Business or private?
Feb 15th 2023, 8:57 am
#31
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 6,148
Re: Business or private?
To give you an idea of winter running costs, in the summer I'm paying around 125 per month with the AC running. Autumn, winter and spring it's around 60 per month. My gas bill hovers around 50/month (100 for 2 months) from April to December and 200/month for the winter. I'm not big on heating the whole house, just the downstairs. In fact my bedroom was 14 degrees when I woke up this morning.
I also bought 3000KG of wood which should last the rest of the winter. That cost me 375. Our fires are the cassette type with fans, not open fires.
I live at less than 100m above sea level near Valencia so it's not a cold area, the house was built in the 70's and improved in the 90's. Double glazing everywhere, pitched roofs with lower ceilings. Finally, I rarely work from home so these bills are for a mostly unheated house.
In summary, winters here are not warm and utilities are not cheap. Although from what I hear the UK has gotten a lot worse than Spain in that regard.
I also bought 3000KG of wood which should last the rest of the winter. That cost me 375. Our fires are the cassette type with fans, not open fires.
I live at less than 100m above sea level near Valencia so it's not a cold area, the house was built in the 70's and improved in the 90's. Double glazing everywhere, pitched roofs with lower ceilings. Finally, I rarely work from home so these bills are for a mostly unheated house.
In summary, winters here are not warm and utilities are not cheap. Although from what I hear the UK has gotten a lot worse than Spain in that regard.
Even where we are near Lloret it's a lot drier than Estepona during winter and they see double or triple the rainfall but our nights are a lot colder and we see slightly more rain in summer.
Winter:
Summer
Feb 15th 2023, 4:06 pm
#32
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Aug 2009
Location: Disneyland, Dubai
Posts: 15,887
Re: Business or private?
I'm currently building a large house in Marbella and have an excellent developer working with me. If you want to discuss more reach out. To answer your questions:
1/ Lawyers are useless - they are not liable for their advice and it is often wrong. You need a solid Architect for this to check the planning / zoning rules etc.
2/ Your plot most likely does not have the permissions you are being told it has
3/ Company vs Personal. Largely makes no difference - while you think you will skip the capital gains tax, the company structure is looked through here and any attempt to avoid capital gains tax is a huge issue.
4/ You will need either "the big license" or a self declaration. Either way, you will need an Architect to sign everything off. He puts his name to this and my experience won't break the law/zoning regulations.
5/ Don't be an idiot on how you build... respect noise, days of the week etc. One phone call to the townhall and your site will be stopped. I know people who attempted 12 hour days 7 days a week. It ended badly.
1/ Lawyers are useless - they are not liable for their advice and it is often wrong. You need a solid Architect for this to check the planning / zoning rules etc.
2/ Your plot most likely does not have the permissions you are being told it has
3/ Company vs Personal. Largely makes no difference - while you think you will skip the capital gains tax, the company structure is looked through here and any attempt to avoid capital gains tax is a huge issue.
4/ You will need either "the big license" or a self declaration. Either way, you will need an Architect to sign everything off. He puts his name to this and my experience won't break the law/zoning regulations.
5/ Don't be an idiot on how you build... respect noise, days of the week etc. One phone call to the townhall and your site will be stopped. I know people who attempted 12 hour days 7 days a week. It ended badly.
Feb 15th 2023, 6:16 pm
#33
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 6,148
Re: Business or private?
I'm currently building a large house in Marbella and have an excellent developer working with me. If you want to discuss more reach out. To answer your questions:
1/ Lawyers are useless - they are not liable for their advice and it is often wrong. You need a solid Architect for this to check the planning / zoning rules etc.
1/ Lawyers are useless - they are not liable for their advice and it is often wrong. You need a solid Architect for this to check the planning / zoning rules etc.
Before buying do plenty of research.
When buying, use a lawyer and do the geotechnical survey.
The geotechnical survey will actually show if the land is even suitable to build. In this case the land must already have one if there is really planning permission. I would also request to see this before paying anyone. Then you will need the architect.......
Feb 15th 2023, 7:44 pm
#34
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Aug 2009
Location: Disneyland, Dubai
Posts: 15,887
Re: Business or private?
I don't totally disagree, but would be careful saying this. An architect doesn't check disputes, access rights and can't deal with missing IBI payments, won't get you NIE numbers and help with the buying process (bank account etc.). The architect is also constrained by the findings of the geotechnical survey.
