bills
Feb 16th 2021 | 2:51 am
#16
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From: Costa Blanca
Re: bills
Keith - I would say your IBI is very high but probably nothing you can do. Your community charges are also on the high side but as you say nice gardens and pool cost money to maintain unless the community is overpaying the contractors.
Shame you could not use it much in 2020 - hopefully, you can make up for the lost time in the near future.
Shame you could not use it much in 2020 - hopefully, you can make up for the lost time in the near future.
Feb 16th 2021 | 2:54 am
#17
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From: Xirles Tiny village near Polop
Re: bills
I think we paid €54 each for the flat (theres 3 of us on the deeds) €2 each for the garage space and €5 each for the storeroom.
Me and the wife will be resident by the time the next lot come through so we wont have to pay, but the boy will as he is still a UK resident.
Mar 1st 2021 | 8:13 pm
#18
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Joined: Apr 2020
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Re: bills
Hi Tictac, So far everyone that has replied seems to have tiny bills. I wish mine were. I bought a 3 bed duplex apartment on a gated community beside a golf course on Costa Esuri, near Ayamonte, Andalucia. The purchase price back in 2014 was a bargain but the bills are much more than above. Due to Covid the property has been uninhabited in 2020 other than 10 days in late feb. The water bills paid to Ghiasa incidentally include the charge for rubbish bin collection. Electric charges are 95% standing charges for a low current supply. Hence as for the year as follows :
WATER ............................... 286 euros
ELECTRIC ( endesa).......... 253
IBI ( council tax) ..................566
EUC ....................................171 ( sort of unadopted road maintenance charge)
TASA de RESIDUOS .......... 74 ( no idea what this is for)
BLOCK MAINTENANCE..... 980 ( covers garden maintenance / upkeep, stairwell cleaning, pool maintenance etc)
INTERCOMMUNITY FEE ...240 ( covers the upkeep of internal roads, fencing, electric gates, minimal security.)
NON RESIDENT TAX..........270 ( government assumes you rent it out on the sly even though you don't hence the charge just in case ??? )
BBVA bank charges............126 ( needed to pay for all the taxes and charges)
TAX REPRESENTATION.... 55 ( someone has to deal with the tax authorities to tell them we don't rent it out and receive income )
GRAND TOTAL................. 3021 euros. One year for a property we used for ten days due to covid. Bargain !! only 302 euros for each day. Sarcastic !!
OH I forgot....... plus 180 euros for ultra slow WIFI internet - now cancelled.
Don't get me wrong - it's a nice apartment, nice gardens and pool, very little concrete unlike some developments and we love it. But it's not cheap. I have no idea why the charges are so high, but each of them are compulsory. No opt out possible.
Keith
WATER ............................... 286 euros
ELECTRIC ( endesa).......... 253
IBI ( council tax) ..................566
EUC ....................................171 ( sort of unadopted road maintenance charge)
TASA de RESIDUOS .......... 74 ( no idea what this is for)
BLOCK MAINTENANCE..... 980 ( covers garden maintenance / upkeep, stairwell cleaning, pool maintenance etc)
INTERCOMMUNITY FEE ...240 ( covers the upkeep of internal roads, fencing, electric gates, minimal security.)
NON RESIDENT TAX..........270 ( government assumes you rent it out on the sly even though you don't hence the charge just in case ??? )
BBVA bank charges............126 ( needed to pay for all the taxes and charges)
TAX REPRESENTATION.... 55 ( someone has to deal with the tax authorities to tell them we don't rent it out and receive income )
GRAND TOTAL................. 3021 euros. One year for a property we used for ten days due to covid. Bargain !! only 302 euros for each day. Sarcastic !!
OH I forgot....... plus 180 euros for ultra slow WIFI internet - now cancelled.
Don't get me wrong - it's a nice apartment, nice gardens and pool, very little concrete unlike some developments and we love it. But it's not cheap. I have no idea why the charges are so high, but each of them are compulsory. No opt out possible.
