I'm thinking of moving to Spain?

Question

can anyone reccommend a good part of spain for someone with a construction background ??

Answer 1

In most part is good to make houses.

Answer 2

i'd say andalucia or valencia

Answer 3

Do you have a PR  Visa and permit to work and to live in Spain, otherwise you can stay only for 3 months in Spain as a tourist.

Answer 4

I agree with Conocco !

Answer 5

The last thing this country needs right now is another construction worker. The housing bubble has burst and there are many construction workers on the dole. Any construction jobs will go to Spanish workers.

Many Brits come to Spain and work for themselves, but right now money is tight because of the falling pound. Everyone is feeling it.

If you are from the UK you have a right to live and work in Spain, but that doesn't mean you'll find a job that suits you, if you find one at all.

Answer 6

answer to mh ............you can stay over there as long as you want to as its an EU country ........we lived over there for a year and worked but unfortunately it did not work out for us Spain is a lovely place to live and if i could i would go back tomorrow but there just is not the work out there for the English as the Spanish work for a lot cheaper wages than the English would  plus you have to be able to speak Spanish . were now back in England and working for the taxman again . but one day i might win the lottery we can only hope lol

Answer 7

can i come with you?

Answer 8

OK, now for some practical advice:

I am presuming you want to know a good part of Spain to live in where you, as a person with a construction background, would be likely to find a job.

Don't listen to all the doom and gloom, there are plenty of English people living in Spain and making money. If you try and you're good at what you do, there's no such thing as impossible.

It is true that there are a lot of redundancies at the moment in the construction sector because basically there are a few developers in trouble and less is being built.

This does not mean nothing is being built, or, that there is no-one working in construction.

If you don't speak Spanish, you really need to be looking to set up in an area where there are lots of expats and offer services to them as opposed to a Spanish construction company.

There are lots of British people living in Spain who don't speak Spanish and therefore, can't hire Spanish people for such things as refurbs, maintenance, plumbing, electrician work etc.

There are also resorts full of English people who could probably do with having a maintenance person.

Most of the Costa del Sol is replete with expats but there are also alot of them probably offering the kinds of services you would want to offer.

However, the Alicante to Murcia area is also full of expats in certain places and there is probably less competition.

You don't say which sector of construction you have experience in but I would say there is a gap in the market where I live for English speaking maintenance people.

If I were looking to set something up, I would go and leaflet drop in all the resorts in Murcia because when people use their property as an investment or holiday home, they tend not to look too far away from where their property is for any add-on services.

You could also post notices up in English supermarkets and bars etc.

I would definitely recommend moving to Spain. I did and I've never regretted it.

The lifestyle is much healthier and although it may sound a cliché, the sun every day makes you feel so much better about life in general.

The wages may not be the same as in the UK, but the cost of living is so much lower, that you can usually have more time to yourself or more money spare than you could ever dream of in the UK.

Answer 9

You should try Ourens, Ponferada it is not a very big city but the people is friendly and like foreigners I am going to learn the Spanish for free and I have been living here for 3 years it is an adventure

Answer 10

Barcelona, there tends to be quite a lot of work for ex pats in construction.

Answer 11

Murcia is living a construction revival. I think you have future on that matter there and in Alicante too.

Murcia is the province that is growing economically the most and the fastest.

Answer 12

I have been here now 26 years in April, you can make a go of it here, anyone can, just so long as you take it easy at first, don't expect jobs.housing etc., to be chucked at you, but if you are willing to take what is offered at the time until your life is in gear, you will love it here, the whole way of life is so different you can't actually speak for anyone else, or tell them what to do, just come, try it, you will find so long as you settle OK you will be happy, I just can't imagine now being any place else.

I am down on the costa del sol  must admit down here you might have more going for you in anything you choose, from the Marbella set to just plain old ex-pats, enjoying life here!

PS you still get more for your money down here also, even though the cost of living has risen, where hasn't it!!, but your euros still goes much further, and you can choose your own lifestyle accordingly......................

Answer 13

I come from Valencia, and be sure it's the most beautiful city in Spain.

