My daughter is moving to Tenerife to work in the catering business and my wife and I are talking about following her. I we did, are there any opportunities for setting up in business? Tiling, plastering and plumbing.

No idea mate but if you do good luck to you

yes good luck mate ,the wether is better they say!!!

yes,its part of the EU so no probs i shouldnt imagine as long as you tell the authorities.

30 degree temp today.

I have been living in Tenerife for the last two and a half years and have owned property there for far longer but after managing to sell up we moved back to the UK earlier this year.

Site work is non existent as the Spanish usually only employ there own plus the language barrier which is a hugh problem.

Working for yourself is also very difficult as everyman man and his dog (expat) is offering their service as a plumber/tiler/handyman or whatever else to earn money and there are already a large number of established expats working cash in hand serving the community. There are also a number of well established legit british companies serving the expat community.

We named the island fantasy island as you can go and live there and no one knows anything about you and you can be whatever you want to be.

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news and if you need any further info. please let me know.

Videoman - Thanks for the info.
With all of the wind and rain we are having at the moment it's easy to drift away and dream of a perfect life in the sunshine. Reality from someone that has been there and got the t-shirt makes you think twice and brings you back to earth.
We have decided to stay put for now but will be visiting our daughter and supporting her with her little adventure. She can always come back home to mom and dad if things don't work out.
Thanks again for the info.


http://www.justgiving.com/DaleandRob

Hi Dale44
I think you are making the right decision with the economic climate as it is as the work situation is far worse in Tenerife than here. People will work for as little as 25/30 euros a day just to make a poor living and are struggling to survive. We were fortunate as we did not have to work but you become bored (as I did) after a period of time.

The usual trick for employers over there is to offer a temporary contract for six months if your lucky enough to get one then get rid of you when the six months is up as they then have to offer by law a lifetime contract after that period of time.

Perhaps when things pick up you can live your dream and good luck to your daughter in her new job. I think it will be a difficult time family wise being apart and that is one of the resons we returned as my wife missed our daughter too much who stayed in the UK when we moved.

Good reply Vid man wouldnt advise any one to come out here now its in total meltdown, local Spanish paper said yesterday that the situation is insubstainable with the ratio of dole money paid out to taxes brought in and my regional goverment have brought in a law to prevent water companies fron cutting people of while the crisis is on.
Lucius