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A second home in Spain is a dream come true for many people, but receiving mail can be a challenge if you don't live in the country permanently. Beforehand, you often do not realise that the postman in Spain does not always deliver door-to-door as you are probably used to in your own country. This is especially true for urbanisations with detached villas or in the countryside. The distances are simply too great and thus too time-consuming. How do you solve this? Fortunately, there are several ways to ensure your mail arrives safely and on time at your second home. Here are some tips and options to receive your mail efficiently.
If you have bought a flat in a building or attached house on a complex, there is generally no problem with mail delivery. In the central hall of the building or on the outside wall of the complex, there is normally an area with mailboxes for all residents, which is freely accessible to the postman. Make sure the number of your flat and your name are clearly indicated so that the postman knows where to deliver the mail.
The same goes for a village or town house: the postman usually delivers to your home there, provided there is a clearly visible and easily accessible mailbox.
The situation changes if you own a villa in an urbanisation or a finca or rural house in the countryside. Here, mail is hardly or only sporadically delivered, usually to a central mailbox nearby. Fortunately, much mail is already digitised, such as utility bills, internet or mobile phone bills. Still, there remains a need for a place to receive physical mail. After all, how nice is it not to get a ‘real’ card for your birthday or at Christmas?
Hereby, we give you some options to choose from:
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- The lawyer (or gestor) who assisted you with the purchase of the property often offers the option of receiving your (registered) mail related to the purchased property for a small annual fee. Think of mail from the SUMA, municipality or tax authorities. The advantage is that he or she can immediately explain to you what the communication is about and whether you need to take action. Find out if your solicitor (or gestor) offers this option. Note: for other mail and parcels, you have to come up with another solution.
- You can have parcels and normal mail delivered to your local post office. There, mailboxes of various sizes can be rented, which are also easy to find for various parcel services. Keep in mind that registered mail remains available only for a limited period of time. If you are not in Spain for an extended period, you risk missing it.
- You can also use specialised companies, such as Letter R Us in Moraira or Mail Boxes Etc in Jávea. These companies were created to offer second-home owners the option of having their mail, parcel post and registered mail delivered. Some companies offer the option of forwarding your mail both physically and digitally (by scanning in documents). This way, you won't miss important mail or parcels. Ask the relevant company about the options and prices.
- You can also check with the municipality whether the urbanisation where your home is located has a location for post boxes (as in the attached photo). For a small fee, you will then be allocated a post box with a set of keys. Sometimes you get this mailbox and its key handed over when the property is handed over by the previous owner. The mail is usually delivered there twice a week by the Correos. The downside is that such a mailbox (because that's all it is) cannot receive parcels. For registered letters, they leave a notification, requiring you to collect the letter from the post office within a specified period (maximum 2 weeks). This often means you are too late to collect it if you are not permanently present. Previously mentioned options are therefore better if you do not permanently occupy the property.
- Of course, if you have friends, relatives or close neighbours living nearby, you can ask them to receive and store your mail. This is especially useful for smaller items of mail or if you are temporarily away. However, it is advisable to communicate clearly in advance what mail (parcels) you expect. That way, you avoid them opening your mail unnecessarily or accidentally, or just running an errand when the parcel service drops by. Also don't forget to arrange a written authorisation for them, so they can pick up a registered piece at the post office if necessary.
Conclusion
It is essential to find a reliable and efficient way to receive mail in your Spanish holiday home, especially if you only stay there occasionally. Whether you opt for the local postal service, a PO Box, digital services, a lawyer/gestor or the help of friends, neighbours or family - there are plenty of options to ensure you don't miss important mail. With the right approach, you can enjoy your second home in Spain worry-free, knowing that your mail and parcels will arrive safely where they belong!
