Qualified expat builders needed as Spanish real estate sector hots up

Given that most SMEs in the UK don’t have much idea how the Brexit transition period will affect their businesses, a move to Europe before it’s too late might be wise.

For British SME owners looking for an escape from the UK’s unreliable climate and equally unreliable politics, Spain has always been a favourite choice. Nowadays, with an as yet unformed Brexit looming, making the move during next year’s transition period seems like a tempting prospect as there’s time as yet to set up and get going before the European door slams shut in the UK’s face.

For business owners in the building trade, Spain is a good choice at the present time as the country’s now entering a boom period as regards construction after some years of minimal activity. Right now, there’s an acute shortage of qualified and experienced construction workers and lucrative building contracts are literally up for grabs. However, rules and regulations in Spain are vastly different than in the UK, and risks are rising as a result.

One major issue is the lack of vocational training in Spain, leading to a rise in the employment of blue-collar workers from overseas. It’s also true that Spanish building sites are far more dangerous than their UK equivalents, making the possibility of construction accidents more a reality than in the home country. Expat professionals with experience of running a construction business will need to make sure they have full insurance and immediate access to a qualified lawyer specialising in accident claims.

Another tricky issue is that of unlicensed properties, especially along Spain’s southern coastlines. One major problem is that cash in hand can be investigated by the Spanish taxman and, worse still, any unauthorised development can be shut down in an instant with no financial reparation to the builder. In addition, structural issues can result in private litigation, resulting in yet more losses. However tempting it may sound, an unlicensed development is a disaster waiting to happen on several fronts.

Expat developers must ensure they’ve reliable legal assistance before a single brick is laid and, most importantly, should only employ qualified, experienced workers, even although they might be expats themselves and demand higher wages!