September 2009
Hot Property News Letter – September 2009
Welcome to this issue of the Hot Property news letter which we hope you find informative and helpful. If you have any suggestions for future issues, comments or questions, which we can address in future issues, you can contact us at info@hotpropertyspain.net
1: TEN TOP REASONS TO LEAVE THE
UK
With apologies to readers from other European countries, and to all true Brits, we list the results of a short survey as to why UK residents want to leave home shores and move to Spain. No doubt you can think of your own list.
In descending order.
10. Council tax. The extortionate cost of local services that never seem to improve, with much of the money being wasted by bad decision-makers who never seem to be taken to task, until the next election.
9. The lack of respect for others from many levels of society. The "I’m all right Jack” attitude.
8. Drunkenness & anti social behaviour, which make many town centres no go zones at night. The need for ABSO´s, even for some pensioners.
7. Traffic Jams, which are never ending and ever-present on a Bank Holiday. The M25 or the M62.
6. Spongers & dole cheats receive large hand outs, when many British, particularly the elderly, who do not complain and live in hardship.
5. The "it is always someone else’s fault” culture. When no one will take responsibility for problems of their own doing.
4. Fear of going out at night. The increase in gang crime, particularly the use of knives and guns, within the inner cities.
3. Politicians. Their ‘do as we say, not do as we do, attitude’. The fact that they forget they are servants of the people and not the masters. Recorded facts of 635 sitting MP`s, 29 have been accused of spouse abuse, 7 have been arrested for fraud, 9 have been accused of writing bad cheques, 17 have directly or indirectly bankrupted at least 2 businesses, 3 have done time for assault, 71 cannot get a credit card due to bad credit, 14 have been arrested on drug-related charges, 8 have been arrested for shoplifting, 21 were defendants in lawsuits and 84 have been arrested for drink driving.
2. Crime & Justice. When a hard working father is murdered and the killers only get 7 years in prison. Where so called "Joy Riders” gat a slap on the wrist and are told not to do it again, for the 10th time. Where £ 20,000 can be spent taking a drunk to court for stealing a 25p banana. (He was found not guilty).
1. With all these reasons, some of which are very disturbing and are a reflection of the corrupt and failed society that we have ourselves produced, the winner is predictably - THE WEATHER!
Or the lack of a warm enjoyable summer.
Britain is a country where you can never plan a Bar-B-Q for more than one hour ahead in case it rains. Where the skies are invariably grey and the mornings are usually damp, cold or frosty, with fog, all of which helps to cause even more traffic chaos.
Where the summer season just does not occur at all, as a short spring jumps into a short autumn, before the winter is back again.
So, when you are relaxing by your Spanish pool, enjoying the sun and drinking a small treat, and all your stress is subsiding into a mellow afternoon of your existence, then all of the above is just an unpleasant memory, slowly fading away into nothingness. Enjoy the moment!
2:WHAT IS IBI?
All property owners in
Spain, of both commercial as well as domestic, including building and agricultural land or buildings, have to pay a local tax, or local rates, which in
Spain is called IBI.
It is to be paid every year and it will be the home owner’s responsibility to register for IBI. However, for those buying resale property this should be taken care off during the purchase process.
The owners of new build property should ensure that the land is registered and that the property is registered on completion.
The amount of the annual payment is determined by the value assigned to the property by the administration, which is known as Valor Catastral , or the rateable value. It is calculated on the value of both the land on which your property is built and the building itself.
The tax rate, which has been approved by each Town Council, and which is the same for all properties within the municipality, will be applied to this rateable value.
As an example, rateable value x Local tax rate = Yearly payment so 10,000€ at an approved rate of 0.75% = 75€.
It is however fair to say that in
Spain that the local tax is much cheaper than the
UK. As an example the IBI on a seven bedroom property in
Calpe, constructed in 2000, is 150€ per the year, as opposed to approximate £ 1,200 or 1,400€
Translation of the terms on the IBI
Organismo = Part of administration. Ident. Valor = Identification of the value.
Ref. lista = Reference on listing. Concepto tributario = Concept of taxation. - Zona = Area. Num. Recibo = Receipt number. D.N.I. & C.I.F. = Identification number of taxpayer. Objeto Tributario = Tax object. Periodo = Interval of taxation. Año = Tax year. F. Alta = Year of fiscal registration. Referencia catastral = Catastral reference number. Nat. Bien = Class of property. V. Catastral = Catastral value. B. Imponible = Rateable value. Tipo = Tax rate. Cuota = Gross taxes. Bonificación = Deductions. Deuda = Net taxes. Rev. Valores = Year of last revision of value. Sujeto Pasivo = Taxpayer. Domiciliación Bancaria = Direct debit. Sello y Fecha = Stamp and date. Total a Pagar = Total amount to be paid. Periodo de Cobro = Payment period. Referencia = Reference.
