🌴 What Happened to a Friend’s Cousin with Her Home in Costa Blanca (And How You Can Avoid It)

By Lenka

If I had a euro for every time someone told me, “Nobody mentioned that when I bought,” I’d already have my own beach bar by now.

Today I want to share the story of a friend’s cousin (yes, really), who bought herself a stunning little house in Costa Blanca. A picture-perfect place, with blooming bougainvillea at the entrance and all. She didn’t rent it out, only stayed there for a couple of weeks a year… it was her peaceful escape from the freezing winters of Prague.

And like many others, she thought:
—“If I’m not making money with the house… I don’t have to declare anything, right?”

Well… not exactly.

🧾 The Reality (That Many Don’t Know)

In Spain, even if you don’t rent out your property, you still have to file a tax declaration every year if you’re not a fiscal resident. It’s called the Non-Resident Income Tax, and it’s submitted using the well-known Modelo 210.

Why? Because the Spanish tax office assumes that, even if your home sits empty, it generates a kind of “imaginary income” (they call it imputed income). And that “income,” even if it’s fictional, must be declared and taxed.

Yep, it sounds strange. But that’s the law.

😨 The Scare

My friend’s cousin had no clue. Nobody explained this when she bought the house. No one from her previous agency even mentioned it. Years went by without filing Modelo 210… until someone randomly brought it up over lunch one day.

She called me in a panic, thinking she was going to be hit with a huge fine.
Luckily, we helped her get everything sorted out, filed the declarations from previous years, and got her back on track—finally letting her sleep peacefully again.

And let me tell you—this isn’t a rare case. I’ve had so many clients who bought through other agencies and came to me later saying:
—“But my friend never files that!”
—“Doesn’t the bank take care of it?”
—“Nobody told me this was required…”

And I always say the same thing: not knowing doesn’t exempt you from the responsibility. But we can help you fix it.

✅ What You Really Need to Know

If you’re thinking about buying a property in Spain—or already own one—and you’re not a resident, take note:

• Yes, you must file Modelo 210 every year.

• Even if you don’t rent the property.

• It’s not the same as the local IBI tax. This one is national.

• And yes, if you’ve missed a few years, it can be fixed—but the sooner, the better.

When I work with international clients buying here on the Costa Blanca, I don’t just focus on finding them the perfect home. I make sure they understand everything that comes with owning a property in Spain.
Because for me, the real work starts after handing over the keys.

So now you know: if you’re about to make your Mediterranean dream come true, start off on the right foot.
And if you’ve already made it but skipped that little “detail,” don’t worry—you’ve still got time to make it right.

We’re here to help you, with experience, with solutions… and always with a smile.

With love,
Lenka 🌞