There may be some real concerns in your mind as a new investor in Fuengirola, we hope that by reading this we are able to put your minds to rest.

These items are listed in no particular order, with the “myth” in bold type and the actual facts underneath.

Myth: The police/local authority can close foreign owned businesses down at any time .

Fact: The local authorities, including the police, treat both Spanish and foreign businesses in exactly the same manner. They will close a business only as an absolutely last resort, and only after a business owner persistently fails to comply with local licensing and by-laws. In our many years of trading in Spain we have never known of ANY example of closing a business that has complied with the local laws.

Myth: Lease ( Traspasso) holders can be made to give up the business premises at any time .

Fact: Lease (commercial rental) law is very well defined in Spain and is strictly enforced by the judiciary. Once a contract is signed, it can only be terminated by the landlord under instruction by the local court. This will only be granted in the case of gross breach of the contract by the tenant, for example persistent non payment of rent etc.

Myth: You have to have a “Music Licence” to play music in your bar/restaurant.

Fact: Most venues can play music at reasonable levels, including on their terraces with no special licenses provide no nuisance is caused. If you wish to play loud live music, karaoke disco etc, you will have to bring the premises up to the local authority sound insulation specifications. It is only in the case of night clubs and discothèques that a specific music licence is needed, and this will be dependant upon many issues including location, sound proofing, fire doors etc.

Myth: Spanish people will not use a foreign business.

Fact: it would not be surprising if a bar or café had a sign that said in English only something like “Sams Chip Café” and all the menus were in English, that not many Spanish clients came in. Ask yourself if you would ever have gone into your local Indian Takeaway if the menus were only in Urdu. By simply making the effort to have your signs and menus printed in dual language you will quickly attract a lot of local Spanish business. If you do not speak Spanish, this will not hold you back, as the locals will consider it great fun to teach you Spanish as well as practicing their English.

Myth: In Fuengirola, the bars and businesses are controlled by “mafia” gangs and you have to pay “insurance”

Fact: This is one of the most popular urban myth, probably because some people like the idea of telling their friends back home what its like to be involved in “the new wild west” The facts however are much more “ordinary”. Over the past few years the local authorities have worked very hard to isolate any general criminal groups, and respond very quickly to any hint of problems, whether that comes from Spanish, English or Eastern European groups. Unless you purposely involve yourselves in any major criminal activity i.e. drugs, prostitution etc, the chance of you ever experiencing any problem of this type is practically zero. This brings us to another myth..

Myth: The Spanish police are not interested in helping foreigners.

Fact: During a local authority meeting in 2001, the then mayor of Fuengirola stated that the local Spanish population should not forget the financial advantage of having such a large influx of foreign, mostly British people coming to live in their town. For this reason she said, the local council was going to employ 8 English speaking police officers, and encouraged all of the others to learn English. Since then most other major towns have followed suite. Due to this positive attitude, we have noted a great change in the way that the police respond to the problems of foreigners, especially local business owners. If for any reason a business owner of any nationality were to contact the police, they would find a rapid and sympathetic response.

Written by
David Ballard
http://www.ballard-consulting.com/