Hi. I am new to all this forum stuff so please be kind.
I am looking at relocating to either Spain or Portugal,around Sept if I can make it happen. I am 62 and not able to work and live on an income of 1,300 a month that will increase when I get my state pension. I have a budget to buy a property as well. I am trying my best to do research regarding the details and viability but get really confused due to me living with Post traumatic stress and how that affects me with stuff like that and form filling so I need quite a bit of hand holding. I have had enough of the uk and really want to make this happen. Any help will be amazing and gratefully received!!
Chas

Go. Do not buy yet. Look around. Be careful. Good luck ! Learn what you can of the local language. Do not assume that people who can speak your language are your friends.

Excellent comment Scot :-)

Hi Chas,

It will be best if you can make the move before end of December 2020 as after Brexit it will be much more difficult to gain legal residency.

I suggest that you rent a house or apartment for the first year to give yourself chance to get to know the area, then if everything suits then do your house hunting.

At the moment your monthly income will be enough to satisfy the authorities that you won't become a burden on the state but you will need to prove that you have full healthcare too! Employ the services of a solicitor to guide you through the process of becoming legal. And as has been said...don't trust everybody you meet.

post on here again if you need to ask more questions.

Good luck

Steve

Hi Steve

Thank you for the reply. I have been looking at 2 property's in an area I like and a local has been in touch to and I am hoping to get over in Sept to meet up with them. They know a good local lawyer who should be able to help me with all the paperwork.
Chas

seems like you have everything in hand. Keep pushing things forward and hopefully get sorted by year end!

Steve

If its a benifit that you are paid, be aware that alot of benifits from the uk are not transferable, ie: you cant claim them from outside of the uk, so please check with the DWP? before comiting to anything.

and as said above.. pretty much trust no-one. especially where money is concerned. Brits tend to take advantage of brits.

Tread carefully. Locals are very probably organising a deal from which they will personally benefit - possibly.

Try and use a local gestor rather than a lawyer and they are cheaper and know their way through the system better than some lawyers.

Hi Chas if you are still open about Spain or Portugal here is a post I made recently. Post 39.

Why so many Brits preferred Spain over Portugal?

Based on your numbers I recommend you google 'Non Habitual Resident in Portugal'. (NHR) They have a very attractive taxation package for the first 10 years including no income tax on pensions great rules for inheritance tax etc. I haven't looked at it for a few years so details may have changed. But always good to have a few extra euros in the pocket!. Going for an official NHR route may make it easier re Brexit, but again I am not current on this.

You could look at the Portuguese border towns/villages with Spain a hop, skip and jump away and come and visit our community

Jon

PS you can also find out more on the Portugal part of the forum eg

https://britishexpats.com/forum/portugal-89/moving-portugal-registering-residency-straightaway-933451/#post12872745

If you scan through the posts you'll get a good idea... As well as someone else recommending our area from the Portuguese side aka 'Eastern Algarve'

I would not use same lawyer as the seller. There is an obvious conflict of interest.