Using the right people when you buy a home in Spain can take the fear out of the whole process. Retirees John and Julie G. from Derby had more than a little help from Sun Lawyers when they bought a home in the Costa Blanca and moved there last month.
“Great advice from the word go.”
It was when they were looking at properties around Cabo Roig/Playa Flamenca in February 2026 that they got their first great of advice from Sun Lawyers, who they found via A Place in the Sun customer services.
“We knew that using an independent lawyer was really important, and talking to Sun Lawyers probably saved us paying some tax too,” says John.
“We were advised to pause our viewings and go home and sell our UK home first.”
This would mean the couple could bank the money to be ‘buyer ready’. “We would avoid paying any capital gains tax in Spain if we had already become tax resident,” says John.
Buying their dream home
When they headed back out to Spain in May, the couple soon found their ideal home – a three-bedroom villa in Los Dolses.
Sun Lawyers’ Romina Bazzolo handled their conveyancing, from the moment they put down their reservation fee. “She was brilliant and helpful throughout,’ says Julie.
“We were able to reach her straight away if we had any concerns about the buying process.”
The purchase process only took two months, and Sun Lawyers also helped the couple set up a Spanish bank account and power of attorney.
Vital visa help
Once their new Spanish home was agreed and in the hands of Romina, the couple also started talking to Sun Lawyers’ relocation team about getting a Non-Lucrative Visa (NLV).
“I think many people are frightened of all that paperwork in a foreign language but using the same legal company to handle our visa application made things a lot easier for us,’ says Julie.
Anne Pugh and Laura Cascales helped John and Julie secure their NLVs – and a lot more.
“It was relatively easy as they gave us a tick list of documents we needed, and helped us get them ready for the consulate,”
Says Julie.
“They said yes, there are lot of hoops to jump through, but sit back, enjoy Spain and we’ll call you if we need to!”
They were assisted getting their medical certificate (cheaper and easier to obtain in Spain rather than in the UK), their police check, and their S1 Certificate that entitles them to healthcare in Spain, thanks to John being over UK state pension age.
“Anne was brilliant as she would keep us doing what we needed to do, at the right time, which is key to a successful application,” says Julie. “Also a tip is to keep your paper boarding passes when you fly back to the UK so you can prove date of entry.”
Value of power of attorney
Because the couple had to wait to get their passports back from the Spanish consulate before returning to Spain, using power of attorney enabled Sun Lawyers to complete the home purchase at the notary’s office without them being present.
In October they got their visas and flew out within a few days to their new home in Spain to start their retirement.
They have also used Sun Lawyers to make a separate Will for their Spanish home – it makes things much easier for beneficiaries, due to differences in inheritance law.
Sun Lawyers was able to set up the John and Julie’s electrical and water bill direct debits for them at their new home, saving them a lot of headaches – and to register with the Padron and town hall.
“It’s been very smooth because Sun Lawyers helped us to do everything,” adds Julie. “The whole thing sailed along, and we would 200% recommend using the company. We have been able to start enjoying our new life in Spain from the day we arrived.”