3: WATER SUPPLY IN
SPAIN
Spain is different from the
UK in that water supplies are the responsibility of the local town council.
The writer lives in
Calpe and can, from knowledge, state that the company appointed by the Town Hall is Aguas de Calpe.
Calpe water is sourced from a well, which is named Lucifer, and is located within a small village in the mountains. This system is set up with the agreement of the village and they receive payment from
Calpe
Town hall for this service.
Other coastal towns have their own supplies and therefore the quality of water from town to town varies. Some supplies, including Javea, come from desalination plants, the number of which the Regional Government seems keen to increase.
A recent court case has ruled that the water company, which had wanted to raise prices beyond the price fixed by the government, to reflect major renovations to the mains installation, could not do so. The case was brought forward by a leading consumers union and the town hall.
Although the water rates will increase, this result means the increase will be as previously agreed for the infrastructure improvements.
Water is an imperative necessity, no matter where you live, but as we live in a hot climate, all users should ensure that they use it in a sensible manner so that none is wasted.
All Spanish properties are fitted with a water meter. However, it can be that in certain community developments, it is possible that there are no individual water meters and you will get your share of the total water bill from the administrator of the community of owners.
In most cases, the meter is located within the structure of the boundary wall of the property, or close by in an area where a number of different meters are installed.
It is important to ensure that you, as the property owner, are registered with the local water company. To register, locate the office of the water company and take with you a copy of your escritura, your NIE-number, last receipt in the name of previous owner and identification documents.
Please note that it has been known for a vendor to tell you just to continue the old contract in their name. This is not to be recommended, since any notifications about problems or unpaid bills may be sent to his name and returned.
As with all utilities, it is important to ensure that bills are paid on time. For this, the best system of payment, especially for non-residents, is by a standing order to your bank. You notify the water company to send any bills to the bank to be charged against your account. Then you give your bank a copy of your water contract and fill in a form authorising them to pay the bills.
Many expats have decided not to drink tap water, although the standard has greatly improved over the recent years. It is easy to buy bottled water at very reasonable cost from local supermarkets, although those not wishing to carry it home, can invest in modern filtration systems to supply a drinking tap to the kitchen sink.
The writer buys bottled water for drinking, but uses standard tap water for all other purposes, including washing fruit and ingredients for salads, making tea, washing teeth etc.
So there is no real reason not to drink the water, other than taste.
4:PENÓN DE IFACH
In many property details, we state views of the Penón de Ifach, so what is the Peñón?
Well, quite simply, it is Calpe Rock, the symbol of the Costa Blanca. It is formed from limestone rock, which rises from the sea to a kilometre in length. It is home to exclusive endemic plants and over 300 species of animals, including colonies of sea birds that use it as a nesting area. The Penón is accessed via the nature centre and access is limited in certain times, due to nesting birds and to protect the flora.
The name is formed from a connection of two meanings. Ifach, which means "North" in the Phoenician tongue and Peñón which means rock. So the Penón is the North rock and
Gibraltar is the South Rock. Calpe is also an ancient name for
Gibraltar and it still appears in names and in the motto "Montis Insignia Calpe" which is traditionally placed on the Coat of Arms of Gibraltar.
Welcome to this issue of the Hot Property news letter which we hope you find informative and helpful. If you have any suggestions for future issues, comments or questions, which we can address in future issues, you can contact us at info@hotpropertyspain.net
1: TEN TOP REASONS TO LEAVE THE
With apologies to readers from other European countries, and to all true Brits, we list the results of a short survey as to why UK residents want to leave home shores and move to Spain. No doubt you can think of your own list.
In descending order.
10. Council tax. The extortionate cost of local services that never seem to improve, with much of the money being wasted by bad decision-makers who never seem to be taken to task, until the next election.
9. The lack of respect for others from many levels of society. The "I’m all right Jack” attitude.
8. Drunkenness & anti social behaviour, which make many town centres no go zones at night. The need for ABSO´s, even for some pensioners.
7. Traffic Jams, which are never ending and ever-present on a Bank Holiday. The M25 or the M62.
6. Spongers & dole cheats receive large hand outs, when many British, particularly the elderly, who do not complain and live in hardship.
5. The "it is always someone else’s fault” culture. When no one will take responsibility for problems of their own doing.
4. Fear of going out at night. The increase in gang crime, particularly the use of knives and guns, within the inner cities.
3. Politicians. Their ‘do as we say, not do as we do, attitude’. The fact that they forget they are servants of the people and not the masters. Recorded facts of 635 sitting MP`s, 29 have been accused of spouse abuse, 7 have been arrested for fraud, 9 have been accused of writing bad cheques, 17 have directly or indirectly bankrupted at least 2 businesses, 3 have done time for assault, 71 cannot get a credit card due to bad credit, 14 have been arrested on drug-related charges, 8 have been arrested for shoplifting, 21 were defendants in lawsuits and 84 have been arrested for drink driving.