Before buying do plenty of research.
When buying, use a lawyer and do the geotechnical survey.
The geotechnical survey will actually show if the land is even suitable to build. In this case the land must already have one if there is really planning permission. I would also request to see this before paying anyone. Then you will need the architect.......
Before buying do plenty of research.
When buying, use a lawyer and do the geotechnical survey.
The geotechnical survey will actually show if the land is even suitable to build. In this case the land must already have one if there is really planning permission. I would also request to see this before paying anyone. Then you will need the architect.......
The lawyer found issues with previous build issues. Most of his findings were not totally correct, but he did check for previous disputes, payments etc. He did flag a build up area issue with the site.
The engineer highlighted the built up area issue, and some issues with drains and trees. The laywer told me about the trees.
The architect found the correct planning documents and solved the BUA issue.
The developer would only develop around 90% of the project until the architect solved the issue. The developer presented the project etc. to the town hall.
You need all. My point on the legal is unlike the UK, they are not the end of the process nor can be fully relied upon. All that said, I was very happy with mine.
Feb 15th 2023, 7:52 pm
#35
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 6,148
Re: Business or private?
Yes to be clear, we had a lawyer, technical engineer do a site survey and the architect.
The lawyer found issues with previous build issues. Most of his findings were not totally correct, but he did check for previous disputes, payments etc. He did flag a build up area issue with the site.
The engineer highlighted the built up area issue, and some issues with drains and trees. The laywer told me about the trees.
The architect found the correct planning documents and solved the BUA issue.
The developer would only develop around 90% of the project until the architect solved the issue. The developer presented the project etc. to the town hall.
You need all. My point on the legal is unlike the UK, they are not the end of the process nor can be fully relied upon. All that said, I was very happy with mine.
The lawyer found issues with previous build issues. Most of his findings were not totally correct, but he did check for previous disputes, payments etc. He did flag a build up area issue with the site.
The engineer highlighted the built up area issue, and some issues with drains and trees. The laywer told me about the trees.
The architect found the correct planning documents and solved the BUA issue.
The developer would only develop around 90% of the project until the architect solved the issue. The developer presented the project etc. to the town hall.
You need all. My point on the legal is unlike the UK, they are not the end of the process nor can be fully relied upon. All that said, I was very happy with mine.
.
Feb 15th 2023, 9:07 pm
#36
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Aug 2009
Location: Disneyland, Dubai
Posts: 15,887
Re: Business or private?
Feb 15th 2023, 9:10 pm
#37
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Aug 2009
Location: Disneyland, Dubai
Posts: 15,887
Feb 16th 2023, 9:22 pm
#38
Just Joined
Thread Starter
Joined: Feb 2023
Location: London
Posts: 9
Re: Business or private?
I'm currently building a large house in Marbella and have an excellent developer working with me. If you want to discuss more reach out. To answer your questions:
1/ Lawyers are useless - they are not liable for their advice and it is often wrong. You need a solid Architect for this to check the planning / zoning rules etc.
2/ Your plot most likely does not have the permissions you are being told it has
3/ Company vs Personal. Largely makes no difference - while you think you will skip the capital gains tax, the company structure is looked through here and any attempt to avoid capital gains tax is a huge issue.
4/ You will need either "the big license" or a self declaration. Either way, you will need an Architect to sign everything off. He puts his name to this and my experience won't break the law/zoning regulations.
5/ Don't be an idiot on how you build... respect noise, days of the week etc. One phone call to the townhall and your site will be stopped. I know people who attempted 12 hour days 7 days a week. It ended badly.
1/ Lawyers are useless - they are not liable for their advice and it is often wrong. You need a solid Architect for this to check the planning / zoning rules etc.
2/ Your plot most likely does not have the permissions you are being told it has
3/ Company vs Personal. Largely makes no difference - while you think you will skip the capital gains tax, the company structure is looked through here and any attempt to avoid capital gains tax is a huge issue.
4/ You will need either "the big license" or a self declaration. Either way, you will need an Architect to sign everything off. He puts his name to this and my experience won't break the law/zoning regulations.
5/ Don't be an idiot on how you build... respect noise, days of the week etc. One phone call to the townhall and your site will be stopped. I know people who attempted 12 hour days 7 days a week. It ended badly.