Keith
Thanks a lot for the information and yes that is really expensive compare to the others but good to know so I must be careful. I think I would rent a holiday let at first and have a look around. Thank you once again Keith
Mar 1st 2021 | 8:20 pm
#19
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Joined: Apr 2020
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Re: bills
I need to ask something because it is in my mind for a couple of days. Do you all speak fluent Spanish? I'm learning Spanish but I would not be able to call an internet provider when there would be a problem or electricity company 
Mar 1st 2021 | 9:01 pm
#20
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Joined: May 2014
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Re: bills
I did holiday spanish over 20 years ago at the local college. 2 x 10 week evening classes. beyond that just practice. The Marcus Santamaria course online is very good as well. But NO I don't speak good Spanish or fluent. If I had to go to the town hall with a problem I would ysually " mug up" first on what I need to convey, and go for it. The more time you spend there the easier ir gets. The biggest problem is NOW. Due to covid it was 12 months since last there. You forget a lot especially at almost 70. I will need to spend time doing the online course before we next go. The only thing I find really easy is reading spanish Menu's. They seem to be indelibly etched into the brain. Never have a problem in bars or resto's. I once had a difficult problem with the electric bills and I got my tax advisor at the solicitors to sort it for me. Some things are not possible over the phone unless you are really fluent.
Mar 1st 2021 | 9:39 pm
#21
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Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 6,255
Re: bills
A lot of people underestimate the challenges, so it's good you ask. We only have a 2nd home in Spain, so didn't have to worry about internet, car insurance etc., but it can be a challenge if you need something done quickly. Luckily a lot of people speak English in our area and with Google translate you can kind of communicate, so I mainly use email for communication. Simple things like calling plumber or trying to get a refund suddenly aren't that simple.
Mar 1st 2021 | 9:40 pm
#22
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Re: bills
Thank you Keith. I've a voice translator on my mobile and yes I would prepare myself before I go somewhere learning the words and writing down. Unfortunately there aren't any classes in this times but maybe at the end of the year or so. I learn with ''Duolingo" is a free app and not so bad. I would also take lessons as soon as I'm there but this will take time. Thank you once again Keiith
Mar 1st 2021 | 10:00 pm
#23
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Re: bills
It a very good question and one that many Brits simply regard as irrelevant. Since we left EU any Brit wishing to live in Spain and drive will need to do a Spanish driving test and that means Spanish will be required for the practical part of exam. Again it appears that many Brits regard this as a formality and not an obstacle. I bothered to study Spanish. I went to classes, I read newspapers, watched TV it took years and now I am at a B2 level. It was hard work and took commitment and a lot of humility. It really annoys me when I stand in the queue at the healthcare centre and hear Brits yapping on in English as if the whole world has a duty to learn English. So ,whilst it might be true that some services will speak some English dont expect it. You should start looking for classes first where you are taught the basics ,especially pronunciation. The apps etc tend to be fairly disappointing and what you need is something motivating and also the mindset to make the commitment. At the end it tells you alot about yourself so give it a try
Mar 1st 2021 | 10:01 pm
#24
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Re: bills
You're right Moses2013 people keep telling me I don't need to learn Spanish everybody speaks English but I think that are the people they go there only on holidays for 1 week per year ;-) I think also Spanish people appreciate it when you make the effort and learning the language special when you live there. Thanks Moses2013
Mar 1st 2021 | 10:06 pm
#25
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Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 5,426
From: Velez-Malaga
Re: bills
I would certainly never say I speak fluent Spanish, but would describe myself as a competent speaker. I've dealt with everything like registering as a resident, registering our S1 forms with the INSS and registering at the medical centre, registering on the padrón, swapping our residencia cards for TIEs, doctor and hospital appointments (including telephone consultations since the start of the pandemic), dealing with Spanish tradesmen about everything from minor jobs to quite extensive renovations, getting a refund from my electricity supplier, getting broadband installed, having our tax returns completed at our local Hacienda office and later completing them myself online, sorting out my double taxation form and getting certificates of fiscal residence from Hacienda both for selling a house and for submission to HMRC, without using a gestor or translators.
