Moving to the Channel Islands
Discussion
I interviewed for a role 4 years ago, was offered it and turned it down due to circumstances. I've now been approached again with a more senior position and I am seriously tempted by it. It comes with a long term housing license. I'm curious as to what happens when the license expires, can anyone help?
Most likely to be based on Guernsey but with some travel no doubt.
It looks like quite an expensive place to be living as well. My wife and I are keen to buy wherever we move to, but seems like Guernsey may be a struggle.
Most likely to be based on Guernsey but with some travel no doubt.
It looks like quite an expensive place to be living as well. My wife and I are keen to buy wherever we move to, but seems like Guernsey may be a struggle.
Don't quote me on this and I am speaking from a Jersey perspective which should be similar to Guernsey. If you come over on a license which allows you to lease or buy I think once the license has run out and another is not forthcoming you can no longer live in the place you are leasing or bought. In Jersey I think you can lease what they call "none qualified" accommodation but you pay through the nose.
You have probably already seen this but if not they may well be useful. http://www.gov.gg/article/2039/Working-in-Guernsey and http://www.gov.gg/article/1601/Living-in-Guernsey
Guernsey is lovely, very quaint and not built up as much as Jersey.
I haven't been across to Guernsey for some time but if it anything like Jersey it is expensive. Luckily tax is very favourable at just stamp duty on property and income tax (Jersey is 20%). I don't think Guernsey pay local VAT known as GST where as Jersey is 5%. Good thing about being VAT free is orders off the internet are VAT free too, loads of online retailers remove VAT at source such as Amazon.
As this is Piston Heads, there are loads of nice cars on Guernsey and a great hill climb event. Quick boat to Jersey in October for the Jersey Rally one of the best closed road rallies, loads of hill climbs and sprints too.
You have probably already seen this but if not they may well be useful. http://www.gov.gg/article/2039/Working-in-Guernsey and http://www.gov.gg/article/1601/Living-in-Guernsey
Guernsey is lovely, very quaint and not built up as much as Jersey.
I haven't been across to Guernsey for some time but if it anything like Jersey it is expensive. Luckily tax is very favourable at just stamp duty on property and income tax (Jersey is 20%). I don't think Guernsey pay local VAT known as GST where as Jersey is 5%. Good thing about being VAT free is orders off the internet are VAT free too, loads of online retailers remove VAT at source such as Amazon.
As this is Piston Heads, there are loads of nice cars on Guernsey and a great hill climb event. Quick boat to Jersey in October for the Jersey Rally one of the best closed road rallies, loads of hill climbs and sprints too.
Edited by megapixels83 on Saturday 15th August 13:38
We considered moving to Jersey a few years back as there where some nice IT jobs going and the low income tax was really impressive. However I was still living/working in Switzerland at the pay difference was too great so we stayed. I have had 2 friends that worked between the islands. 1 loved it and had a great lifestyle but was on a really impressive wage with a bank, the other moved back quite quickly and said they just got bored living on a small island and didn't integrate well at all. Personally now we are back in the UK and if a position came up in Jersey again I would take it as we loved living in a different place to home.
Also I wouldn't buy a property ever in a place you are effectively a foreigner. Lots of UK friends bought property in Switzerland and are in a bit of financial mess because of it. We rented in Switzerland for 6 years and kept our BTL property in UK.
Also I wouldn't buy a property ever in a place you are effectively a foreigner. Lots of UK friends bought property in Switzerland and are in a bit of financial mess because of it. We rented in Switzerland for 6 years and kept our BTL property in UK.
My step father is from Jersey and I have been there at least a dozen times. Yes, income tax is greatly reduced and there is no VAT on goods sold, but everything is more expensive.
Its very pretty in places, but also very small (9 x 5 miles) and if yoou are coming from a largish town, you will find St. Helier very limiting. Also, I don't know if the OP has kids, but even schooling can be very difficult.
Buying a house in jersey if you weren't born there requires a lot of money. Plain and simple. Nigel Mansell is a permanent Jersey resident. That gives you an idea of how much money you need
Also, this is just my opinion, but I have found some of the islanders to be quite set in their ways. They have been trying to fight off tescos invading the island for years and managed to hold off McDonalds till the mid 90s. Its not some where I would choose to live.
Its very pretty in places, but also very small (9 x 5 miles) and if yoou are coming from a largish town, you will find St. Helier very limiting. Also, I don't know if the OP has kids, but even schooling can be very difficult.
Buying a house in jersey if you weren't born there requires a lot of money. Plain and simple. Nigel Mansell is a permanent Jersey resident. That gives you an idea of how much money you need
Also, this is just my opinion, but I have found some of the islanders to be quite set in their ways. They have been trying to fight off tescos invading the island for years and managed to hold off McDonalds till the mid 90s. Its not some where I would choose to live.
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