But here is a list of some things that we wished we’d known before we made the move to the Canaries.

1. We wished we had known about companies such as HiFX, and how much money we could have added to our pot, simply by transferring our savings to Spain through them.

2. Official documentation. Make sure that you have FULL copies of birth certificates for yourselves and your children. These full documents have both your parents’ name on too – unlike the shorter versions which omit this… and aren’t worth the paper they’re written on here for anything remotely legal… but which are the ones given out in the UK as standard. It is much easier to get those copies before you move over, than once you’re here… so do get them.

3. We wish we had learned more Spanish. Ok… so it hasn’t held us back in business (almost all of our clients speak English) but out of respect for the country we have moved to, and its people – we wish we’d made more of an effort. Moving to a foreign land is daunting enough… and knowing a bit more of the lingo is one less hurdle to overcome.

4. I wish I had brought all my kitchen stuff over. I left things behind such as our slowcooker, breadmaker, and silly little things like that. We planned to buy all new once we arrived… and were horrified by the prices of electrical items once we were here. Whilst trying to settle into new home, you really don’t need the extra expense.

That’s it really. But we’d like to hear from you – and what things you wished you’d known before you arrived. Either drop us an email to info@fuerteventurarelocation.co.uk or leave a comment

Things to raise alarm bells are:
Your own name or email address not being in the “To” section
Hovering your cursor over the link (don’t click it) bringing up dodgy code that doesn’t match the site it is supposed to

If you receive anything like this, just delete it. If you are concerned that perhaps you are missing something from your bank, then phone your own branch – they will tell you if someone has been trying to contact you.

And never EVER log in using your bank details, email or password to a website that you are unsure of.

Here is a screen grab to show you the email. Click it, to open it up full size.

Stay safe!

“OK now I know that a few people throughout the Canaries are getting a little bit frustrated waiting for their new sky cards to come and can only imagine how difficult it can be to keep getting rid of the warning if you have a bar or other business showing games.

TIP:
If you select any program you wish to watch from the SKY TV Guide and then select it to “Autoview” then leave the box to bounce in to the program without pressing any backup or selecting the channel you will find that the warning doesn’t appear again until after the program has finished!”

Thanks Phil! We don’t have Sky… but we know many who do… so hope that your tip helps them out.

Elle xx

If there is not an article subject here, that you would like to see, then drop us a line… and we’ll see what we can do!

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P R S T U W Y

6 useful tips

A

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A resident’s perspective

Abortion in Fuerteventura

Alcoholics anonymous in Fuerteventura

Applying for residencia in Fuerteventura

Applying for residencia in Fuerteventura – do I have to?

B

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Beware of the sharks

Bus routes and timetables in Fuerteventura

C

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Christmas in Fuerteventura

Clothing sizes in Fuerteventura

Contact Us

Conversational Spanish

Corralejo

Counselling in Fuerteventura

Credit crunch in Fuerteventura

D

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Driving in Fuerteventura

Driving tips for Fuerteventura

Duty free allowances in Fuerteventura

E

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Easy paella recipe

Evicting tenants in Fuerteventura

F

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Family planning in Fuerteventura

Financial Commentary – July 2009

Financial Commentary – Aug 2009

Finding work in Fuerteventura

Flights to Fuerteventura

Fuerteventura

Fuerteventura weather

G

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Getting a cervical smear test in Fuerteventura

Getting a NIE number in Fuerteventura

Getting a phone line in Fuerteventura

Getting prescriptions in Fuerteventura

Goodbye England

Google Earth image of Fuerteventura

H

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Having a baby in Fuerteventura

Health Centres and hospitals in Fuerteventura

House repossessions in Fuerteventura

I

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Issuing a denuncia in fuerteventura

J

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Jobs in Fuerteventura

K

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Kids fly free – May 2009

L

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Late night chemists in Fuerteventura