2. Crime & Justice. When a hard working father is murdered and the killers only get 7 years in prison. Where so called "Joy Riders” gat a slap on the wrist and are told not to do it again, for the 10th time. Where £ 20,000 can be spent taking a drunk to court for stealing a 25p banana. (He was found not guilty).
1. With all these reasons, some of which are very disturbing and are a reflection of the corrupt and failed society that we have ourselves produced, the winner is predictably - THE WEATHER!
Or the lack of a warm enjoyable summer.
Where the summer season just does not occur at all, as a short spring jumps into a short autumn, before the winter is back again.
So, when you are relaxing by your Spanish pool, enjoying the sun and drinking a small treat, and all your stress is subsiding into a mellow afternoon of your existence, then all of the above is just an unpleasant memory, slowly fading away into nothingness. Enjoy the moment!
It is to be paid every year and it will be the home owner’s responsibility to register for IBI. However, for those buying resale property this should be taken care off during the purchase process.
The owners of new build property should ensure that the land is registered and that the property is registered on completion.
3: WATER SUPPLY IN
Although the water rates will increase, this result means the increase will be as previously agreed for the infrastructure improvements.
Water is an imperative necessity, no matter where you live, but as we live in a hot climate, all users should ensure that they use it in a sensible manner so that none is wasted.
All Spanish properties are fitted with a water meter. However, it can be that in certain community developments, it is possible that there are no individual water meters and you will get your share of the total water bill from the administrator of the community of owners.
In most cases, the meter is located within the structure of the boundary wall of the property, or close by in an area where a number of different meters are installed.
It is important to ensure that you, as the property owner, are registered with the local water company. To register, locate the office of the water company and take with you a copy of your escritura, your NIE-number, last receipt in the name of previous owner and identification documents.
Please note that it has been known for a vendor to tell you just to continue the old contract in their name. This is not to be recommended, since any notifications about problems or unpaid bills may be sent to his name and returned.
As with all utilities, it is important to ensure that bills are paid on time. For this, the best system of payment, especially for non-residents, is by a standing order to your bank. You notify the water company to send any bills to the bank to be charged against your account. Then you give your bank a copy of your water contract and fill in a form authorising them to pay the bills.
Many expats have decided not to drink tap water, although the standard has greatly improved over the recent years. It is easy to buy bottled water at very reasonable cost from local supermarkets, although those not wishing to carry it home, can invest in modern filtration systems to supply a drinking tap to the kitchen sink.
The writer buys bottled water for drinking, but uses standard tap water for all other purposes, including washing fruit and ingredients for salads, making tea, washing teeth etc.
So there is no real reason not to drink the water, other than taste.
4:PENÓN DE IFACH
In many property details, we state views of the Penón de Ifach, so what is the Peñón?
Well, quite simply, it is Calpe Rock, the symbol of the Costa Blanca. It is formed from limestone rock, which rises from the sea to a kilometre in length. It is home to exclusive endemic plants and over 300 species of animals, including colonies of sea birds that use it as a nesting area. The Penón is accessed via the nature centre and access is limited in certain times, due to nesting birds and to protect the flora.
The name is formed from a connection of two meanings. Ifach, which means "North" in the Phoenician tongue and Peñón which means rock. So the Penón is the North rock and
2:WHAT IS IBI?
The amount of the annual payment is determined by the value assigned to the property by the administration, which is known as Valor Catastral , or the rateable value. It is calculated on the value of both the land on which your property is built and the building itself.
The tax rate, which has been approved by each Town Council, and which is the same for all properties within the municipality, will be applied to this rateable value.
As an example, rateable value x Local tax rate = Yearly payment so 10,000€ at an approved rate of 0.75% = 75€.
Translation of the terms on the IBI
Ref. lista = Reference on listing. Concepto tributario = Concept of taxation. - Zona = Area. Num. Recibo = Receipt number. D.N.I. & C.I.F. = Identification number of taxpayer. Objeto Tributario = Tax object. Periodo = Interval of taxation. Año = Tax year. F. Alta = Year of fiscal registration. Referencia catastral = Catastral reference number. Nat. Bien = Class of property. V. Catastral = Catastral value. B. Imponible = Rateable value. Tipo = Tax rate. Cuota = Gross taxes. Bonificación = Deductions. Deuda = Net taxes. Rev. Valores = Year of last revision of value. Sujeto Pasivo = Taxpayer. Domiciliación Bancaria = Direct debit. Sello y Fecha = Stamp and date. Total a Pagar = Total amount to be paid. Periodo de Cobro = Payment period. Referencia = Reference.