islandangie]

Any reference to building & DIY terms might be useful as quite often the biggest of English/Spanish Dictionaries does not cover things like that.

[coolcreen]

I suggest that BUYING A PROPERTY could be divided into a number of sub-sections as it entails a number of professionals.
My suggestions are:-

Choosing an area in the island...pros and cons of each area
ESTATE AGENT Choosing an estate agent It could include the important question which should be asked relating to the property.
ENGINEER Inspection of property. What to look out for
SOLICITOR Choosing a solicitor. It could include the important question which should be asked relating to the transaction and how it should proceed.
FISCAL ADVISOR The annual returns to local and goverment agencies.

[coolcreen]

I suggest that BUYING A PROPERTY could be divided into a number of sub-sections as it entails a number of professionals.
My suggestions are:-

Choosing an area in the island...pros and cons of each area
ESTATE AGENT Choosing an estate agent It could include the important question which should be asked relating to the property.
ENGINEER Inspection of property. What to look out for
SOLICITOR Choosing a solicitor. It could include the important question which should be asked relating to the transaction and how it should proceed.
FISCAL ADVISOR The annual returns to local and goverment agencies.
Forgot to mention that I would be able to help in some of the above areas

[2-islandangie]

I am ashamed to admit that "Brits" seem to have a reputation for ripping off people. A friend of ours has recently completed a very tiresome negotiation which culminated with the fact that she allowed them to stay for a couple of days after completion - much more than they deserved!!!! Only to find that in reward for her kindness they removed most of the furniture that was supposed to be left in the property. And since we have heard that this is commonly known behaviour for Brits - For us it is so sad...... to be associated with such bad behaviour. What has happened to morals???

[mary]

http://www.spanishpropertyinsight.com/spanish_property_nie.htm
Found this really good site with a downloadable NIE form and instructions on how to fill it in, what it is and why you need it.

It was on www.fuerteventura-forum.com

[maxine]

Can help with bringing pets overs as brought 2 chihuahuas and 2 turtles.:)

[shirley]

:dry: [I can help people with free advice on buying properties or land here as i have been through it all myself, and know all the ropes and pitfalls, what you should do and not do and so on, all the tricks played all the people (unqualified) who should not be taking money falsely from unsuspecting buyers like they do BUT OF COURSE I WOULD NEVER NAME THEM id just give the advice and knowledge that i have to help them to do the right thing for themselves.
Many people here say they are lawyers, accountants and other proffesions when they are not at all. That is the first pitfall, You need to check on the qualifications, Many bar owners think that they have the services of an accountant when all they have is just an assesoria thats all which is a different thing entirely. IE: If you have to go to the notary yourself with your assesoria to sign for your yearly tax return then you dont have a qualified accountant looking after you. SO YOU ASK IF YOU HAVE TO DO THAT. if they say yes you do then you dont have the right person doing your books at all. as a qualified accountant can do this on his own for you.. chartered accountant in england here is Correct title .
Economista Auditor. Check his business card if he is qualified it will say that. If you are running a business you need a Fiscal Laboral, (his card will say this and also give hIs college number . To run a business you need a fiscal laboral AND a Economista Auditor. one is the book keeper who does the wage slips and sorts out the employees tax and nhs payments. the other is the chartered accountant who does the final figures balances and saves you from the taxman. And believe me the right qualified people are far cheaper in the long run than the unqualified sharks out there.
People must not buy properties without using a qualified lawyer. I can write a book on why.It is a totaly different system here than England
you can lose every hard earned penny you brought over here in the wink of an eye or at least be fleeced goodstyle without knowing it. Buying old propery is not the same as buying new at all. Many old properties are not registered in the land registry, if you buy them on a private contract that can sometimes be ok but BEWARE dont part with a penny without a lawyer checking it all out and it can take years and years to get it registered sometimes more years than you have got left to live. There are many properties that are not legaly built and the bulldozer is imminent on anything that was not built BEFORE thirty years ago that was illegaly built
This is what you have to watch out for if buying on a private contract
(an unregistered property). Anyway ill go now any questions people ,feel free to ask. It would not be easy to write it all down it would be easier to answer questions as they come up. Like say what kind of property you are interested in and where ,or land and where as different areas have different rules ie: is it in a rustical area ?or an urbanisation? Also as in england you have to check the developer and builder out the companies if it is a new property. Youve all heard the horror stories.So you want right by the sea? ok then ,BUT did you know that you can never have freehold within 100 yards of the sea? that you have to buy on a lease? another pitfall most people dont know about. Not all estate agents will tell you ,this is (one) of the reasons NOT TO go ahead without a lawyer and there are worse reasons. As i said it depends on what you want where it is and so on. I will answer any questions that i can help with.
Have a nice day
Shirley.



