Newbie owner with a lot of questions..

Hi there,

 I bought a lovely 2 bed penthouse in bloque 11 in September as a holiday home but now due to marriage breakdown it may be my only option to permenantly relocate to La Duquesa as the area I live in in UK is really expensive and to cut a long story short sold my house after meeting husband and apartment is all I have left.  My main concern is just the worry of feeling isolated but I realise there is a huge expat community so was hoping for some reassurance on that score. My main stumbling block is that my daughter is too old to adapt to a spanish state school (she is 14) and the fees for the english ones are out of my league plus she is doing so amazing where she is she wouldn't leave anyway so it would mean her staying in UK with her dad (my first husband). If I sold apartment I still wouldn't have enough to buy in uk so we don't really have any other options than to be separated for  a while and believe me as it has been just me and her since she was 3 it will be very hard.

 Anyway that's the emotional side and the explanation but having only just stumbled on this thread I have a few other questions that would be a great help to have some answers.

Q1. I have 3 dogs and just wanted to check I am allowed to have them there? They are pretty well behaved and I've never seen anyone else in my bloque so hopefully people wouldn't get too annoyed. Are there any walks nearby where they could run off lead?

Q2. Are the water/electric bills fixed as they seem to charge the same whether we have been in apartment or not? So I'm guessing there are no meters?

Q3. Water has leaked through the areas around the skylights and caused damp and peeling we showed the maintenence guy who said 'problemo' he then left and we heard no more and am worried that this could be getting worse.

Q4. Am I allowed to get canopies put onto the balconies as would like to eventually put some nice seating outside but being in penthouse rain would ruin it?

 And lastly any advice on jobs? Being near Gibraltar should be a help but other idea is to do advanced teaching assistant course in uk and maybe get a job at one of the international schools? I appreciate current situation in Spain but have to try and be positive. Thanks for taking time to read. Lease runs out here in June so I have a while to make plans.

 

You can not have three dogs in an apartment of 80 meters, with the new law you can report Andalucia goverment for animal abuse , but now no one lives on your block new buyers probably will do so shortly and you can not let dogs in the gardens, you have paths in front of  Vizcarronda  high on the hill outside of urbanization, walk a little and go out your aptmt , keep them in an apartment does not love animals besides dirt generated in the urbanization, should be vaccinated and the mandatory micorchip , you can not put anything on the facade of the building according to the norms of the community (canopy) or put anything to alter the facade original.Othert issues should consult the AEA as if you look at the urbanization problems, if it is within your house is your responsibility and you must have an insurance. you must check the electricity contract , review your contract as there are many types with fixed rates with different conditions, we live in a residential area of ​​vacation so it's not easy to find work except related to tourism, is very quiet and good for resting but the day to day work is difficult unless it is a very isolated.hope help you.
 

Dear Sitio tranquilo there is no need to worry I am a responsible dog owner and my dogs are all microchipped and vaccinated (they wouldn't get a pet passport otherwise) and of course I would not walk them in the urbanisation. I'm sure there are many responsible dog owners who currently have pets in Duquesa village and if they are well looked after, loved and excercised then it does not mean they don't love them just beacuse they live in an apartment..

  Also I have checked apartment size and it is well over 80sq metres so no problem there. As you say eventually there will be more people living in my bloque but there is no reason for my having pets there to affect them as I wouldn't allow them to bark on terraces or leave mess in the village and I certainly wouldn't want to dictate to my neighbours whether they kept pets or not although of course I am aware that not all people are animal lovers.

And yes I am aware of the internal/external rule but the damp is caused by external leak and having read back through forum other people have had same problem and it has been sorted out by the maintenance so I guess I just need to speak to them again. I have insurance and will check out the electricity. Thanks for taking the time to reply.

Hi Savanna99
Me, my wife and 17 year old daughter moved to Duquesa last year and live next to Duquesa Village.
We also have a dog. Most people do and the culture in Spain is a lot more accepting of dogs. Ours comes with us everywhere.
There are a few girls your daughters age and they go to the local school.
My wife is at home every day so she will be happy to meet you for a coffee and introduce you to a few of her friends.
The maintenance in DV is good, so just report that problem and it should be sorted in no time.
We live in a big townhouse and there are 3 of us, so our bills will probably be more than yours. Electric is around €100 per month and water around €25 per month. We don't have gas.
What sort of work are you looking for? Gib is definitely your best bet. We drive in every day so if you haven't got a car you could come in with us. Otherwise there are loads of others in DV that work in Gib or the bus stop is by the hotel at the bottom of the hill.
Keep the questions flowing

Thanks for the reply it was really nice of you to take the time. I will be bringing my car out I think as then I can load it up with some stuff and of course the dogs. I've only driven in Spain twice and know it's a bit of an epic drive but I think it's the only way and most cost effective.

