By Euro Weekly News Media • Published: 21 Jan 2015 • 13:38
Nagesh Jayaraman/flickr
ELDERLY expats on the Costa del Sol are packing up their belongings and heading home in unprecedented numbers, according to latest statistics.
Data from Spain’s National Statistics Institute (INE) reveal that between January 2013 and January 2014, the province of Malaga bid adios to 42,929 foreign residents, with old age, the loss of purchasing power and financial affairs some of the reasons for people leaving.
The typical example, according to INE, is an 80-year-old British or German expat who has spent the last 10 years on the Costa del Sol, but following the death of a spouse, will return home because of family or grandchildren. Of the 101 localities in Malaga province, 88 showed a reduction in the number of foreign residents within the one year time frame. Mijas registered the biggest drop with 9,313 foreigners upping sticks, followed by Marbella (4,345), Benalmadena (3,549) and Torrox (2,974). The only area to see any substantial growth in the foreign population was Velez-Malaga, which welcomed 897 more citizens. Malaga city saw 4,354 foreigners up and leave in the 12 month period.
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Spanish bureaucracy has something to do with it, when you reach a certain age and you want to live in peace and tranquility in the sun, we are bombarded with confusion / frustration idiot planning / residencia / non residencia / driving license issues / health card / demolition orders / corruption / speed limits / local draconian by laws, the list goes on and when we are looking for a reason to return to our families or enjoy our retirement in comfort, the scales start to tip towards moving back to the UK no matter how much we convince ourselves the UK is in ruin and we “would never go back”. We all love this country, it’s lovely sunshine, the generous people, there traditions and pace of life, that’s why we live here. Most of us try to live within the law as good citizens do any where in the world, but how many of us have felt our hearts jump and flutter when we see a guardia check and wonder if in fact everything will be in order and oh what relief when we are waved on. JUST SAYING.
I fear you are right. Unfortunately the rate of inheritance tax in the area and the increasing uncertainty for the future is driving many people away. So sad but it is the fault of the bureaucracy.
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