]Stacks of people email me to ask & enough ask here about the basics for moving and living here.

I wanted to do a couple of things along those lines. Main thing is to pool together what we know and publish it on te web site. Basic stuff such as registering with the police for a NIE, aplying for residencia, geting social security and a medical card sorted out, finding schools for the kids, starting work and what contracts to expect (or hope for) and various other basic essentials.

I think I'm pretty savy on the NIE, residencia, social security, medical card and employment procedures and contracts, not so much on the other stuff though I have a pretty good idea.

Would any residents be interested in helping me out?

If we add our names to this thread and what we know most about then we could PM/email each other with what we would like to comment on. If two or more people know about a particular topic then one couldwrite the basics and the second could read through and add their comments and so on.

We would start by making a list of the topics we think should be covered then allocate names to them.

In the "good old days" I would look into all this myself though nowadays I just haven't got any time and have meant to do this for a while now but am getting nowhere on my own.

Let me know your thoughts, proposals etc... and here's the topics I think should be covered :-

NIE NUMBER - OWEN
RESIDENCIA - OWEN
SOCIAL SECURITY CARD - OWEN
NATIONAL MEDICAL CARD - OWEN + MARY
PRIVATE MEDICAL INSURANCE - MARY
SCHOOLING - MARY + ???
EMPLOYMENT CONTRACTS - OWEN + ???
RENTING ACCOMMODATION - ???
BUYING ACCOMMODATION - OWEN + ???
BUYING A BUSINESS - ???
EMPLOYMENT - ???
TELEPHONE, LANDLINE & MOBILE - OWEN + ???
BUYING A CAR - ???
BRINGING YOUR DOG/PET? - OWEN + ???
BRINGING YOU CAR? - ??? (includes getting a Spanish driving license from traffico)
OPENING A BANK ACCOUNT - OWEN + ???

Would be nice to get a section on each sorted with a link to a discussion for each here on the forum.[/quote]

[shirley]

:dry: Once you decide to sign a 6 months contract to rent accomodation. THE SPANISH LAW IS you do not have to sign anymore and you can stay as long as you like as long as you pay the rent, also if the owner decides to sell the property they have to give you first chance of buying the property.If you dont want to buy they can ask you to leave but you dont have to ,they have to sell with you as sitting tenant and as long as you pay the rent you have a roof over your head until you decide to move on.

Shirley.

[vecino]

Yes the brits have a VERY bad reputation - I have heard this again and again about the Brits ripping other Brits off with many things like buying, building work & charging much more for other services than others - you really should shop around and get a price/quote before buying or using any service as you may be surprised that you can get better service & cheaper etc from others - I know it is not always the brits that rips brits off but is can be a common problem from my experiences here and others i know.


I am ashamed to admit that "Brits" seem to have a reputation for ripping off people. A friend of ours has recently completed a very tiresome negotiation which culminated with the fact that she allowed them to stay for a couple of days after completion - much more than they deserved!!!! Only to find that in reward for her kindness they removed most of the furniture that was supposed to be left in the property. And since we have heard that this is commonly known behaviour for Brits - For us it is so sad...... to be associated with such bad behaviour. What has happened to morals???

[redswanlady]

What happened about this????

[Lyn]

I think this is a great idea.
My Husband is fed up with the U.K and would love to move to the canaries. I think I might like to retire there, but I am afraid of all the things we don't understand and what might go wrong.
I wouldn't want to exchange one stressful life for another. I think if I understood more about what is involved I might feel more egar to go ahead.
We have about 10 years untill my husband retires officially but being self employed we could finish earlier.
I think the main problem with me is the not knowing and the fear of the langauge. I have tried to learn but it's hopeless. When it's not being used every day I just forget.
The thought of buying abroad terrifies me.You hear such horror stories.
But what security do you have when renting ?
So many questions, I'm sure I'm not on my own with all the worries and concerns.
I think the main fear is not being in control and not being able to sort out any problem that may arise
Being able to ask advise from independent people telling their own experiences and knowledge would be great.
I just wish I had the nerve to go ahead.
Maybe one day.:sadguy:

[maxine]

Your concerns are right Lyn,,,,,:dry:
Moving here is a big step and its not its cracked up to be believe me.
dont get me wrong its lovely views and beaches are nice and the weathers a bonus, but soon get fed up with the beach and a change in the weathers nice really. Am looking forward to going to visit the uk for 6 weeks to get out my lovely coats and boots.The language is important. if you move to the south its very much a tourist area, the north is more beautiful and green the weather can get a little cold in winter about 18* were we are. We have a wood fire in the winter, no frost though BRRRR!!!
Still the UK with all its faults has a lot more to offer, and if you come from the city it will be a culture shock even Las Palmas is'nt really very busy.
If you are retiring then ok, but its hard enough to adjust to a slow life in the Uk it will be very hard here.
I dont like much about the UK i think maybe here was to remote for us.
I would like to try some were on the mainland i think. More accessable.
Think very long and hard about what you are doing and if you really want it, you only live once you can always go back.Renting is ok, if you have a contract and pay your rent on time then its almost impossible for them to get you out.You have the rights as a tenant here.
GOOD LUCK!!!!!!!!!

