https://feeds.thelocal.com/ Read the latest news and views from Spain in English en-us news@thelocal.com (TheLocal) webmaster@thelocal.com (TheLocal) TheLocal RSS Feed When it comes to buying a property in Spain, there are more purchase options available than doing it through a real estate agency or a private seller. Here we take look a the advantages and disadvantages of each way of buying a home in Spain, covering everything from costs to risks. https://www.thelocal.es/20201103/property-in-spain-the-different-ways-to-buy-a-home-and-their-pros-and-cons Tue, 03 Nov 2020 14:46:48 +0100 property-in-spain-the-different-ways-to-buy-a-home-and-their-pros-and-cons Spanish property expert Sean Woolley shares his advice with The Local Spain’s readers about what to do and what to avoid when searching for a dream property in Spain. https://www.thelocal.es/20200806/the-dos-and-donts-when-buying-a-spanish-property Thu, 06 Aug 2020 13:04:01 +0200 the-dos-and-donts-when-buying-a-spanish-property Spain’s inheritance tax laws are complex and differ considerably from the UK’s and other countries’ legislation. Jeremy Scudamore, who runs an Anglo-Spanish law firm in Madrid, explains what Britons in Spain should be aware of when dealing with inheritance tax. https://www.thelocal.es/20200914/five-things-you-need-to-know-about-inheritance-tax-in-spain Mon, 14 Sep 2020 12:16:08 +0200 five-things-you-need-to-know-about-inheritance-tax-in-spain To mark Andalusia Day on February 28th, The Local takes a look beyond the provincial capitals of Seville, Córdoba and Granada and unearths 16 unknown and underrated towns in beautiful Andalusia. https://www.thelocal.es/20200129/the-16-off-the-beaten-track-towns-you-need-to-visit-to-discover-authentic-andalucia Wed, 29 Jan 2020 13:00:05 +0100 the-16-off-the-beaten-track-towns-you-need-to-visit-to-discover-authentic-andalucia Spaniards are generally warm and friendly but there are some things that visitors do that provoke raised eyebrows, shoulder shrugging and sometimes bewilderment, if not outright offence. https://www.thelocal.es/20190926/things-foreigners-do-that-make-spaniards-feel-awkward Thu, 26 Sep 2019 16:00:26 +0200 things-foreigners-do-that-make-spaniards-feel-awkward A non-lucrative visa is one of the ways UK nationals wanting to move to Spain - or those hoping to spend extended periods of time in the country post-Brexit - can do so if they have enough financial means.  https://www.thelocal.es/20210304/how-the-non-lucrative-visa-allows-brits-to-spend-more-than-90-days-in-spain Thu, 04 Mar 2021 14:08:32 +0100 how-the-non-lucrative-visa-allows-brits-to-spend-more-than-90-days-in-spain After reading an article in a Sunday supplement, Stephanie de Leng dreamed of upping sticks from Liverpool to a rural retreat in Valencia. But the journey wasn't straightforward. Here she shares with The Local what she's learnt along the way. https://www.thelocal.es/20200805/buying-off-grid-in-spain-what-i-wish-i-knew-before-i-did-it Wed, 05 Aug 2020 18:07:56 +0200 buying-off-grid-in-spain-what-i-wish-i-knew-before-i-did-it Almost any type of restoration work or home renovations requires planning permission in Spain, unlike in other countries such as the UK where you only need planning permission for major changes like extensions. https://www.thelocal.es/20210225/do-i-need-planning-permission-in-spain-and-how-do-i-apply-for-it Thu, 25 Feb 2021 18:40:25 +0100 do-i-need-planning-permission-in-spain-and-how-do-i-apply-for-it Spain is generally a safe country but there are still tens of thousands of burglaries happening every year. Here are the best ways to prevent someone from breaking into your property in Spain. https://www.thelocal.es/20200909/how-to-avoid-a-burglary-at-your-home-in-spain Wed, 09 Sep 2020 18:08:57 +0200 how-to-avoid-a-burglary-at-your-home-in-spain As the month of July kicks off in Spain, we take a close look at all the important changes that come with it, from vaccines to entry