Wow, now that is a lot of paperwork

I don't think it's much more than you have to do in UK - especially if you include registering with a doctor, dentist etc.

In terms of rentals; if you sign a (legal) 6 or 12 month contract then this automatically renews for up to 3 years and then can be extended again if you wish.

The only way you would have to move is if you wish to or if the owner needed the property back as his own family home (or, of course, if you broke the agreement in some way).

What was the area you moved to like. would i be able to survive on £1,400 a month. I want to try and reduce my workload and enjoy life over there.

I need to look into driving a car over there. I have an automatic licence in the UK, so not sure where that stands me in Spain.

That question keeps coming up if someone can survive on a certain amount of money, but we're all different. Some people manage on less and cricketman (regular poster) would need 3 times that. The exchange rate can always change, so the nearly €2000 now could be €1400 in a few years, but nobody knows. A lot of people who have a home back in the UK just go to hotels in Benidorm and stay for a few weeks. You have no bills, no stress. Unless you are considering surrounding areas of Benidorm, I don't see the attraction. We have a place not too far from Lloret/Blanes/Tossa and Lloret was always considered built up because of tourism, but looking at Benidorm that's what you call built up.

I like the old town of Benidorm and the new town, and like the buzz of Benidorm, something always going on. I live in a seaside town already, so i like that enviroment, but would like to be just on the outside of Benidorm. I would like to be close enough by bus, no more than ten minutes away from Benidorm. I want a place where i can go out of the night time and relax. I have worked all my life, so i want to start enjoying life and relax more instead of working all the time.

Fair enough and if you really like Benidorm why not, but have you explored other parts of Spain? What you are looking for can be found in many parts of Spain (relaxing & going out).

Do you live in Spain?

I have been to many parts of Spain, Tenerife, Costa Del Sol, etc

The reason why I like Benidorm is because it is not too far to jump on a plane back home to visit family and friends, and for them to visit me

Point 1, The amount of time for renting is a bit on the pot luck side. I don't know any estate agents here in Benidorm that offer a 12 month contract. You will only be offered an 11 month contract. If anyone can advise me of anywhere in Benidorm that offers 12 months I would like to know please.

Point 2, In my own experience, Rent 500€/month, electricity 55€/month, fibre optic internet inc phone 55€/month. My water is in with the rent.

Point 3, I moved here when I was 63 (early retirement ), my better half has medical problems and has improved dramatically since moving to this wonderful climate. We to always wanted to live in Benidorm and do not regret it, it's a very lively place if you go into the town and club area but there are loads of quiet places too.

Point 4, Dependant on your lifestyle you could easily manage on £1400 a month, we manage on less. If you are expecting to find work here You need to think again, there are many desperate people here wanting work and will work for little money. Luckily I am retired and don't need to work.

If you are coming out next March I'd be happy to meet up with you anywhere in Benidorm and chat about Benidorm and what living in Spain is about, good and bad! If you PM me I'll give you my Spanish Phone number.

Renting suits us fine, we don't want the hassle of buying, insuring, maintaining ete (although we do some maintenance to keep the apartment nice). We sold everything we had when we left the UK. We thought about coming to live here for many years, we love it here and don't intend going back. We were glad to sell our property as we didn't really want to go back to the town we lived in. You will have to pay tax here for the rental income you get from renting your house out in the UK. If we really had to return to the UK then we would rent there too. So you never really "burn your bridges " as some say.

Not permanently but have a place in Spain. Just saying that you shouldn't rush into a permanent move and can avoid all the paperwork etc. until you're 100% sure that you want to move your whole life over there. Apart from the Canary Islands, the whole of Spain is not very far from the UK. Mallorca is also a great place.

If one were to point out to them (politely of course) that these aren't worth the paper that they're printed on and perhaps point them at the appropriate rental laws, then maybe they will begin to understand.

It's about time that these 'rogue' agents started to conduct business legally and 'properly'. [/rant]

please explain more

You are perfectly right on this point but in reality. ..................

No. We didnt there originally to live there forever, so it was already half planned by the time the tax thing and health issue kicked in.

Our budget per month was around €1500. It was better when we first moved there as the r/ex was around 1.48. By the time we left it was recovering from 1.1 up to around 1.18. We lived happily on that budget, but then again we had no rent to pay. In Benidorm you can get very cheap menu del dias and the famous €1 breakfasts. Your £1500 will of course be more like €2000 a month and even with rent that sounds OK in benidorm to me. I see the rate of exchange is around €1.40 at the moment which of course you get more for your £ but bear in mind it could always drop again!

Depends what your work is, as to if you can cut down your hours. The normal work day is different in Spain than the UK

Yummy those famous €1 breakfasts just like those €1 burgers.

Yep, you can survive in Benidorm on absolutely shite food

There are actually some really nice restaurants in Benidorm, but they aint cheap :-)