Moving to Ibiza
This is the first article in a series which will cover many aspects of moving to and living on the island of Ibiza. Articles will be added on a frequent basis and will cover the following:
Banking and Finance, Schools & Childcare, Healthcare, Employment and Self Employment, Tax National Insurance and Legal issues, Shopping facilities, Language Guide, Transport and Cars, Miscellaneous including utilities, post, television, internet etc.
Moving to Ibiza
Moving to a foreign country, no matter how exciting, can also be a challenge and sometimes extremely frustrating. Over the next pages we would hope to help ease this process for our clients by providing the information you need to make the transition as smooth as possible. We have tried to give as much factual information as possible and to draw on our own and others experiences to cover the larger issues but also to look at those smaller things that can make a real difference in the early days. Of course if there is something we have missed or some extra information you need please feel free to contact us at info@ibizapropertyagents.com . All legal issues have been checked with our legal advisors but please be aware that legal processes and requirements change very quickly in Ibiza so we would always advise you check with a legal professional or contact us to do so before you act on any of the advice found here.
The Basics
Where Do You Want To Be on The Island?
Unless you know the island of Ibiza really well both in and out of the tourist season, even if you eventually plan to buy a property, we would recommend that you consider renting a place in the first instance to familiarize yourself with the island and get a real feel for where you really want to be . Many areas of the island change considerably over the year, being lively places in the summer and virtual ghost towns in the winter months. Tranquility is all well and good but it can be a fine line here between that and isolation depending on your circumstances and personality.
Ibiza Town is a good all year place to live if you like city living but for those who prefer a more sedate way of life many of the places which seem to fit the bill in summer may well be a little too tranquil between October and April. The other main year round area is Santa Eulalia on the east coast. This resort is lively in the summer but without the party element associated with resorts like San Antonio and Playa den Bossa. It is a more family orientated resort but also a town which has both a large local population and also a strong ex pat community, making it a peaceful place in the winter but with a lot of local life to keep you entertained through the quieter months.
Santa Gertrudis, in the centre of the island, is a very pretty village which sees less of a degree of variation throughout the year as it is not coastal, and being home to the International School also has a strong ex pat community. It is a popular place for people to settle but its popularity is reflected in rental and purchase prices which do tend to be higher than most other areas on the island. This tends to be true across the island that the areas less popular with local people and ex pats will be the places to pick up a more affordable option both to rent and buy. If you are considering areas such as this, for example San Antonio and the surrounding towns, please remember that, as there is much country and open space around these towns, it is still possible to find a relatively quiet place to live at a good price although you will have to venture into the madding crowd in the summertime to do essentials like shopping.
Obviously it is not practical here to cover every option on Ibiza and there are many more towns and villages which may suit your personality both in and out of season but if have any questions about a particular area you are considering please fell free to contact us at info@ibizapropertyagents.com and we will be pleased to discuss your options with you. On the whole however, if you can, it is always better to visit an area you think may suit you, outside the tourist season to get a true feel for the place as a potential home.
Next we will look at your options for the process of actually getting you, your family and your possessions to Ibiza to start your new life and at the process for renting a home. The process for buying will be covered separately in the property section.
Securing accommodation and moving in
Contracts and Keys
Firstly as Ibiza is a tourist destination it is very difficult to find long term rental options near to the summer months and virtually impossible once the season is underway. This is because anything left vacant when the season is approaching is usually given over to tourists as the revenue is so much higher for the owner. So it is best to look at moving from around the beginning of October through to March. We advise clients to contact us around 6 weeks before they are due to arrive to give us time to find options but to ensure these are not taken before they have a chance to view them . Although this may seem a little last minute long term rentals at a reasonable price usually move fast here in Ibiza so it is prudent to act as soon as you see something you like and unfortunately most landlords are unwilling to hold property for someone who does not want to start paying rent before they have moved in although some will so it is always worth asking if you really like the look of something in advance. Although it is possible to take a property on the basis of photographs only we would advise that you try to make a viewing visit where possible. If this is not an option for you we do understand that the run up to a move can be hectic and we do provide a paid property assessment service if a client would like us to visit properties on their behalf and provide pre tenancy reports on them . Just email us if you would like to discuss this service option at info@ibizapropertyagents.com
Once you have found your chosen property, if you are renting, you will be required to pay a deposit as security against damage (between one and three months rent depending on the owner) , one months rent in advance and one months contract fee to the agent you are using. At this point both you and the owner should sign the contract and you should be given a copy to keep. We would advise that if the contract is in Spanish only (ours are always in English too but not all owners are) before you sign you ask for an English translation or have this done yourself if it is not available from the owner or alternatively have it checked by a solicitors office. You can find contacts for English speaking solicitors and translators on our legal page. You should also be given the keys at this point providing you are paying the deposit and other expenses. Most contracts are fairly basic and straightforward but do question anything you don’t understand or are unhappy with. If you rent through us we will check the contract for you and will also provide one month’s trouble shooting service free of charge to iron out any problems you may have at the beginning of the tenancy. This can be an invaluable support, particularly where language is a barrier to communication with your landlord. As we only work on your behalf, not for the owner you can rest assured that we will always have your interests at heart from negotiating on the rental to your first months settling in period when we will be on hand to answer all your questions and advise you.