[Lyn]

Thank you for being honest. I no it isn't all what some people make out it is.
The problem is , we would have to sell our house if we were to move over and If I didn't settle we would be stuck.
I am happy with my life at the moment. I love living in the U.K.
What it will be like after we finish work money wise I don't no.
Everyone tells us it is so much cheaper in the Canaries and the pensions go so much further. I'm not that convinced. I would have to see.

I handle the money in our house, my husband is a good hard worker but rubbish with paper work. So it would be left to me to sort everything out and I'm just not sure I want to do it.

[maxine]

It only cheaper if your on english money.
like us on canarian money its very difficult the money just doesnt to spread enough. If it were possible for me i would have liked to do half and half. Uk and here. We kept our house and rented it out in the uk.then eventually it will be our pension.I think if we go back to the UK i would rent somewere in a nice area,and with the extra money we make there enjoy the luxurys we used to have. Dinners out,London shows, luxury hoildays.etc. We have been here now for 2 years and i would miss it, but i yern those things i liked, cant help being matirialistic, was'nt till i moved here and realised i couldnt have normal things.
its a perfect holiday resort, but you definatly have to be a little wealthy to sit it out. its ok if you dont mind living everyday as it comes, not know what the next months moneys going to be.its definatly a step back from life and you have to be prepared to start again in some respects.
i love the spanish culture, we are looking at barcelona, easy for family to get to and only a drive away from other places, could go back to the UK for the weekend, flights very cheap from there. Dont know yet what we wil do!!:dry:Just have a long hard think before you do anything...........

[mary]

I dont miss the uk at all. I'd like to go back for a week and do the few things i miss - meet up with friends, go shopping and stock up, go to the cinema where i have a choice of films, have a pub lunch in an old country pub.
Apart from that i dont miss it all. I agree, there is only so much sunbathing and going to the beach you can do. When you live here, you live here - so all the normal things have to be done - cleaning the windows, ironing, cleaning the house, food shopping, kids homework etc. Its just nicer in the sunshine. I can go north if i want a bit of green and countryside or south if I want the warm.
We went to college for our first year - full time - to learn spanish. You can pick it up as you go along but its very easy to avoid it. You can have english friends and you dont need to speak in the supermarkets - but you'll get bored easily as your island becomes even smaller if you cant manage in the spanish side. Official stuff becomes even more cumbersome and difficult if you constantly have to wait for a friend to translate for you etc.
If you can make the move, then i would go for it - but - life is hard and you'll never be a millionaire. Dont burn all your bridges in the uk at first until you are very very sure that its right for you. But, dont make the decision to leave until you've done at least a year. The first year is the hardest

[redswanlady]

Very well said Mary, we presumed that when we moved to the "touristy" bit everyone would speak english but they don't. We have struggled to set up the business, buy a car or everyday things because we can't speak Spanish, thankfully we have some very good friends who come to our rescue but it's not ideal. Like Mary I don't miss the UK (I know I haven't been here long) but can't see any reason to return at present.

[Lyn]

Thank you all , I really respect your honesty. I love the canaries for an holiday and even a few months but what I would be like to no I couldn't easily go back to the U.K. I just don't no.
I think my husband needs to look at the big picture and realise I wouldn't be able to 'run things' there the way I do here.
I would be just as confused as he would be.
I think he expects it to be just the same and I no it wouldn't be.

[MARCUS]

well i have been here living here for 15 years now,and believe me the first year was the hardest!(very true Mary)It was never easy and all the things that became a problem i had overlooked.If you are going to live here you need to learn the language(it opened so many doors for me)I didn´t have a clue when i first came to the island in 1991,i was a transfer rep,tour guide,i had a market stall that opperated in the villages in the north of the island.(I even had a condom vending machine business in the north! let´s leave that particular avenue closed! lol) but i learnt from all those things before becoming a holiday rep with Russ many years ago.
I must admit i didn´t give any of it much thought i just moved here!!!
NEVER SELL YOUR HOUSE AT HOME!!! until you have lived here for at least a year!(you will need a year to settle)Renting is easy and so is buying property if you can find the ones at the right price! (There is still a lot of money to be made in property over here as well)
Remember that things are more difficult now!
regards,
Marcus
:mellow:

[Jon-Paul]

This might help on the business side of things (although the process was over 2 years ago now so will have changed)

http://www.pdcreview.co.uk/buyersguide.cfm

[kellygirl]

