Comments for River Ebro Babble | River Ebro Babble

Comment on Contact by Dena

Dena — Wed, 22 May 2013 18:13:28 +0000

Congratulations Brad! I remember the excitement we had at starting a new life abroad! There are ups and downs to be sure but I hope it goes well for you. Pleased to hear that our website and blog have been of some use!

Comment on Renting your Property to Tourists in Catalonia – What you need to know by Dena

Dena — Wed, 22 May 2013 18:09:59 +0000

Thanks for your comment Carmen. I can appreciate that if you live in a residential area surrounded by villas that are illegally rented out to large groups that it can be a nightmare! The law is at last beginning to change in order to catch up with the mushrooming numbers of holiday rentals that dodge the system. Once they start to act by fining the property owners and going after the tax, IVA and autonomo arrears – people may finally sit up and take notice! But, I fear it will be a while before the legislation is seen to “have teeth”. I too would like to see some action from the Town Halls. At the moment, it seems the only time any illegal rentals are found is if someone reports them.

Comment on Contact by brad

brad — Wed, 22 May 2013 16:06:21 +0000

HI Dena, we did it! We have bought a lovely little town house in Xerta and we love it already!
We are coming out again next week to start to really get to know the area and I have been reading some of the fantastic information on your website.

Our first job is to buy a double bed and either two singles or possibly a bunk bed plus pillows all round and we are pretty well sorted then as the house was at least half furnished and has all the necessary mod cons.

I am so excited by our future visits to the area and any information or help would always be appreciated on the area, its history and culture etc etc. Also as a fisherman I have taken note of your information on this subject.

To be honest, quirky and officious as the rules etc may be at least they do enforce them. Having been fishing in the Uk for over 30 years I have been asked for my licence only once!! Its no wonder the eastern europeans are pillaging our fish stocks from UK waters.

Saludos Dena.

Brad

Comment on Renting your Property to Tourists in Catalonia – What you need to know by carmen

carmen — Tue, 21 May 2013 15:15:57 +0000

Rural establishments come under different legislation and windmills and such like can be easily legalised. So can many other properties..the main draw back is if you are in an area where tourists mess up the life of the local working population. Most so called second homes are big business. As someone who is surrounded by 3 villas that all rent out to groups of over 10 people for 6 months a year I assure you that however well behaved the holiday maker may mean to be the disturbances and invasion of privacy caused by a total of over 300 strangers a year at the hour of the day that suits each and every one of them, in one’ back garden is a nightmare. The owners do not live in the area or most in Spain and show greedy indifference or even actual hostility (How dare a neighbour complain and rock the gravy boat). I would like to see some action from the authorities, but as it up to the town hall the greedy tax dodgers will probably manage to rob the Spanish tourist trade and con tourists into staying in unsuitable,, inadequately insured accommodation for a few more years.
The local hotels and legal holiday accommodation are an important source of employment in Spain. Jobs and national insurance payments are badly needed. The taxes on local business pay for the streets, clean beaches, tourist events but an illegal business does’t even pay enough contributions to cover the extra rubbish left behind by the guests.

Autonomos are national insurance contributions for the self employed for the health service and pensions etc, this payment made by the self employed is much less than the contribution made by an employer such as a hotel on behalf of a full time employee. The employee will get a better pension than self employed though. Ask your gestor about paying a plus on your autonomos which can entitle you to some dole benefits. Best take a translator with you so you know what you are actually paying for, your personal income tax will most likely be applied in your declaracion de la renta.

Comment on Spring in Spain 2013 – Unpleasant for us but a disaster for some birds by Dena

Dena — Sat, 11 May 2013 08:39:53 +0000

It has been so windy too this year. Has it been the same on your side of the Pyrenees? Apart from feeling sorry for wildlife, I always feel really bad if we have guests and the weather is unpleasant. I find myself apologising for it!

Comment on Theft. Judge for yourself. by Dena

Dena — Sat, 11 May 2013 04:48:15 +0000

Hi Dennis! Thanks for popping by. Yeah, we were just astounded when it happened. Not a pleasant experience for sure. Never mind – all the other lovely people we get here more than make up for it! Hope we get to see you again!

Comment on Spring in Spain 2013 – Unpleasant for us but a disaster for some birds by Kalba

Kalba — Fri, 10 May 2013 20:15:58 +0000

Oh, Dena, I’m so sad to hear about the chicks. Awful news. The weather’s doing exactly the same thing here – a couple of good days when we’re puffing away in the heat, then it’s back to thick sweaters and putting the heating on. It’s so strange to see everyone’s vegetable gardens (including ours) still empty in mid May – normally we’d have ours planted up by now – but we had nearly three times the normal rainfall between January and March and we’re still paying the price … apparently we should be blaming the jet stream …

Comment on Theft. Judge for yourself. by Dennis Raines

Dennis Raines — Sat, 04 May 2013 16:23:08 +0000

Its such a pity that theres always somebody that spoils a good thing. My 2 sons, 2 friends and myslef had 7 nights stay with youself and Keith and could not have wished for more helpful friendly hosts. The hired gear was top quality, as was the help given by both Keith and Bob. We will see you again for sure, and would hate to think a couple of bad apples would spoil such a brilliant set up.

Comment on Renting your Property to Tourists in Catalonia – What you need to know by Dena

Dena — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 12:36:23 +0000

There is a lot of truth in what you say Simon.
Thanks for visiting our blog!

Comment on Renting your Property to Tourists in Catalonia – What you need to know by Simon

Simon — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 09:22:50 +0000

Here in lies the tragedy.
If you want to stay in a 5 star villa at £1000-2000 a week in a manufactured resort with little or no atmosphere populated with all the nations bar the Spanish, those the villas owners will be able to afford it.
But we love to stay in the quirky, family run places.We have stayed in windmills and water towers converted hay lofts and alhibjes.
The rustic, the rural, the truly Spanish, they won’t be able to afford this.
Big business will have won again, the little people are stifled out and the individual traveller will have lost.