Leaving loved ones behind

Links for Fuerteventura websites

Live Fuerteventura airport arrivals and departures

Lottery in Fuerteventura

M

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Mortgages in Fuerteventura

Mosquitoes in Fuerteventura

N

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NIE application form download

O

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Opening a bank account in Fuerteventura

P

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Putting a car through an ITV in Fuerteventura

Q

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R

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Recycling in Fuerteventura

Regional surf forecast for Fuerteventura

Residencia form for download

Retiring to Fuerteventura

S

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Shipping pets to Fuerteventura

Shipping your belongings to Fuerteventura

Social security in Fuerteventura

Social Security in Fuerteventura 02

Spain property owners can save money

Spam emails in Fuerteventura

Spanish building terms

Spanish words around the house

Spanish words for your Fuerteventura kitchen

Stop Sky card warning from showing

Supermarkets in Fuerteventura

T

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Telefonica in Fuerteventura

Television in Fuerteventura

Transferring money to Fuerteventura from the UK

U

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Useful numbers

V

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W

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Weddings in Fuerteventura

What does it take…?

When do the clocks change in Fuerteventura?

Wills in Fuerteventura

Wiring a Spanish plug in Fuerteventura

Working in Fuerteventura – EU Legislation

Expats returning home and buying property in the UK will be able to benefit from some of the measures announced in the Budget.

The primary benefit is that anyone who is planning on buying a house worth less than £175,000 between now and December 31 will not have to pay any stamp duty, after Alistair Darling extended the exemption for properties up to this value until the end of the year. After this, the threshold for one per cent Stamp Duty will return to £125,000.

However, a key change to the tax treatment of holiday lets abroad will be of major benefit to any expats who have qualifying properties.

Until now, landlords with income from furnished holiday accommodation in the UK were able, for tax purposes, to treat that income as if they were trading, as long as they satisfied certain tests under the Furnished Holiday Lettings (FHL) rules. Foreign properties were not treated the same way.

But the Government is now not sure that this complies with European legislation, so until 2010, when the FHL rules will be repealed for all, anyone with a “qualifying” FHL in the European Economic Area (EEA) who is subject to UK tax on the income and capital gains from the property will get tax treatments available to traders.

Qualifying conditions must be met for these reliefs to apply and the property must be within an EEA country (see below).

Those expats who are no longer domiciled in the UK for tax purposes will also see some changes to the rules applied to them.

There will no longer be an obligation for non-domiciles in the UK who have overseas employment income of less than £10,000 a year and overseas interest of less than £100 to file a self-assessment return if the money is subject to a foreign tax. This takes effect from April 6, 2008.

Exemptions are also extended to allow property purchased out of foreign employment income and foreign chargeable gains as well as relevant foreign income with effect from April 6, 2008, said accountants Grant Thornton.

Chris Mills, director at Grant Thornton said: “These ‘minor’ amendments will in the main help to clarify the rules, but are an admission of the complexity created last year.

“Many of these amendments have been backdated to April 2008 when the original legislation became effective. This shows what happens when legislation is conceived, drafted and introduced too quickly.”

Offshore account holders who should have been paying UK tax on their income will also have a New Disclosure Opportunity from HMRC, which will allow them to disclose unpaid tax and settle their debts until 2010. It is also seeking powers to require financial institutions to divulge information about offshore account holders.

The Government is also “clarifying” the rules which provide relief from UK tax under double taxation agreements.

HMRC stated: “These changes, effective from April 22, prevent a deduction for foreign tax on the receipt of a Manufactured Overseas Dividend by a company, where the economic cost of the foreign tax has not been borne by the company. It will also ensure that banks always take a reasonable proportion of their funding costs into account in the calculation of double taxation relief.”

Those who persist in evading tax face the prospect of being “named and shamed” on the HMRC website. Those making genuine mistakes will not be targeted, but those making persistent attempts to avoid paying the right amount of tax will be.

The Chartered Institute of Taxation (CIOT) said it “supports the stamping out of tax evasion and will not be opposing this measure as long as it is targeted only at deliberate tax offences”.

