Very interesting, well-done Pete you spotted the scam before you were stitched up like a kipper, your wife had the right idea.

I gritted my teeth when you mentioned the 'black money'; you are only helping the seller and could come unstuck if and when you come to sell it, and most importantly it's illegal. Your solicitor was at best remiss and at worst possibly complicit in the scam. You were lucky that the Notary was up to his job but as your Spanish is not yet up to the mark why didn't you use the services of a solicitor with fluent English.

Chris, your fluent Spanish would only have told you what an honest Spanish, English speaking solicitor would have told you. A bent contract, possibly two bent solicitors, a bent agent and a bent seller, you wouldn't have stood a chance without the intervention of the Notary. That is unless you are an expert on the wording of sometimes verbose Spanish property contracts.

Obviously learning Spanish is a must, but like Pete and Mrs Pete the wife and I intend to tackle this when we no longer have busy lives in the UK and can totally absorbe ourselves into every aspect of Spanish culture.

I side with jojo on this and offer Pete my thanks for the warning. Perhaps you guys who have bought Spanish property could come up with a list of requirements that we who haven't yet taken the step could then put in writing to our respective solicitors as requiring satisfying prior to the drafting of the contract.

Another way would to be to instruct someone such as John Howell and Co in London who are a leading firm of solicitors specialising in Spanish property purchase. They sort everything out for you, speak and write to the other party in Spanish and tell you what is happening in English. They even sort out your NIE number for you and can complete the purchase without having to be present in Spain. You would also have the full weight of the English Law Society behind you.