Costs you keep paying in your home country

Key rules

• Overlap: Budget for one to three months of paying for two homes, and up to six months or more if you are selling.
• Notice period: The notice in your old lease sets the minimum time you pay for both homes.
• Minimum terms: Phone and subscription contracts can bind you to a minimum term, so check them before you leave.
• Proof: Send every cancellation in writing and keep proof.

Overlap times and notice periods vary by contract and country, so check the exact terms in your own lease, loan and sale documents.

Expect to pay for two homes for a while

Most people pay for two homes at once for a short time. Plan for one to three months of overlap. If you are selling your old home, or it is tied to a lease notice period, the overlap can reach six months or more.

• Rented home, clean move: the overlap is shortest.
• Home you are selling: the overlap is longest, because a sale can take several months.
• Lease notice: typical leases ask for one to three months' notice, and that sets your minimum overlap.

Read the notice terms in your old lease or sale contract before you book anything in Spain. Then send notice as early as the contract allows.

Costs that usually continue

Housing

• Rent or mortgage on the old home, including the notice period on a lease.
• Property taxes, utilities and insurance on a home you keep or have not yet sold.

Moving and storage

• Storage-unit fees.
• Shipping or removal payments still due.

Vehicle left behind

• Car loan or lease payments.
• Car insurance and road tax.

Personal finances

• Health insurance and pension contributions.
• Credit card and loan repayments.

Contracts with minimum terms

• Phone contracts.
• Subscriptions such as streaming, gym and software.

Tax

• Tax filing in your home country can continue after you leave. Ask your home tax office or an adviser what you still have to file.

How to stop paying sooner

Closing or transferring each contract on time saves you from paying for months afterwards. Do this:

1. List every contract and its notice period or minimum term.
2. Send written notice for each one, and keep proof that you sent it.
3. Cancel or transfer what you will not use: phone, subscriptions, storage and insurance.
4. For anything you cannot end yet, put the final payment date in your budget.

The timeline below shows the order, and the FAQ answers common questions on overlap and taxes.

Timeline and deadlines

• Read the notice terms in your old lease or sale contract: before you book your move

• Send notice on a rented home: 1 to 3 months before you want the lease to end, as your lease requires

• Cancel or transfer phone contracts, subscriptions, storage and insurance: before you leave, checking each minimum term

• Expect rent or mortgage on both homes to overlap: for about 1 to 3 months after the move

• Keep paying taxes, utilities and insurance on a home you are selling: up to 6 months or more, until the sale completes

Frequently asked questions

How long will I pay for two homes at once?

Most people pay for two homes for about 1 to 3 months. If you are selling the old home or your lease has a long notice period, it can last 6 months or more. A rented home and a clean move give the shortest overlap.

What sets the minimum overlap if I rent my old home?

The notice period in your old lease sets the minimum overlap, and typical leases ask for 1 to 3 months. Read the notice clause before you book your move, so you can send notice early.

Do I still have to file taxes in my home country after moving?

Yes, tax filing in your home country can continue after you move, so it belongs on your list of ongoing obligations. Check with a tax adviser or your home tax office what applies to you.