The Complete Guide to Living And Working in Spain

by Davey, Charles

• ISBN13: 9780749444204
• ISBN10: 0749444207
• Edition: 2nd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2005-07-27
• Publisher: Kogan Page Ltd

Summary

The Complete Guide to Living and Working in Spain is the most comprehensive and up-to-date guide available. Packed with detail, it covers every aspect of the move in a practical and straightforward style. With maps, addresses, websites, travel information and useful words and phrases, The Complete Guide to Living and Working in Spain is your essential guide to taking the plunge and heading for the sun!

Table of Contents

Preface	xiii
1 The regions of Spain: choosing where to live	1	(78)
Property prices and the cost of living	2	(1)
Education	2	(1)
Proximity of facilities	3	(1)
The local population	3	(6)
Transport links to your home country	9	(1)
Availability of English-speaking contacts	9	(1)
British/Irish/US goods and services	9	(1)
The regions	10	(69)
2 Finding accommodation	79	(22)
Renting a home in Spain	79	(6)
Finding a home to rent	85	(1)
Visiting the property	85	(1)
Rental contracts	85	(1)
Protection afforded by Spanish law	86	(1)
The rental agreement	87	(3)
Before you move in	90	(1)
When you come to leave	90	(1)
Resolving disputes	91	(1)
Right of first refusal	91	(1)
Accommodation for young people: housing initiatives for 18- to 30-/35-year-olds	91	(1)
Short-term, seasonal and student accommodation	92	(1)
Further information on renting	93	(1)
Buying a property in Spain	93	(8)
3 Finding a job in Spain	101	(22)
The Spanish labour market	101	(1)
Unemployment benefit	102	(1)
Finding employment	103	(6)
Qualifications	109	(2)
Specific job categories	111	(8)
General websites in English	119	(1)
Websites in Spanish	120	(1)
Working on the black market (economia sumergida)	121	(1)
Once you have your job offer	121	(2)
4 The contract of employment: your rights and obligations	123	(13)
The contract of employment	123	(1)
The terms in the contract	124	(1)
Protection provided by Spanish law	124	(1)
The minimum wage	125	(1)
Remuneration	126	(1)
Working time	126	(1)
Holidays	127	(1)
Retirement and pensions	128	(1)
Travel expenses	128	(1)
Restrictions imposed by employers	128	(1)
Leave	128	(1)
Sickness leave	129	(1)
Maternity and paternity leave	129	(1)
Extended leave of absence	130	(1)
End of the contract of employment	130	(1)
Redundancy	130	(1)
Dismissa1	131	(1)
The employment of women	132	(1)
Workers under 18	132	(1)
Disabled workers	133	(1)
Protection against sexual harassment	133	(1)
Discrimination	133	(1)
Employee representation	134	(1)
Sources of advice on employment issues	134	(2)
5 Starting and running a business in Spain	136	(7)
Taxation of business	140	(1)
Business premises	141	(1)
Bank finance	141	(1)
State aid and other assistance	142	(1)
Insurance	142	(1)
6 Income tax and social security contributions	143	(6)
Liability to pay Spanish taxes	143	(1)
Income tax (impuesta sobre la yenta de las personas fiszcas, IRPF, or La Renta)	143	(2)
Income tax on imputed income from property	145	(1)
Social security contributions	145	(4)
7 Settling in	149	(37)
The new Spain	149	(1)
The political and administrative system	150	(1)
Cultural differences	150	(1)
Culture	151	(1)
Spanish bureaucracy and the gestor	152	(1)
Your right to stay in Spain	152	(3)
Retiring to Spain	155	(1)
Payment of other UK benefits whilst living in Spain	156	(3)
Entitlement to Spanish state benefits	159	(1)
Importing your belongings	160	(1)
Pets	161	(2)
Taking and transferring money to Spain	163	(1)
A Spanish bank account	164	(3)
Household insurance	167	(1)
Communications: the telephone and postal system, fax, and the Internet	167	(2)
Television and satellite	169	(2)
The railway system	171	(1)
Welcome to Spain	171	(2)
Formalities	173	(1)
Speaking and learning the language	173	(2)
Your neighbours and you	175	(1)
The time of day	176	(1)
Tipping	176	(4)
Up-to-date warnings!	180	(1)
The police	180	(1)
Emergencies	181	(1)
Crime	181	(1)
Accidents and criminal injuries	181	(1)
Accidents at work	182	(1)
Consumer protection	182	(1)
Trouble with the police and the courts	183	(1)
Getting married in Spain	183	(1)
Deaths of British citizens in Spain	184	(1)
Voting in Spain	184	(1)
Taking Spanish nationality	184	(1)
Local property tax	185	(1)
8 Education	186	(9)
Pre-school education (educación infantil)	186	(1)
Choices for primary and secondary education	186	(3)
The Spanish system: state and private	189	(1)
Bilingual children	190	(1)
Bilingual summer camps	191	(1)
Dual qualifications	191	(1)
University education	191	(2)
Instituto de Empresa	193	(1)
Occupational training	193	(1)
The Open University	193	(1)
Research	193	(1)
Study abroad	193	(2)
9 Healthcare and the Spanish health system	195	(5)
Your rights to medical care in Spain	196	(2)
Private insurance	198	(1)
Language difficulties	198	(1)
Pharmacies	198	(1)
Emergency treatment	199	(1)
Vaccinations	199	(1)
10 You and your car	200	(5)
Importing your car	200	(1)
Traffic regulations	201	(1)
Driving licences	202	(1)
Insurance	203	(1)
Purchasing a car	203	(1)
Annual vehicle tax and MOT	204	(1)
Drink-driving	204	(1)
11 Heating and utility bills	205	(6)
Choosing how to heat your home	205	(2)
Air-conditioning	207	(1)
Electricity bills	207	(1)
Water bills	208	(1)
The telephone	209	(1)
Direct debit	210	(1)
12 Spanish inheritance laws and the taxation of capital	211	(9)
Spanish rules of succession	211	(1)
A working solution	212	(1)
Inheritance tax (impuesto sobre sucesiones y donaciones)	213	(2)
Avoiding Spanish inheritance tax	215	(1)
Making a wi11	215	(2)
Capital gains tax (impuesto sobre el ineremento patrimonial)	217	(1)
The plus valia tax (arbitrio sobre el ineremento de valor de los terrenos)	218	(1)
Wealth tax (impuesto sobre el patrimonio)	218	(1)
Imputed income tax	219	(1)
Appendix 1 Useful addresses	220	(20)
Appendix 2A Direct flights from the United Kingdom and Ireland to Spain	240	(7)
Appendix 2B Flights to Spain from the Netherlands and Scandinavia	247	(2)
Appendix 2C Direct flights from the United States to Spain	249	(1)
Appendix 3 Pet travel scheme -approved routes and carriers to Spain	250	(3)
Appendix 4 Non-EU nationals -acquiring the right to live and work in Spain and the European Union	253	(2)
Appendix 5 Scandinavian and Dutch resources	255	(2)
Appendix 6 Clothes sizes	257	(2)
Appendix 7 Useful Spanish words and phrases	259	(11)
Appendix 8 Public holidays	270	(1)
Appendix 9 Further reading	271	(1)
Appendix 10 Advertisers' contact details	272	(5)
Index	277	(6)
Index of advertisers	283

Excerpts

The regions of Spain; Before you leave; Accommodation; Employment; Settling in; Health and Welfare; Education; Running a business in Spain;Taxation; Retiring in Spain.