THE WORD ON THE STREET
News and information from Spain
International Edition - September 2018
Welcome to the September issue of 'The Word on the Street'. This is your monthly news and information from Spain provided by Ábaco Advisers. We hope to keep you in touch with the news, events and just a little bit of gossip.
It’s Imserso time again!
It’s Imserso time again!

This is a reminder that if you are in receipt of a state pension and living in Spain you are entitled to take part in the Imserso subsidised holiday programme. The registration and booking season is now open in the Valencian community and if you would like to find out more about what’s available you can approach a local travel agent who makes the reservations.

Many of our clients have been able to visit different parts of Spain at a very reasonable cost and stay in 3 and 4 star hotels between October and June. The scheme is sponsored by the Spanish government and enables hotels to keep busy during the off-peak season. If you are eligible, it’s an opportunity that’s just too good to miss.
Buoyant property market
Buoyant property market

It’s been a healthy year when it comes to buying and selling in Spain. Between April and June 2018 the number of properties sold was 12.4% up on the previous year. There are regional differences behind this figure with some areas retaining and growing in popularity.

If you would like a more detailed break down read our article:

Spain enjoys record house sales and prices
Don’t let your sale fall through
Don’t let your sale fall through

The last thing you want if you have your house on the market is for the sale to fall through at the last moment. Some problems are not of your making and if your buyer pulls out you can claim compensation. But what about if the fault is yours?

The first step is to make sure that you have all the correct documentation in place and that there are no unforseen hold ups on your part. To check what you should have available read our article.

Beating Brexit
Beating Brexit

As the end of March approaches and confusion reigns you might want to think about ways in which you can ensure that there are not too many unpleasant surprises for you and your family.

There are many aspects of Brexit that we can do nothing about and don’t even know what the implications might be. However, when it comes to inheritance there are actions you can take now to minimise any problems in the future. Find out more in this article from our legal department:

The living will
The living will

Having taken decisions all your life, you want to make sure that those at the end of it are your wishes too. Making a ‘living will’ can help secure the final days as you want them to be for you and those you love. In this article we explain more about the instructions that you can leave for end of life care in Spain:
Getting ready for Brexit – advice about residency
Getting ready for Brexit – advice about residency

In this article, David Ruiz explains about permanent residency and how you can go about ensuring that you are as well prepared as you can be for Brexit if you’re British. We don’t know what will happen for sure but this is one way you can reduce the odds:

Ever thought about leaving it all behind?
Ever thought about leaving it all behind?

Marc Furnival did and now he lives and works in Asturias in a small village. In this article from The Local, he describes what motivated him and how it happened.

How to make a complaint in Spain
How to make a complaint in Spain

There are several ways in which you can register your displeasure when buying products or using services in Spain. Money Saver Spain describes how you can make a complaint at the OMIC office (Oficina Municipal De Información al Consumidor).


You can also read their article about the Hoja de Reclamaciones:

What do people complain about?
What do people complain about?

In this article from The Telegraph we have a quick resume of some of the main complaints people express when they’re on holiday:

Worst airports
Worst airports

The journey by plane can be seen as part of your holiday. However, it doesn’t always go to plan and some airports do not make the experience either easy or enjoyable. Here we have a list of those that have been nominated as the worst airports in the world.

There are perhaps a few surprises in this list as it’s not confined to airports in the back of beyond. Many of the ones given a low rating here are large and important key airports in their respective countries:

Coping without cars
Coping without cars

If you’ve ever been to Tabarca Island – the little island off shore from Santa Pola, Alicante, you might have noticed a lack of cars. Cars are only allowed on the island for specific reasons, and what a difference it makes.

Now Pontevedra in Galicia has declared itself to be a car-free zone. They’ve discovered numerous benefits from a reduction in traffic accidents, to improved air quality. There are those, however, who aren’t too happy with the scheme.

Is Madrid really the coolest city?
Is Madrid really the coolest city?

Well it is according to Time Out. Embajadores in Madrid was found to come top as the coolest neighbourhood in the survey which included more than 15,000 people. San Antoni in Barcelona came in at 22nd spot:

It’s another article about finding peace in a Spanish retreat
It’s another article about finding peace in a Spanish retreat

This time El País in English tell us about the people settling in Pinilla de Ambroz and how it has come to be an attractive destination for artists. Over the years many little villages have been left abandoned as the Young people have moved out to find work and more activity in other places. This is a rather intriguing reversal with retired people being the source of the revitalised Hamlet.
The Murcianos are the biggest beer fans in Spain
What’s your favourite tipple?

Is it beer or are you rather partial to a glass of wine? A survey has shown that there are regional differences when it comes to what people choose to drink in Spain.

In Murcia it seems to be the beer which is preferred with 76% indicating this as their favourite. However, in La Rioja, it’s perhaps no surprise that beer isn’t as popular with 29% choosing this above their local wine.
We explain more about it in this article:


What interests you?
What interests you?

We would welcome any suggestions for future themes you would like us to cover either in the newsletter or in an article on Spain Explained.

Please let us know by email at newsletter@abacoadvisers.com.

Thank you!

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