A British man who moved from London to Spain has issued a stark warning to others considering the same path.
Sharing his experiences on TikTok account “English John Costa Blanca”, the Briton cautioned fellow Britons about the potential pitfalls of Spanish relocation.
Spain remains one of the most popular destinations for sun-seeking Britons, famous for its sandy beaches and warm climate.
But the content creator emphasised that alongside the “success stories” and “fantastic” lifestyles often portrayed online, there are “many small failures” awaiting the unprepared.
John warned about the pitfalls of moving abroad
TIKTOK
His clip highlighted several “catastrophic” mistakes newcomers make, like “buying properties with debt” or “falling victim to scams”.
His main warning focused on a common issue he’s encountered: never pay contractors in advance.
“It’s kind of well-known that if you give people money in advance of doing jobs in Spain, you don’t have money and the job will still need getting done six months or 12 months later,” he explained.
John shared his personal experience with a gardener who was paid upfront to tackle overgrown land at his “campo-style property”.
The gardener not only left the job unfinished but also “destroyed the wall getting into the property”.
“He couldn’t have screwed it up any more if you tried,” the expat recalled.
“There’s no accountability here, it’s very different to the UK,” he warns, adding that similar stories about builders and gardeners “running off with money” are common.
His warnings sparked debate in the comments section, however, with many suggesting such problems aren’t unique to Spain.
Spain is an enticing destination for Britons
GETTY
“Not in Spain, this is happening in the USA too and most of the countries,” wrote one commenter.
Another defended Spain’s reputation: “It happens everywhere! I’ve found Spain is better than most.”
One person offered insight into local practices, explaining: “In Spain, Spanish people never pay in advance, it is always at the end of the job, even materials.”
They added that Spanish builders typically purchase materials themselves and “will get reimbursed at the end”.