requirements, new VAT charges, car devices and more. https://www.thelocal.es/20210629/new-rules-and-laws-everything-that-changes-in-spain-in-july-2021 Tue, 29 Jun 2021 13:20:43 +0200 new-rules-and-laws-everything-that-changes-in-spain-in-july-2021 Now that the UK is no longer part of the EU, many of our British readers have been asking us about the residency and tax rules in Spain post-Brexit. We spoke to Blevins Franks's Jason Porter to offer some clarity on some common queries and worries. https://www.thelocal.es/20210616/qa-what-brits-in-spain-need-to-know-about-tax-and-residence-post-brexit Wed, 16 Jun 2021 18:57:04 +0200 qa-what-brits-in-spain-need-to-know-about-tax-and-residence-post-brexit As the summer season kicks off in Spain, there are plenty of changes that are expected to come into force, from Covid rules, to electricity rates and roadworthiness tests, vaccines and plenty more.  https://www.thelocal.es/20210601/new-rules-and-laws-everything-that-changes-in-spain-in-june-2021 Tue, 01 Jun 2021 12:51:20 +0200 new-rules-and-laws-everything-that-changes-in-spain-in-june-2021 Lisa Sadlier, who moved from Britain to raise her young family in Malaga, explains the tell-tale signs that your bicultural child has embraced their new homeland. https://www.thelocal.es/20190711/the-28-surefire-signs-that-your-child-is-definitely-spanish Thu, 11 Jul 2019 18:40:17 +0200 the-28-surefire-signs-that-your-child-is-definitely-spanish If you're thinking of getting a car in Spain this year but you're unsure about whether the coronavirus crisis has made it a good or bad time to buy, here's what you need to know. https://www.thelocal.es/20210215/buying-a-car-in-spain-in-2021-five-crucial-points-to-consider Mon, 15 Feb 2021 13:41:32 +0100 buying-a-car-in-spain-in-2021-five-crucial-points-to-consider With the rise of Airbnb and other home sharing platforms, many people are buying apartments in popular vacation areas and renting them out to earn additional income. https://www.thelocal.es/20200226/buy-to-let-what-you-need-to-know-about-renting-out-a-property-in-spain Wed, 26 Feb 2020 15:27:20 +0100 buy-to-let-what-you-need-to-know-about-renting-out-a-property-in-spain Here's The Local's quick guide to the buying process once you found a property you like in Spain. https://www.thelocal.es/20201027/process-buying-property-in-spain Tue, 27 Oct 2020 10:24:26 +0100 process-buying-property-in-spain If you are bringing a vehicle to Spain from overseas and are a permanent resident there are a few important bureaucratic hoops you have to jump through. And it's important not to waste any time. Here's what you you need to know. https://www.thelocal.es/20190716/the-step-by-step-guide-to-importing-a-vehicle-to-spain Tue, 16 Jul 2019 10:34:55 +0200 the-step-by-step-guide-to-importing-a-vehicle-to-spain The Spanish government is planning a fiscal reform which will increase personal income tax, wealth tax, inheritances, the price of diesel and more. Here’s the breakdown of a tax reform which affects all taxpayers in Spain to a greater or lesser extent. https://www.thelocal.es/20210507/new-taxes-six-key-changes-spain-is-planning Fri, 07 May 2021 12:41:43 +0200 new-taxes-six-key-changes-spain-is-planning Many Brits in Spain are anxious about what Brexit means for their access to public healthcare. Luckily there's a scheme which can solve this: the “convenio especial” (special agreement). Here's what you need to know about it. https://www.thelocal.es/20200907/brexit-how-to-access-spains-public-healthcare-if-youre-not-a-pensioner-or-working Mon, 07 Sep 2020 14:49:18 +0200 brexit-how-to-access-spains-public-healthcare-if-youre-not-a-pensioner-or-working We asked you, our readers, to tell us which apps you use to make life in Spain that little bit easier. Here are your best recommendations. https://www.thelocal.es/20190913/your-answers-the-best-apps-for-life-in-spain Fri, 13 Sep 2019 17:50:13 +0200 your-answers-the-best-apps-for-life-in-spain