Can help with bringing pets overs as brought 2 chihuahuas and 2 turtles.:)
hi maxine please can you let me know who you used please can you send me a private text cheers , as want to bring one cat over and not sure of costs thanks kellygirl

[kellygirl]

hi there lyn i can understand your concerns , if i had a property that was mine i would rent it out for a year or so just to see if you like the life in gran canaria, me on the other hand am not to worried as i rent over hear in england so when i move to gran can i will be renting again, thanks shirley for your valuable information about renting as i was a little worried that the laws were different and i would have problems. my worry also was if i found a flat or what ever and i liked it would i have to move if they wanted to sell or if it was a holiday let , tho i have been trying to avoid getting a property of that nature. are there any reasonable estate agents !!! i have looked at a lot and they seem that prices for property have been over inflated for holiday makers!! were is a good place to look for property if one doesnt wont to pay 1 month in fees for these agents . cheers kellygirl

[ageingrocker]

Can I add my two penneth worth.

We moved in April this year and my wife and children love it. Absolutely no regrets, she feels totally at home, her and the kids have made loads of friends, English and Spanish. And all that without me being there...:sadguy:

I don't arrive unitl Dec when my current UK contract finishes but I've been over a few times and they are getting on great. Which is a relief at what is considered a big move.

[hot-sunshine]

I think Language is the key to living and setting. Without it. Life is very tough.

[ivicker]

I agree, I think the first thing to do is learn the language, even buying a property and furnishing it can be an issue without knowing some spanish. We don't live in GC but own a property and it's far easier to get along when you can speak the lingo.

It's easy to ignore it and just carry on without speaking the language but I think it's a must, and as soon as I can get myself motivated to spanish lessons I will be taking them :)

[intheclouds]

Happy to help, live and work in the frozen north (Las Palmas!), went through the bringing a pet loop last year (it cost more for the cat to sit on the plane than me!)

[big jim]

it cost me just short of £600 to fly our staffy from manchester in may this year if any one wants the info

[Owen]

This is one of those sections that would be so useful to a lot of people that I really should get on to but never have the time.

I have an aidea though - what do you think?

You know the fantastic wikipedia.org website that covers anything and everything all over the world?

How about starting one with exactly the same layout and software here to concentrate on the Canary Islands??

The forum would obviously remain the place to ask and answer questions and share tips and gossip but anything completely factual could go on a new wikipedia we can start. That way, instead of everyone waiting for me to get round to writing and adding stuff, everyone with any experience can contribute.

Good idea?????

[cheekychicp]

hi i recently relocated to gran canaria so i may be able to help especialy if you are having belongings shipped over its a nightmare and removel companies do not tell you that once your belongings arrive all the paperwork you have to provide before they will deliver it so anybody needs help with that subject i will gladly help out

[redswanlady]

hi i recently relocated to gran canaria so i may be able to help especialy if you are having belongings shipped over its a nightmare and removel companies do not tell you that once your belongings arrive all the paperwork you have to provide before they will deliver it so anybody needs help with that subject i will gladly help out

The company we used to bring some stuff over were great told us up front what we needed and then it came straight through customs, like with everything you always get the good with the bad!

[DanDanDan]

Hello everyone,
I moved out here from Preston six months ago,, I work in Bank of Santander in Playa del Ingles. I speak Spanish and still the Bureaucracy here drives me nuts!!!
This thread is interesting because I speak to so many people who have trouble with the banks here.

Has anyone had problems with any of the Spanish banks?? Or any questions about how the banks work??

PS. I know its a boring topic.

[cheekychicp]

hi dan moved here 4 month ago somebody recomended banco popular so we went there it was so hard no body spoke english and all the paper work is in spanish so havent got a clue what charges are what do you know what a managers fee is i got a statement today and it has this on it and 4.61e havent got a clue

[redswanlady]

I must admit that our bank and bank manager are great, he speaks english really well and if I have a query I just email him and ask, there is always an english speaking person in the branch in rico and they are always around to help.

[andyandlouise]

had enough of the uk - dont know whats happened to the country!

we are looking to move over to gran canaria next year 2009 my partner used to live here 11 years ago know a few people, but now we have 2 children with us now would love to either meet up we are coming march 16th - 31st 09 and for good april 09 know about some factors of paperwork how easy is the schooling thing? and easy to get a 9 and 4 year old in the motor grande school ?


would love to hear from you andy and louise

[mary]

pm redswanlady or (Big Jim)as she has children at a local school here. I think the matriculation is in about May for the following september. So you may have to keep the children with you until September.

[nirvana]

Yes, now we have been living on the island for nearly 1 and a half year, we are ready to help. Just ask!
Greetings.

nirvana (Ivan and Susanne)