Why moving to the Spanish Countryside might be a BAD idea!

Living in Spain is the dream for many Brits who want to become Ex-Pats but knowing the pros & cons of living in the right part of Spain will get you off on the right foot and stop you getting any nasty surprises!

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[susanaescriba]

No hablar Español, ni tener interes en aprenderlo es una mala idea, tanto si se elige ciudad, pueblo o campo. Es como ir a vivir a UK sin pretender hablar Inglés.

[cefirodewinter]

I live in the Spanish Countryside and I have literally none of those issues
I guess it really depends on where you live

[leeyoung]

My wife and I lived in-land for 15-years. (Jaén Province). We were mid-fifties when we started out in our small village population 200 give or take. I would do it all again but…around six-years ago we realised that our property and life there might be difficult in older age. Possibly need to be close to hospitals, other medical services, shops - no shops in our village - and a choice of eating establishments. Further it can be very cold further inland with snow and ice occasionally. Quite different from life near the Med. We now live in a pretty unspoilt village/pueblo just 10 mins from a quiet Costa. Just as well we made the move as this year has been a nightmare with me spending 10-weeks in hospital and developing a serious dose of herpes zoca. Having our 24-hour Centro de Salud in the village has been a literal life-saver for me. I think, therefore, age is a determining factor in life and we all age.

[Natalia-pcfm]

I live in the countryside in Asturias (Northern Spain) and have none of these issues. We did a thorough search with criteria such as water, sewage, electrical, internet and proximity to local towns with garbage disposal and services. We don't carry heavy bins with weeks worth of waste, we keep a decent size plastic box in the back of the car where we put one or two bags of rubbish everytime we go out to shop or meet friends. No leaking, no smell. Plus we're Spanish so didn't choose somewhere just for the weather or prices of real estate without speaking the language. Do your research and bear in mind, when you leave the city, there are things that just won't be that readily available! Seems he can't make up his mind whether or not he wants to be on or off grid!

[louaceveu]

You get what you pay for. You know very well what you get yourself into when you get into the properties. Many foreigners in Spain have built houses in land that it is not buildable, others did extensions without any permits with foreign contractors (I can tell you some stories), Many British and Northern Europeans live in Spain without being register anywhere which puts a lot of pressure in the trash collecting services that work on registered populations. I can tell you a lot of stories. I do have 3 properties in rural Spain and I never had any problems (Since I know the rules) but I heard of an English family doing and extension of their house (Very close to one of my properties) with an English contractor without any permits. The roof gave in and killed all the members of the family (3) and their families in England are suing the city counsel since they couldn't get a hold of the contractor that did the extension of their house. Many people from Eastern Europe doing the same. Don't fool yourself we know who is who in Spain.

[durand]

About bins and gargabe: in the old times every household waste was given some use, as fertilizer or something similar. Of course it was all organic waste, but if you are living in the countryside you may consider a way of life that implies some recycling of the garbage, at least part of it.

[patriciakelly]

I live 5 minutes grommet a beautiful village called Montefrio. I don’t have any of those problems thankfully. When we came 21 years ago it was difficult to get internet, but that has all changed. We upgraded our electricity and it’s good. We have refuse bins at the end of our track and as we’re passing we drop our rubbish in. We have well water and mains water, and it’s drinkable. I think. When you’re buying you do have to make sure that what you’re buying is going to work for you. Our property is a farm 🏡 house, and is only 42years old. Good advice, but as some one says, you get what you pay for. Get an independent survey and an independent solicitor and not one connected to the seller.

[moonskyrocket]

Most of the issues you addressed have an easy solution, but you need to invest a bit more. The electric part made me chuckle. You get what you pay for. You need to contract more KWs and then the magic happens and you can plug several things at once. You got rats living in the countryside? Who would have thought? And then the water. Osmosis and a decalcifier systems.

[anthonyc]

It might be a good idea to install a solar energy storage system to provide free and stable power supply.

[Snowstar]

We have to take all our rubbish to the recycling centre and we live in rural ireland. we only have a little car but it's no problem. living in the countryside is worth it, although ireland is a bit too wet. We also have no water bills to pay as we also get water from the well. Just need the better weather in the winter than ireland.

[aok]

Maybe the title of this video should read something like, « Why moving out to the countryside can be a bad idea ». Clearly, this chap is from the UK, possibly the south east of England. Has he never visited the highlands and islands of Scotland or the « deep » countryside areas of other European countries? Also, did he not employ a surveyor (which is not mandatory before buying in Spain) before buying a property in the countryside of Spain. I would further suggest that he has omitted that he bought his property for next to nothing compared to UK prices, especially those in the south east of England. So, what did he expect for peanuts…….?

