Before we made the decision to buy in Spain, we spent about three years researching - reading books, checking expat websites and forums, watching Living in the Sun - you name it, we covered it. Or at least we thought we did. One thing we hadn't reckoned with was the problems that can arise from living on a community.
Financial issues
Everyone is going to have their own ideas about how the community should be run, and how the budget should be administered. The trouble is, the ones who are the most vocal about this are often the ones who won't put themselves forward to help with the running of the community.
And that makes for division in the community, because whatever the management board decide, there'll be people against it, and they'll work to persuade other community members to see it their way. Inevitably, there will be divisions in the community and fractured friendships.
Breaking the rules
One thing you'll hear a lot on communities is that 'rules are meant to be broken,' but that's just not the case. Community rules are agreed by the community, for the benefit and comfort of all the residents, and you're never going to please everyone. However, once you've voted in the rules, you should at least try to stick to them, and be sure your visitors and holiday guests do the same.
It's the British mindset that's the problem - 'An Englishman's home is his castle,' and he won't be told what to do. If Little Johnny wants to take an inflatable the size of a small country into the communal swimming pool, Mum and Dad will let him do it, even if the rules state otherwise, because 'It's our home, we pay into the community, so we'll do what we like.'
The thing is, in Spain, on urbanisations and communities, it's very different. to life in England. If you want to live without rules, don't buy on a community. If you decide you want the convenience of living on a community, abide by the rules. 'Simples,' as that irritating furry thing says.
Living in Little England
We're lucky that the majority of residents on our community are all keen on experiencing Spanish life as it's lived, rather than recreating England in the sun. However, I know of other communities where they seem to be totally oblivious to the fact that they're living in Spain, and this is not something you can find out from the Estate Agent or the Abogado. You need to live there to find out how the community works, and by then it's too late.
It can get very personal
It's ironic, really, but people will persuade someone on their community to stand as President because they feel they'll do a good job, but immediately their choice is incumbent, he or she is suddenly the worst person in the world to run the community. It happens time and again, so if you want to be popular with your neighbours, don't even consider standing for President.
It's a very worthwhile job to take on, and it takes a special kind of person to do it, but it can be a thankless task. If despite these warnings from one who's been there you still fancy a stint as President of your community, be prepared for a lot of stress and do your best to grow a very thick skin.
Maybe you think from reading this that living on a community is to be avoided at all costs, but that's not necessarily the case. Community life can be very rewarding, but if you really want to absorb Spanish culture, and if you don't fancy getting into a heated debate over how the community budget should be allocated each time the AGM comes around, maybe you would be happier in a village or a town, rather than on a community within an urbanisation.
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