When we moved here I was determined to learn. Started off with a short intensive course (2 hours a day for 4 weeks), then twice a week group lessons for the next 18 months plus for the final 6 months an intercambio two evenings a week with a Spanish student of the same language school who was learning English, for conversation practice - and lots of homework too of course! Hard work, and quite a lot of financial outlay too, but worth it imo.
If you have some knowledge of the language before you arrive it will give you a head start.
When we moved here I was determined to learn. Started off with a short intensive course (2 hours a day for 4 weeks), then twice a week group lessons for the next 18 months plus for the final 6 months an intercambio two evenings a week with a Spanish student of the same language school who was learning English, for conversation practice - and lots of homework too of course! Hard work, and quite a lot of financial outlay too, but worth it imo.
If you have some knowledge of the language before you arrive it will give you a head start.
Mar 1st 2021 | 10:07 pm
#26
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Re: bills
Thank you Chipmonk yes I need to go to classes and will do it as soon as there are any available but in the meantime I'm learning with apps and try to learn as many Spanish vocabularies as possible.
Mar 1st 2021 | 10:10 pm
#27
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Re: bills
it looks like you're fluent Lynn R and very fluent when you can deal with all the things. Yes that is my plan to learn as much as possible now and then I would do the same like you intensive course and all the other things. Thank you Lynn R
Mar 1st 2021 | 10:13 pm
#28
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Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 5,426
From: Velez-Malaga
Re: bills
All the British people I know who do speak fluent Spanish (other nationalities tend to do rather better) have either grown up and been educated here, or are married to a Spaniard and thus immersed in Spanish family life, or work with Spanish colleagues every day. None of those apply to me and I think its impossible for anyone who isn't in a total immersion setting on a daily basis to become genuinely fluent. I could probably do better if I joined Spanish groups doing various activities, but once I got to the stage where I could manage to do what I needed to do, I got lazy and I'm not much of a joiner.
Last edited by Lynn R; Mar 1st 2021 at 10:57 pm.
Mar 1st 2021 | 10:21 pm
#29
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Joined: May 2014
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Re: bills
I just think its ignorant to EXPECT the Spanish to speak to us in English in THEIR country. With a relatively small Spanish vocabulary by some effort to study it's not too difficult to "get by". You will get the gender wrong sometimes and tend to speak in present tense but that doesn't matter. At least you tried and spoke in Spanish. They appreciate you trying and sometimes their english will meet your spanish if you've got stuck on something. On the whole the Spanish are pretty nice people and many younger generation now speak some english, but we shouldn't expect it. The Marcus Santamaria course online is often available at cut price/ half price and I found it the best, especially for a quick revision. I probably sound like the english version of Manuel in Fawlty towers, but no ones complained yet !!
Mar 1st 2021 | 11:15 pm
#30
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Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 1,256
From: Xirles Tiny village near Polop
Re: bills
I just think its ignorant to EXPECT the Spanish to speak to us in English in THEIR country. With a relatively small Spanish vocabulary by some effort to study it's not too difficult to "get by". You will get the gender wrong sometimes and tend to speak in present tense but that doesn't matter. At least you tried and spoke in Spanish. They appreciate you trying and sometimes their english will meet your spanish if you've got stuck on something. On the whole the Spanish are pretty nice people and many younger generation now speak some english, but we shouldn't expect it. The Marcus Santamaria course online is often available at cut price/ half price and I found it the best, especially for a quick revision. I probably sound like the english version of Manuel in Fawlty towers, but no ones complained yet !!
My biggest issue doesn't come from speaking, as I use my limited vocabulary, the odd prompt from google and a bit of hand waving (although I can't for the life of me get why stuff is all sex linked, a table is a table, its not male or female!).
But the reply, its delivered at lightning speed, so I have to ask for a repeat and at that point a lot of the time around here, the conversation goes into English.
Ive been watching Spanish news channels with Spanish subtitles so I can try to recognise words.
Once lessons start again here, Im going to sign up for a course, but for now I get a word of the day emailed to me, and its explained and used in a sentence and I used one of the online ones as well. I doubt I will ever be able to hold a conversation about anything complicated but I will be happy to be understood and to understand back.