[jcs]

It was always my dream to live in spain, and ironically met my ex-partner (in the UK, who was from Caceres but had left there 20 years earlier to live in the UK). Prior to our divorce after 14 years when visiting his family etc, I found Caseres (although a historical landmark town) too quiet and a location too far from airports (Madrid 4 hours - and poor infrastructure.

Fast forward to 2019 (5 years post divorce) I fulfilled my previous dream and sold up and bought a place up it the mountain overlooking Benalmadena, Malaga. Unfortunately 1 year after arriving, my boy who I had gone there with, was suddenly diagnosed with leukemia, and passed 9 weeks later in june. So in 2022 I sold up and returned to the UK due to the massive loss and unable to further adapt etc.

I would say prior to my own unfortunate personal experience my boy and I loved our 'new life' there, the people, landscape, clean air and great sunsets etc. People should fulfill their dreams. But make sure you have family or an established social network around you which makes such a life change that more easier to transition into, because it isn't just the paperwork /language you need to get by.

[mickybcn]

Estoy viendo videos de familias inglesas que han ido a vivir al campo aqui en España, ellos estan pasando todos los sufrimientos que pasaron mis bisabuelos, plantando vegetales cuidando gallinas pasando frio en esas casas pues no estan bien aisladas para el frio y la calor, no querria hacer esa vida ni que me pagaran 150.000 euros al año, pero parece ser que ellos estan encantados con esa vida, hay gustos para todos .

[eridulife]

I don't see any of those as a problem. Living this way is a life without or with less government intervention. And that is priceless.

[johnhickman]

The first thing that you need is a car. You can't deal with the rubbish, check the post or go shopping without one.
What happens if you become ill, or can't drive anymore? What happens if your partner leaves you?
It's too easy to become lonely and isolated, it's not for me.
I live in a small rural town in France about 60kms from a major city. I feel isolated enough here and I can't imagine living in the middle of nowhere...

[yberchillix]

Not that it scares off to move to Spain. But it is very essential knowledge to know beforehand. These aspects that are not even considering to be an issue in some places will be things you most definately should be aware of in other countries. So you can be prepared better, do more research considering even more things and be prepared to face the possible renewals or upgrades what would make the life more comfortable and safer. 🙂
Very good video. Appreciated for the info.

[benjamindejonge]

Im moving from Spain to the uk in the middle off nowhere without any intentions of speaking English and whinging about everything and any small detail to make a YouTube living from it.

[zaland]

1: There are paid bin collection companies.
2: You do shopping at least twice a week, go and pick up your mails.

3: The water is natural, unike waters in UK which are collected from waste waters and filtered. Just pay a small amount which pay for theb council tax in UK and that should be taken care of.

4: If fresh water is not good for hair then I guarantee that water with so much chloride and other chemicals are worse.

5: buy a thick cable at least 15mm to have your electricity problem solved, and rewire as we do in UK.

Please don't hesitate if you need further help.

[hotoneinspai]

Hi..I'm sure your experience's of countryside living are topical for some BUT not General !!
I've lived in the Country in Spain for 22 years!

While I too have "Well Water" which is great for watering the garden... I've got no filters & It doesn't smell... BUT It is Garden Water... Now ...I've got Good mains water installed prior to this we had our drinking water delivered and poured into a Stainless Steel Holding tank...under ground with an electric pump We didn't have any issues. But mains is good!!
Great Electrics, the odd trip...and we run pretty much everything...And we had those in the UK and think goodness we do. It shows the fuse box is working.

Oh & "Yes" I use Toilet Paper & flush it down my toilet because... I have a "triple chamber" cesspit which by law now...Everyone Not on Mains sewerage should have one installed now in Spain!
They claim for a family of four: Technically it should never need emptying...Well it hasn't been in the 6 years its been installed & not a hint of any smells!

Our Bin men come every day to empty our Hopper, which serves 4 properties. True, we have to "Walk" to put our refuse into the Hopper... 3 min walk! BUT its emptied every day Inc Christmas day...Amazing!
Post... Like ways we go to a Corner Shop 6 min drive away...Who receives our Post and Packages..The shop is open 7 days a week & anyway we have a key to collect it...50€ a year.
Never seen a rat...but my land isn't overgrown and while I have good planting...around the house I have nothing bigger than a geranium against the Villa...that's mainly in case of fire... So, nowhere for rats to live...I guess?.
Its important to get a balance... Did you say your selling your house?
You don't paint a great picture for potential buyers

[kararkhan]

The rules of moving are simple.
1- no more than 1 hour of big airport
2- shopping and groceries no more than 10 minutes WALK
3- access to beach or mountains whatever you prefer within 15 minutes walk and if views are available that's GOLD
4- the city you choose must be established or thriving
5- good number of foreigners can be good and can be bad it depends on you
6- affordable, affordable, affordable city. In every aspect from housing to grocery to everything.