It also supports setting a minimum amount, below which action would not be pursued.

Countries in the EEA

Austria, Liechtenstein, Belgium, Latvia (since May 2004), Bulgaria (since January 2007), Lithuania (since May 2004), Cyprus (since May 2004), Luxembourg, Czech Republic (since May 2004), Malta (since May 2004), Denmark, Netherlands, Estonia (since May 2004), Norway, Finland, Poland (since May 2004), France, Portugal, Germany, Romania (since January 2007), Greece, Slovakia (since May 2004), Hungary (since May 2004), Slovenia (since May 2004), Iceland, Spain, Ireland, Sweden, Italy, United Kingdom.

Source: HM Revenue & Customs

Qualifying conditions for FHL

Certain conditions must be met in order to qualify for the tax treatment provided under the Furnished Holiday Lettings rules:

•The property must be situated in the EEA.

•The business must be carried on commercially, and with a view to a profit.

• Availability: the property must be available for commercial letting as holiday accommodation to the public for at least 140 days during the relevant 12-month period.

• Letting: the property must be commercially let as holiday accommodation to members of the public for at least 70 days during the relevant 12-month period. A letting for a period of longer term occupation is not a letting as holiday accommodation for the purposes of the letting condition.

• Pattern of occupation: not more than 155 days must fall during periods of longer term occupation.

• A period of longer term occupation is a continuous period of more than 31 days during which the accommodation is let to the same person.

• For individuals with a continuing FHL business, the relevant 12-month period will be the tax year to 5 April.

Where the qualifying conditions are not met during the relevant period, the FHL rules do not apply for that tax year or accounting period. In that situation, the normal rules on overseas property income will apply for that tax year or accounting period.

For further details on the treatment of overseas property income see http://home.inrev.gov.uk/pimmanual/PIM4703.htm

Source: Telegraph Newspaper

In the current climate, every penny and centimo counts… which is why we’re very pleased to be able to flag up the services of a brand new website that is designed to cut the costs for you – dramatically! For just €49, Taxes Online can take care of this process for you, whether you are a sole owner, or one of multiple owners of a property in Spain.

You can calculate your tax bill on the website, and then choose to use their services to process it all for you. There is a simple questionaire to be filled out, and then you just need to email or fax a couple of pieces of paperwork.

This is ideal for people who own a Spanish property… but that cannot file the papers themselves because they still live in the UK.

The face behind the company is Ben Simkins… a well known and extremely trusted and respected asesoria in Lanzarote. Ben has been processing taxes, and carrying out other legal services for many many years on the Island, and launched his new venture on the 1st May 2009.

We wish Ben and his team all the very best of luck – and would encourage anyone who owns a property in Fuerteventura to have a look at the website and save themselves some money… simply by paying their taxes online.

www.taxesonline.es

Although not a nice subject to discuss… it is a vital one, because death usually comes unexpectedly – and this is why it is always best to draw up a will in Fuerteventura as soon as possible. The last thing you want to be worrying about whilst grieving, is that you need to sort out legal matters in a country where you may not speak the lingo – and even if you do… how is your legal knowledge? We would always recommend that you have a will – this is especially important if you own property in Fuerteventura.

Broadly speaking, anyone from the age of 14 years old can write a will. There are three main types of will – Holographic, Open, and Closed.

Closed Will – this type of will is exactly what it sounds like. A copy of the will is placed within an unsealed envelope and provided to a Notary. The Notary will ask you to make a formal declaration that you have made your own provisions in the will, and attest that you have written it yourself (occasionally it can have been written by a third party). This means that your wishes within your will are kept secret. The Notary will seal the envelope and keep it in his files for you, whilst also notifying the “Registro Centro de Última Voluntad” in Madrid. This will is not allowed to be made by blind or illiterate people.