Moving Day
Of course, one of the biggest challenges at this point is the actual physical move and there are some important points you may not have considered.
If you are looking to rent please bear in mind that most rented accommodation in Ibiza is almost always fully furnished and very often the owners are unwilling or unable to take out very much of the furniture. In the past this has caused big problems for some of our clients who have arrived in Ibiza without a contract in place and have then found they have no option but to pay storage charges for their furniture over long periods as they could only find furnished property. So please when deciding what to bring look at your things and ask if they are particularly valuable pieces or have sentimental value. If the answer is no it may be more prudent to sell them or give them to friends and family than to pay to bring them over and then have to store them.
Getting yourself and your family here will vary depending on the time of year. It is important to note that winter time direct flights from the UK are limited to Stansted airport with Ryanair at the present time. If you are arriving in winter (November – April) and live away from the capital and do not want to travel to Stansted first then you will need to fly via Barcelona or Palma and will have to be prepared for a connection delay of up to 9 hours or so before heading to Ibiza. A useful internet resource to find and tie in flights is www.skyscanner.net where you can research exactly what is available for the time of your move.
If you need to hire a car for the first few days or weeks you are here or if you would like to arrange an airport pick up when you arrive please email us and we can arrange this for you. We work with several island companies to find the most competitive quote for your needs info@ibizapropertyagents.com
If you are travelling with pets please always check the policy of a potential landlord regarding animals. As with the UK some contracts do not allow you to keep pets in the property. You will need to make sure your pet has their current passport and that their vaccinations are up to date for entry into Spain. This may need to be done several weeks before you travel so immunity tests can be carried out in time after the vaccination has been done. Be careful when choosing a courier for larger animals and try to get one by recommendation if possible, your local vet should be able to help with all these issues. If you need to kennel your pet when you arrive in Ibiza until your family has arrived and settled please email us for your nearest island kennel contact information at info@ibizapropertyagents.com
Moving your possessions over can be a problem if you need them quickly as most affordable freight options take around 3-4 weeks. Try to decide on the items you need most and prioritize clothing to a minimum allowing for around 3 weeks until your things arrive. The fact that most rented accommodation comes furnished and fully equipped can be useful here so check what is already in place for items such as kitchen equipment. One option is to prepare a box of essentials to travel separately from your main freight and have a company such as www.parcel2go.com send this as an interim measure. They should be able to courier this to you within a few days for a reasonable cost. Make full use of hand luggage allowances to carry things of sentimental value such as family photographs and items of high monetary value like jewellery.
You need to research the most suitable way for you to send your things to Ibiza but there are 4 main options. For boxed possessions only you may wish to consider a commercial freight company who will deal with personal possessions. These can be found relatively easily with a little internet research and phone calls and can be cheaper than specifically domestic removal companies. However you will find these are likely to go direct to mainland Spain in the first instance then a delay before they reach Ibiza. Air freight is another, much faster option but is extremely expensive compared to the land and sea based options. Again these can be found on the internet but do compare prices as they do vary quite widely.
Option 3, using a specialist UK to Ibiza removal firm is a good affordable option which although it will take some weeks, depending on how their schedule ties in with your dates, means you are using a company with local knowledge and expertise relating to Ibiza specifically. This is also the smoothest door to door option, which can accommodate both your boxed goods and your furniture should you decide to bring it. We have included some information and links where applicable below:
Webbs Removals
0034 619247823
GB Easymove
0044 1912368158 (Gary)
Reg the Van
0034 618497382
0044 1424810059
Email: francesca@shinglebeach.plus.com
Jiggins
0044 2380694509
0044 7802285915
The fourth option is to drive your possessions across to Ibiza with you if your vehicle allows. The road trip is around 1154 miles if you wish to use non toll roads which will take around 250 Euros from the cost of your journey and makes for a more scenic route. This should take around 24 hours not including rest breaks. The toll road route will take around 4 hours less. If you would like your route planned for you this service is available from both AA and RAC websites.
Newhaven to Dieppe or Dover to Calais ferry tickets can be booked on line as can the ferry from Valencia, Barcelona or Denia to Ibiza which will save you money on the standard ticket price.
We would recommend you purchase a Tom Tom navigation system but please be aware that in both France and Spain it is better to remove or de activate the speed camera function as these are illegal in both countries.
A simple route would be down the west coast of France by the N11, across the Pyrenees to Spain then through Riocca and Nevarra from where you would head to your chosen port. We have been advised that it is best to avoid the area around Girona if possible as car jacking is common around this region.
A couple of final tips we have been given by regular road travellers of this route are firstly to make sure you have plenty of water on board if you are travelling in summer and to be aware of the siesta afternoon closing once you reach Spain (14:00 to 17:00) as you will be unable to buy anything including water if your town stops hit this period!
However you decide to bring yourself to Ibiza to start your new life you will probably have many questions both before you arrive and whilst you are here. In the following pages we will endeavour to answer some of these for you.
Note: Although we make every effort to ensure the information contained herein is accurate and complete we cannot be held responsible for any losses caused as a result of following this advice.
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