Ways Brexit will affect us: Voting

How will Brexit affect British voting rights in Spain? Voting rights (both voting and standing for election) are as follows in Spain: Regional and national elections: Only Spanish nationals over the age of 18 who haven’t been disenfranchised. Local elections: Spanish nationals, EU citizens resident in Spain, and citizens of a country with a reciprocal voting agreement who comply with the terms of the agreement. EU elections: All Spanish nationals and EU citizens resident in Continue reading Ways Brexit will affect us: Voting

Britain To remove winter fuel allowance for expats in Spain

From the Times today: British pensioners living abroad in countries warmer than the UK received more than £16 million in winter fuel payments last year, according to official figures. The payments, of up to £300 a year tax-free, are intended to help the elderly with heating bills. However, more than £8 million was sent to pensioners living in Spain, £5 million to those in France, £1.4 million to those in Cyprus and £579,000 to those Continue reading Britain To remove winter fuel allowance for expats in Spain

Are Brits fleeing Spain or flooding in? Depends who you ask!

Two very contrasting stories about Almería house sales appear today in the British vs Spanish press. The Telegraph runs a piece on “End to Mediterranean dream for 90,000 Britons who left Spain last year  – British expatriates are deserting Spain in droves, according to new figures from Spain’s national statistics institute “, together with some interesting interviews from ex-expats from Arboleas, and a bit from Maura Hillen of AUAN. It’s prompted by the news that Continue reading Are Brits fleeing Spain or flooding in? Depends who you ask!

How many Brits live within 50 miles of Mojacar? Fewer than 7,000!

I was wondering how many Brits are actually living in this area. So I turned to the net. Here’s my unscientific study, done over a coffee and on the back of (two) envelopes. I setup a targeted advertising campaign on Facebook. I looked for people whose first language is English (UK) and live within 50 miles of Mojacar (Almeria). Facebook reckons there are 5,600 people matching that criteria. What percentage of the population could that Continue reading How many Brits live within 50 miles of Mojacar? Fewer than 7,000!

Are British expats in Spain really running scared? – Expat – My Telegraph

It’s OK, folks! The cavalry is coming. This Christmas as a million British expats (Is that all? Can’t we beef it up? Ed) prepare to huddle on beaches, in coach stations and at airports throughout Spain, a few paltry possessions in hand, it’s great to know that soon they’ll be whizzed off back to the good old UK by storm troopers sent to rescue them from an apparently inevitable financial melt down of Spanish banks Continue reading Are British expats in Spain really running scared? – Expat – My Telegraph

So just wait awaits our health service?

It’s the elephant in the room, actually. With elections just around the corner, the PSOE hasn’t dared touch Spains health care – but everyone knows that whoever wins, come January, the Spanish health service is going to take a large hit. And it’s already happening, in quiet little corners of Spain, as the federal regions that politically can start to save cash where-ever they can. Griñán himself admitted this today, in an interview with Ideal, Continue reading So just wait awaits our health service?

Expat bingo

Expats along the costas love bingo. No, I’m not kidding. Bingo along the coast is a huge, multi million euro business that is completely beneath the Spanish Authorities radar, and remains that way for as long as no Spaniard ventures into the expat bar with his or her five euro stake. But we’re not talking about quiet, sanitised bingo in large bingo halls, with comfy seats and a nice banker on hand if you win Continue reading Expat bingo

Eight expat homes to be demolished in Albox

Just days after our friends at the Junta said “Right, seems nobody is buying in Spain because they’re afraid we’ll say their house is illegal and knock it down – we’ll setup a real estate agency and flog only legal homes” comes the news that eight expat homes in Albox are to be demolished. Eight British homes to be demolished in Albox Why does the PSOE hate Andalucia so much? Are they really trying to Continue reading Eight expat homes to be demolished in Albox

Partaloa Liaison Office for local residents

Helen from the AUAN sent me this: A liaison office has been set up in Piedra Amarilla for the inhabitants of Partaloa.  It is situated in the old church in Partaloa and is open from 4.00pm until 6.00pm.  It is being staffed by a lady called Maite, who speaks english. This service has been provided by the Town Hall of Partaloa.  When wthe AUAN met with the mayor on the 27th March, he informed us Continue reading Partaloa Liaison Office for local residents