Holographic Will – this type of will is completely in the testator’s handwriting, and dated and signed by him/her on every page. It must be witnessed as genuine in front of a judge by someone who knows the testator and can verify that the handwriting is indeed theirs. Once it has been verified, the judge will accept the contents, and the estate can then be divided out in accordance with the testator’s wishes on the event of their death.

Open will – this is the type of will that most people in Lanzarote will opt for. It is made before a notary, who will keep a copy of it on file. They will also arrange for a copy to be sent to the “Registro Centro de Última Voluntad” in Madrid. The Notary is within his rights to request the presence of 2 witnesses.

Who can act as a Witness?

Anyone over the legal age. However – you cannot be a witness if you are deaf, mute, blind, or illiterate. Your spouse, and in some cases immediate relatives, cannot act as witnesses either.

Every will is given its own unique certification number, and this is filed at the “Registro Centro de Última Voluntad” in Madrid. Legal copies of all Spanish wills can be found there – which is needed in case it is unsure whether a deceased person made a will or not. You can then gain the name of the Notary who made the will, and you can get a copy from them. This has to take place within 15 days of the person’s death.

Changing your will.

This can be done at any time, providing the person who made the will is still of sound mind. If more than one will exists… it is the latest will that is deemed the true will. The “Registro Centro de Última Voluntad” will advise you which will this is.

A will is deemed invalid in any of the following situations (not an exhaustive list):

1. If the testator was not of sound mind when the will was written.

2. If the testator has been found to have been under duress, fraud, or domination when the will was made

3. When a beneficiary cannot be identified

4. When the will has been revoked and a new will drawn up in its place

5. A holographic will is null if it is niot filed before a judge within 5 years of the testator’s death

6. A Closed will is voided if the envelope it is contained in is damaged

Inheritors
The following can inherit.

In the first instance it is the children of the testator ( a compulsory heir)

The second instance – if no children exist, then it can be his parents. ( a compulsory heir)

The third instance – the surviving spouse ( a compulsory heir)

Voluntary heirs – the testator may specify beneficiaries

If no compulsory heirs exist, then the voluntary heirs can inherit all of the assets

If somebody dies without leaving a will, then Spanish Law intervenes. Also, even if a will has been written – Spanish Law can deemit as non existent in the following situations:

· When there are assets not mentioned in the will

· When the heirs do not accept the terms of the will, or it has not been accepted within the correct time frame

· When an heir is incapable of inheriting

· If the will was in the process of being destroyed

· When the will does not include the correct compulsory heirs, or if a person is named as being a compulsory heir when they are not.

The Spanish laws of succession set out the following hierarchy of inheritors in case of intestacy:

Descendants: The decedent’s issue and their descendants will inherit in the first place. Either legitimate, illegitimate child or individuals adopted have the same succession rights.

· Ascendants: They will inherit when the decedent dies without leaving issue. They will inherit in equal parts.

· The spouse will inherit if the decedent has neither issue nor ascendants.

· Collateral family: If the decedent had neither descendants, nor ascendants, nor spouse, his brothers and/or sisters will inherit equal parts of the estate. Nephews/nieces will inherit the portion that would have corresponded to the brother/sister deceased (brother/sister of the testator and father/mother of the nephews/nieces who shall inherit)

· Cousins will inherit when there exist no one of the individuals above mentioned.

· The Spanish Government will inherit when there exist no one of the individuals above mentioned.

This article is merely an introductory guide. Of course we always recommend that you seek the services of a qualified person to carry out any legal activities on your behalf.

I’d like to expand, and correct these types of statements…

Fact: – it is tough getting a job in Fuerteventura… it is at the best of times – in the current financial climate it is near impossible.

Fact: Yes there is a credit crunch, as everywhere – many people are heading back to Britain and Ireland, We guess this is in many cases to a life of benefit, at least for the time being, as they may not be entitled to use the system here.

Fact: Yes, you do need to be here, but in the current climate it doesn’t really improve your chances much. Bear in mind (if you are thinking of bar work) that bars and restaurants in many cases have a number of residents – and holidaymakers – asking for work daily. Many other businesses are suffering with, perhaps, the builders and estate agents being hardest hit.