That's so kind of you offering to give me a lift to Gibraltar and I will probably take you up on that as I am nervous about parking and don't know Gibraltar well at all and likewise it would be great to meet up with your wife and meet some people. Workwise I have done reception/admin and also two years of barwork. I don't know if these are the sort of jobs I would be able to get? Another idea I had was to do teaching assistant course before I come out and hopefully secure a position in one of the international schools. Also I sing so was thinking I might be able to get some singing jobs in the evening as I saw people doing that when I was out there and they just took their own backing tracks (though I prefer singing with musicians as it feels a bit kareoke)

Where do you walk your dog? I read somewhere that there are beautiful mountain walks. Also in regards to the car I understand that after 6 months you have to get spanish tax and mot. Is that very expensive? Oh and how's your spanish? I was thinking I had better take an evening class...

 

My Spanish isn't that good. Living in duquesa is easy as everyone speaks English and its the same when I am in Gib. However I am trying to learn but haven't started any classes.

The rules are to re-register the car after 6 months. Loads of people never bother. However I read the other day that the rules are getting tougher. There are companies that will do it for you. The cost depends on the value of the car as the majority of the cost is the import tax. Definitely the easiest and cheapest way to move with the dogs though.

Getting admin or reception work should be ok in Gib. Bar work too, I see adverts in a few looking for staff. Otherwise gaming is the other popular choice. Speak to Russell Hood at First Choice in Gib. He will sort you out. I am not sure about the intl schools but there is one in sotogrande and another in estepona.

We live in Vizcaronda do just opposite us is the campo area and a great place for the dog.

Thanks for reply I will check out Russell hood and send him my cv and keep my fingers crossed and I will google the campo area as well.

I forgot to say in my last post that Sam Oliver has opened his own bar in the Port and has other singers in there too. Otherwise Kinsales, oasis or Hemmingways always have singers on.

Good luck with everything.

 Hi Savannah99 - welcome to DV!

You won't have any problem with your dogs, so long as you are a responsible dog owner    As already said, there is a great open area opposite Vizcaronda for the dogs to walk them locally and you can also take them down to the beach during the winter months - we used to take ours (when we stayed in our apartment) to the beach past the Torreguadiaro roundabout, which was less 'inhabited'.

Regarding the problem with your skylight, try going into Ros y Falcon's office next to the port carpark and speak to them there - I'm afraid you may have to keep chasing it up! 

Regarding possibly getting a post as a teaching assistant, I wouldn't count on that.  Posts are few and far between - even for fluent Spanish speakers (I have a son at Sotogrande International).   A job in Gibraltar is, I believe, your best chance.

Regarding your car - technically (legally) if you are resident here, you have about a month to transfer onto spanish plates (once you register on the european citizens register, you are technically resident).   But, as has been stated, many don't bother - although I can say that I have seen the police outside school recently pulling over foreign plated cars  (best possible place as you know they are all resident as they're picking up their kids from school!!). 

Wish you well on your move!

Thanks for all your tips guys much appreciated x

 As a commiunity we are sadly ineffective on providing new comers with information.

This formum helps but its hardly a substitute for a good infor pack.

There are lots of important items of information that new occupiers and owners ought to be aware of ( some owner specific items and some resident specific items).

I wouldn't wish to propose any additional burden on A.E.A. as it just adds to our costs.  However some elements may be cost effective.  For example if/when a new occupant attaches some form of external blind  or new style secuity barrier  or maybe just paints their balcony bright pink  then AEA would incur costs and effort to  get conformance with the community regulatations.

But it people are made aware of these points in the timely way if would be better for all.

Also without a welcome pack then AEA would likely get more unsolicitored questions. 

Maybe we could form a committe of residents to collaboratively create such an item?  Then get it formally adopted at the next AGM?

Any takers?   I have time on my hands currently although that might all change on Monday next.

Hi savannah99,

Hopefully welcome to DV. Plenty of singing jobs to go around (I am a singer here, and an accountant by day in Gib). When you get here I can give you advice on that side of things here.

Admin jobs in Gibraltar are mostly in the gaming sector, high turnover makes it relatively easy to secure one of those jobs depending on your previous experience. Try recruitgibraltar too they usually have a few jobs in gaming. Word of advice though, you need to pester the hell out of the recruitment companies or you'll get ignored!

If you are interested I host a Facebook site for DV owners to chat and get to know each other. If you want to join that please look for Daniela DV and I will add you. I also have a mailing list of owners to keep them in the loop about things going on, minutes of the AGMs etc, stuff we don't really want to post to the world here on EOS. If you want to be added to that please email me at duquesavillage@hotmail.co.uk

With regard to teaching jobs, it is very hard to find a post in schools around this area but the wife of one of my colleagues teaches Japanese students online from her home. If you do have qualifications this might be something you could do to supplement your income. Let me know if you want me to try and get the details for you.

Hope some of this info helps you in your move.

Daniela