Answer 14

It would be a bonus to make sure your Spanish is quite good they tend to know alot more Englsih in Portugal. Start taking lessons if you can. I know that Alicante/ The Costa del Sol / Murcia in the south & south east of Spain have a large Ex Pat community but having Spanish will stand to you in the long term.

It may be a good idea to check the Common European framework to see if they have set a recommended Spanish level for your area of expertise.You may run into problems if you don't have have the correct qualifications. Many job areas  require you to prove you are qualified in your field and you must submit the correct documentation to the relevant body if you want professional recognitation (if your are an architect for example).

Check out the dept. of Foreign Affairs for more information

http://www.maec.es/subwebs/Consulados/Lo...

Also it is a good idea to find out what benefits you may have gained in the U.K. ie. social welfare entitlements.

You may be able to transfer your stamps with an E311 and draw social welfare benefits if you don't find sufficient work in the beginning. This is based upon what you earned in the U.K. so do check it out and see.

Make sure you get your E111 as this will entitle you to medical care whilst in Spain for one year.

Depending on what field you want to work in it would be a good idea to check out the job situation or try to find out about your own area of expertise.Try and get in contact with others in your field to see if there is work etc.... in Alicante/ Valencia/ Seville / Huevla. You will pick up work but it may be more difficult to find a permenant or full time position and contracts( within teaching, health sector and law for example) are sometimes not worth the paper they are written on.

The construction industry is not in good shape at the moment so jobs are not that easy to come by nowadays.

Working in bars and restaurants requires you to work long hours and well into the night which is tiring and the pay is not great at all.

Added to this the salary is much lower to what you would be use to in the UK. You will notice this if / when you visit the U.K. as the wage difference really comes into play then. Added to this the pound is not as strong as it was & does not go as far as it once did. The cost of living has greatly increased in the last five years and Spain is not as cheap as it once was. Everything has gone up from water rates, electricity, gas, Contribution( House rates) Flights!!!. Don't be fooled into thinking it's cheap place to live. Especially if you have to live on spanish wages.

You said you were prepared to turn your hand to anything but if you don't have spanish you will be limited in the job market.

Also it's not really a great time to buy a house or flat at the moment as prices are still quite high( as people try to recoup what they have invested in inflated house prices), and you need to check out very carefully that what you are buying is legal or you will run into all sort of problems later on.

These websites may be off some help :

www.spanish-living.com

www.idealspain.com

www.andalucia.com/spain/working/home.h...

www.spainexpat.com

www.amazon.co.uk/Living-Working-Spain-...

www.thinkspain.com/services/joboffers

www.andalucia.com/law/tax.htm

Make sure you check out the tax system as it is can be complicated and the individual is liable to fines if you do not comply with tax laws. It is possible to go down to your local tax office where the staff are usually quite helpful with simple queries. There is a freephone number for Agencia Tributaria 900 333 555 or try 901 200 345.

Make sure you look at various areas, outside of the Costa del Sol. It's not everybodies cup of tea and I've personally rarley visited it in all my time here.

Check out the Costa del Luz ( Jerez, Rota, Puerto de Santa Maria, Chipiona, Chiclana,Cadiz) Arcos, Seville, Huelva ( all southern Spain).

I hope this is of some use to you but remember it's not all sun, sea and party in Spain. The system is very differant to the U.K. and at times is very frustrating so be prepared for a change. As an Irish national living here for the last twelve years I still find the "laid back attitude" very frustrating.

It's best to know all the pros & cons before you make the move so take the time to inform yourself well. It will save you a lot of time queuing up in local offices.

If you actually own your own home in the UK, I'd hold onto it and rent it out until you are very certain that you are going to stay. Many people come here full of idealistic dreams which in the end never materialise or don't live up to their expectations. Best to know all the "ins" and "outs" before you really make the plunge.Good luck!!!

Answer 15

Inland Spain is the place to go, if your looking for work. Be aware though , the heat could get to you, work starts early, finishes lunch time, starts up again about 4pm. Daft hours I know, but you have to do what the Spanish law allows. Get paid weekly too not monthly. If your English you will find plenty of work. Of course Spanish employers will hire there own before you. Go for a visit, the English bars are the place to go , word gets around about any consruction in progress, specially if the gaffer is English. Good Luck you`ve got nothing to lose. All of  the Costas needs experianced workers.