Thousands of British people own a second home in Spain in tourist towns like Javea and Marbella that they use for holidays. During the rest of the year, penthouses are often left empty. While this was not such a huge problem some years ago, the extremely bad economy in Spain has led to many people becoming homeless and others turning to crime.
If you do not have a home an empty property may be too much of a temptation to ignore. Once squatters move into a property removing them is extremely difficult, and not a situation that you would wish on anyone.
Empty Javea properties are also an easy target for thieves and burglars, particularly those located away from the coast on urbanisations or inland.
Keeping your Spanish property safe while you are away is something that you should not leave to chance. If you do not have a trusted neighbour who can visit your property every few days you should consider securing a professional service to make sure you do not become a target for squatters or thieves.
How You Can Improve Your Spanish Property In Winter
Buying property in Spain is a great investment at the moment due to price is still being very low after the bottom fell out of the housing market in 2009. Even if you are on a strict budget you are very likely to find a property that is within your price range although many Spanish properties in the lower price bracket will need some work doing on them.
One common complaint heard from people who have relocated to Spain from the colder European countries is their Spanish property is not comfortable during the cold months. Resorts like Javea on the Costa Blanca, and Malaga on the Costa Del Sol generally experience good weather all year round, but if you buy a property on the Costa Brava or more northern regions of Spain winter temperatures can be almost as cold as the UK at times, and the lack of central heating and double glazing in older houses may be a problem. For a selection of properties on the warm Costa Blanca, see Javea property for sale in Spain.
If you cannot afford a central heating system or to get your home fitted out and insulated properly with double glazing, there is a cheaper way to survive the winter months. Wood-burning stoves can be purchased for just a few hundred euros from the larger hardware stores and these are great heat source for the entire home.