Door opened for a million mortgages in Spain on ‘abusive’ IRPH rate to be cancelled

Door opened for a million mortgages in Spain on ‘abusive’ IRPH rate to be cancelled

One of the top legal advisers in the European Union has said that about one million mortgages sold in Spain on a different type of rate to the standard Euribor can be subject to judicial review. The rate being questioned is known as the IRPH (mortgage loan reference index) and is an alternative offered to customers of banks when buying their property. It is a national average of the cost of mortgages over a period up to three years, meaning it is less variable than the standard Euribor. However, homeowners complain that while Euribor rates plummeted in recent years, the different way of calculating IRPH keeps their loans higher. Many […]

The UK’s departure from the European Union, the procedure and your rights in Spain under the Withdrawal Agreement

The UK’s departure from the European Union, the procedure and your rights in Spain under the Withdrawal Agreement

Brexit is the name given to the process of departure of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland from the European Union. The UK’s exit from the EU took place on 31 January 2020 and the terms of the departure are defined in the Agreement on the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the EU negotiated by both parties. The Withdrawal Agreement entered into force on 1 February 2020 and provides for an orderly departure of the UK from the EU. To this end, the Withdrawal Agreement foresees a transition or implementation period which expires on 31 December 2020. Residence rights are regulated in Title II of the […]

Door opened for a million ‘floor clause’ mortgages in Spain on ‘abusive’ IRPH rate to be cancelled

Door opened for a million ‘floor clause’ mortgages in Spain on ‘abusive’ IRPH rate to be cancelled

One of the top legal advisers in the European Union has said that about one million mortgages sold in Spain on a different type of rate to the standard Euribor can be subject to judicial review. The rate being questioned is known as the IRPH (mortgage loan reference index) and is an alternative offered to customers of banks when buying their property. It is a national average of the cost of mortgages over a period up to three years, meaning it is less variable than the standard Euribor. However, homeowners complain that while Euribor rates plummeted in recent years, the different way of calculating IRPH keeps their loans higher. Many […]

End to EU free movement in UK a step closer after MPs pass immigration bill

End to EU free movement in UK a step closer after MPs pass immigration bill

British MPs have approved the government’s immigration bill which aims to end EU freedom of movement rules in the UK, one of the key factors that led to Brexit. The measure has now cleared all stages in the House of Commons after being passed by 342 votes to 248 on Tuesday night. It is next due before the upper chamber, the House of Lords. The legislation ends rules that have helped millions of EU citizens to live and work in the UK, and will instead give equal rights to people from outside the bloc. “We’re ending free movement — so people can come here based on their skills, not where […]

BREXIT: Citizens’ Rights following the withdrawal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland from the European Union

BREXIT: Citizens’ Rights following the withdrawal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland from the European Union

The overall objective of Part Two of the Agreement on the withdrawal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland from the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community (the Agreement) is to safeguard citizens’ rights derived from European Union (EU) law exercised by European Union citizens residing or working in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (UK) and by UK nationals residing or working in the EU and their respective family members by the end of the transition period provided for in the Agreement, and to provide for effective, enforceable and nondiscriminatory guarantees for this purpose. This Guidance Note is purely informative and […]

Spanish residence for Britons living in Spain

For all Britons living in Spain, I recommend applying for Spanish residence before departure of Great Britain, these are the requirements. On 10 July 2012 the Spanish government introduced details of the new residency requirements for all EU citizens, including British nationals. The Ministerial Order sets out the new residency requirements and some of the documentation applicants may be asked to present. Applications for registration as residents will be filed in person in the Immigration Office of the province where they intend to reside or in the relevant Police Station. If the application for registration does not meet the necessary requirements for it to be processed, the interested person will […]

Living in Spain and bringing your pet

In Spain, as in the other EU member states, the legislation that applies to the movement of pets since 2003 is contained in Regulation EC/998/2003 which sets animal health rules for the movement of pets for non-commercial purposes. Non-vaccinated dogs, cats and ferrets aged under 3 months are allowed to travel, subject to prior authorisations, provided that they are accompanied by a passport. In order to request this authorisation, you should contact the Spanish authorities and provide them with the following information: –  Name and date of birth of the animal. –  Microchip number. –  Passport number. –  Fax number for purposes of sending authorisation. Potentially dangerous animals In Spain, the following […]