Questions

Buying a property in Spain can be confusing and extra charges, although not deliberately hidden, are
often ignored, forgotten or 'down played' until the process is financially committed to or nearing completion.
A simple cost which is often forgotten is furnishing the new home or moving your existing items from the UK
which can be very expensive.
The table below provides a guide to these charges and how a Mobile / Park home is
not applicable to the majority of them.

So you have moved to Spain and your income may limited, you may be retired and on a pension for instance.
Although Spain is still far cheaper than the UK it is, unfortunately, steadily getting more expensive
which needs to be planned for.
Avoiding regular monthly outgoings, or at least keeping them to the minimum,
is for many people a priority to allow them to enjoy their life with a limited or fixed income.
The table below clearly illustrates the advantage of a mobile / park home in
reducing monthly outgoings while providing a stable, secure and pleasant lifestyle with
far less stress and concern for the future.

		ONGOING MONTHLY / YEARLY COSTS
Question	Mobile home, known as a 'Park home'	Flat / Apartment	Terrace House	Villa or detached house
Community Charge to cover cost of maintaining swimming pool, gardens, cleaning, communal areas, lift maintenance, building maintenance etc	NO Included in the site rent.	YES	YES	YES In new urbanisations
Water charge	NO Included in the plot rent.	YES Monthly standing charge plus meter usage. The sewage charge is based on water use.	YES Monthly standing charge plus meter usage. The sewage charge is based on water use.	YES Monthly standing charge plus meter usage. The sewage charge is based on water use.
Electric charge	NO The charge is for units used only.	YES Monthly standing charge, meter rental plus units used.	YES Monthly standing charge, meter rental plus units used.	YES Monthly standing charge, meter rental plus units used.
Gas charge	Bottles are kept on park. Refills are currently €10.50	Lorry calls possible one day per week. Alternatively you will have to collect from nearest depot.	Lorry calls possible one day per week. Alternatively you will have to collect from nearest depot.	Lorry calls possible one day per week. Alternatively you will have to collect from nearest depot.
Rubbish collection charge	NO Included in plot rental.	YES Yearly charge paid to council. Bins may be located up to 500mtrs away.	YES Yearly charge paid to council. Bins may be located up to 500mtrs away.	YES Yearly charge paid to council. Bins may be located up to 500mtrs or more away.
SAT TV	On our Park Homes a signal is supplied but a decoder is needed. approx €300	Make your own arrangements, Buy a complete system including dish which may need permission of the Communidad. Approx €800	Make your own arrangements, Buy a complete system including dish which may need permission of the Communidad. Approx €800	Make your own arrangements, Buy a complete system including dish which may need permission of the Communidad. Approx €800
Question	Mobile home, known as a 'Park home'	Flat / Apartment	Terrace House	Villa or detached house
Security	Excellent with 24hr on site staff.	Make your own arrangements with alarms and security devices.	Make your own arrangements with alarms and security devices.	Make your own arrangements Can be a problem with 'country remote' villas as suitable alarms are difficult to install.
Language	English and Spanish speaking staff are on site.	Interpreter may be required.	Interpreter may be required.	Interpreter may be required.
Council tax	Does not exist in Spain.	Does not exist in Spain.	Does not exist in Spain.	Does not exist in Spain.
Rates	NO	YES Based on property value.	YES Based on property value.	YES Based on property value.
Wealth tax	NO	YES Paid yearly on deed value.	YES Paid yearly on deed value.	YES Paid yearly on deed value.
Tax on resale	NO	YES Plus valia tax paid to local council on a council calculated increase in land value. Capital gains tax on profit from sale to Spanish tax authority and also in many cases declared to UK Inland Revenue.	YES Plus valia tax paid to local council on a council calculated increase in land value. Capital gains tax on profit from sale to Spanish tax authority and also in many cases declared to UK Inland Revenue.	YES Plus valia tax paid to local council on a council calculated increase in land value. Capital gains tax on profit from sale to Spanish tax authority and also in many cases declared to UK Inland Revenue.
Death	Notify park owner	Present Spanish will, or an English will OFFICIALLY translated, stamped and registered in Spain. Pay death duties. A tax advisor, interpreter and Notario will be required.	Present Spanish will, or an English will OFFICIALLY translated, stamped and registered in Spain. Pay death duties. A tax advisor, interpreter and Notario will be required.	Present Spanish will, or an English will OFFICIALLY translated, stamped and registered in Spain. Pay death duties. A tax advisor, interpreter and Notario will be required.
Question	Mobile home, known as a 'Park home'	Flat / Apartment	Terrace House	Villa or detached house

		INITIAL PURCHASE
Question	Mobile home, known as a 'Park home'	Flat / Apartment	Terrace House	Villa or detached house
Purchase price	Holiday home from €25,000. Twin unit chalet up to €70,000	From €125,000	From €150,000	From €250,000
Extra costs involved with purchase	NO Normal VAT invoice	Approx 10-12% on top of the purchase price to cover cost of Notario, land register, Stamp duty Gestor etc.	Approx 10-12% on top of the purchase price to cover cost of Notario, land register, Stamp duty Gestor etc.	Approx 10-12% on top of the purchase price to cover cost of Notario, land register, Stamp duty Gestor etc.
Buying furnishings	NO All furniture and 'white goods' are supplied with the mobile home unless you specify otherwise.	YES You will generally need to buy all the furniture and white goods.	YES You will generally need to buy all the furniture and white goods.	YES You will generally need to buy all the furniture and white goods.
Connection charge for services Water, Gas, Electric	NO	YES	YES	YES
Gas inspection of new install plus gas contract (prices vary)	NO Included in purchase price	YES	YES	YES