Fact: Many bars and restaurants are far from booming, and some are even closing. Tourist numbers are down (which is not specific to Fuerteventura – it’s the world over), the application of a little common sense will tell you that with increasing unemployment and a drop in visitor numbers there isn’t going to be much, if anything, about.

If you read this site regularly, you will know that we always do our best to portray the island well – but what we won’t do is lie to you.

So, if you are thinking about it seriously, and you are looking for a ‘regular job’, make sure you have a suitable financial safety net. The chances of finding a regular job as a new resident are severely limited at the moment… If you are moving out – temper your dream with a sense of realism!

Alan

There is less in the way of traffic pollution, the air is warmer and drier, the joints and muscles just don’t ache like they previously did.  However, don’t take all of this for granted. There will without doubt come a time when you really do need some medical help, and if you are not fluent in the local lingo – then visiting your healthcare centre in Fuerteventura can be extremely nerve racking.

The healthcare service in Fuerteventura is of an excellent standard – as indeed in the whole of Spain itself. There are very few towns on the Island without a dedicated healthcare centre – so there should be one close enough by.

To find your nearest… click HERE for a list of the Hospitals and Health Centres in Fuerteventura

People coming from European countries have the right to free medical care. However, it will be helpful to pick up your EHIC card from the Post Office before you move. This will ensure that you are covered for the first three months free healthcare. After that, you will need to get your “Tarjeta de Social Seguridad”. We got ours from our Asesoria – but if you are not working here, then you will need to make other arrangements for health care in Fuerteventura.

When visiting a doctor at your health centre – you are entitled to be accompanied, by someone who can speak Spanish — especially as most of the health care professionals on the Island speak only Spanish. This does not need to be a relative (unless you are a minor) but can simply be someone that you don’t mind knowing your “ins and outs”. Just as in the UK, if you are not happy with the Doctor you have been assigned, then you can change – but do not expect this to be easy… just as it isn’t always easy in the UK.  Remember also, that queueing isn’t a Spanish thing, so you may find people jumping ahead. Don’t get upset by this… just gently and politely make your presence known. Of course if it is an emergency, then head to the hospital in Puerto del Rosario

Stay healthy!

Whilst we can say goodbye to the giddy heights of 100% plus mortgages there are still some good rates and more importantly options available.

With property prices at amazingly low prices all over Spain people are discovering that they can still secure that property in the sun. The banks are still lending albeit cautiously.

The negatives.

Restrictions on lending to the Self Employed, along with those employed in Building trades, Investment Banking and Property. These groups are not disregarded totally but will face more scrutiny than before.

Properties that are harder to mortgage include Rustic Hotels, and Apart hotels, there are lenders but only a small selection.

Income to debt ratios are now more stringent and need to be 30% to 35% (a decrease of 5%).

The positives.

The current best on offer for non residents-

80% of purchase price if valuation allows. (But will not exceed 70% of valuation)

Best rates at 70% including interest only facility  – 12 month Euribor plus 1.39%
Best rate 70% repayment  – 12 month Euribor plus 1.15%

One lender is offering full term interest only but rates are higher at 1.8% above 3 month Euribor and 65% of purchase price is the maximum.

The majority of lenders are offering -

65% to 70% of Valuation or Purchase Price whichever is lowest.
Up to five years interest only

Euribor is at its all time lowest as of today –

12 month Euribor 1.85% today
3-month Euribor 1.81%
Monthly Euribor 1.12% this month

Documentation required for an application –

• Credit file in full www.creditexpert.co.uk
• 3 to 24 months bank statements
• Latest tax return P60 or self-assessment
• Accountants or employers reference
• 3 months pay slips
• Utility bill proving residency
• Passport
• NIE certificate

For a full overview and more information regarding what is available on a case by case basis or for residents please contact me on nic@rhlanz.com

This information is accurate at time of writing, and all applications are subject to status