28 Jan 2012 11:32:

Hi. We have owned a property in Spain for 4 years, it took several visits to the Sumo office befor being registered. then last year they chased me even though I told that we had no Habitation Certificate when we had visited the office and were told you don't  pay without the HC. We were misinformed at the Sumo Office as they don't inform their staff of the law. Even without the HC you still have to pay and also pay the unpaid years. my advice is visit the Sumo Office.

If you have a Spanish Bank account then you will or should get a form to fill in via the Bank to give the Spanish authorities your details, this happens by-anually, I think the information you give tells the authorities the information they need to send out any tax bills you need to pay as it ask's for all your personal identity information.

The local government also charge a (Council Tax/Rates) But we are yet to find out what we have to pay, We are both UK pensioners & Non resident, waiting for the complex to be completed and have spent short periods each year in our Spanish Property.

If you have a solicitor then he should inform you of all this, our Solicitor was very poor giving information needed to keep you legal in Spain, but that is another story we sacked our Spanish Solicitor,  who was recomended by the Property Agent, Therefore we don't have a solicitor in Spain, trust had been spoiled by the prevoius one. We hate being in debt and hope one day it will be made clear by the Spanish Government what taxes have to be paid by non residents in Spain.

Hope this is of help.

 

 

This message was last edited by doedoe on 28/01/2012.

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04 Dec 2011 11:20:

We purchased & completed in 2008, Spanish lawyer/solicitor recommended by Atlas charged huge fees and failed to tell us that the builder was in debt and was about to fail. After paying the Builder through the lawyer in full for the utility service meters to be installed via the builder we are still waiting in 2011 for the pleasure of having meter's. We have signed & pay the Sumo Tax but have never seen a general tax bill.

The local council in Rafal have since 2008 been informed of our problems via the president's of our complex, non of the many unfinished problems have been improved, the community pay for the work to be done, we still wait with baited breath for the now new party in office to check the complex & decide to grant the Habititation Certificate which will enable the Utility companies to install the long awaited meters & the water utility company agree that the drains etc are complete.

Several Nationals have been resident since 2007 & the community fund pays for the utility costs. Without the Habitation Certificates it is not permitted to reside in a premises. UK owners who spend just a few weeks holiday and pay the €80 a month community fee have never received a bill for the general rates. The Sumo Office in Calliosa, which we visited several times before they send the Sumo bill to our rafal address don't talk to the local council and therefor we have not heard if and what is due. 

The latest accumulation of work needed at a cost of over €100,000. for building the road, installing the water pump to all floors (the original pump was taken by the builder for another site) repairs to the swimming pool. Electrical equiptment to divide the current to each individual apartment & meter.

This is just touching on the problems our complex has and the fact that we do not have mail delivered. We go to the Rafal Post Office to collect mail. the problem with this is that the Post Office send the mail back if it is not collected within two weeks.

 

 

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18 Sep 2011 14:49:

 Hi Jon,

When I signed up with Halifax Espania in 2006 the deal I obtained from them was to keep €600 in the current account and we would have no expenses other than the €25 annual fee. This works with the UK account with Halifax/LLoyds as well as the Spanish Account.  We have never have any problems.

Doedoe.

 

 

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16 Sep 2011 16:58:

 Halifax who are now in partnership with LLoyds in Spain are very helpful, I have a Halifax account in the UK & Spain which allows me to transfer funds without fees. They will help you with all day to day banking in both countries.

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07 Jul 2011 12:01:

Hi,  I am sure Maria will confirm that each community should have its own rules. However, The Spanish Property Law, I believe to say that all debts on a property are passed on to the new Owner. Though I have heard that 2 years of debt should be paid on purchase but the balance could stay as a debt. Maybe to be claimed through the Courts. As you might know this could take in excess of 10 years to claim, or even abused by paying a small amount like €5 a month.  

Would it not be wonderful to see Spanish Law changed to prevent all these dishonest builders & solicitors from cheating their customers.  Sadly to many Lawyers are tarred with the same brush and so not do the search they collect fees for.  

Maria is the best person to ask information on Spanish Law, She may not agree with all she tells you. She could agree that the Spanish Property Laws are in need of huge reform.

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