Typical Relocation Package??

rach13

Hoping someone can help!

My partner is in the process of being offered a new job - it's at the stage where they are talking about money - via a recruitment agency. And they have said there will be a car allowance of £650 per month (would this include fuel?) We are planning on selling partners car before the move as it is on it's last legs. I have just started leasing a car in my name - can we use this £650 to cover my lease (£300 per month) and the rest on fuel/insurance? We will probably only need one car.

They also said they would be offering a lump sum and typical relocation package - but what does this entail? We will have a mortgage on house in Belfast (£900 per month) and need to rent somewhere in London...what are companies generally willing to pay for?!

We have to put together a bit of a proposal for recruitment firm and just wondered what is cheeky to ask for and what is standard? Don't wana price ourselves out of the market but at the same time want to get as much help as possible with the move.

BTW current salary with old company is £70k but expecting a bit of an increase for that for London move anyway but don't even know what this will be!

Can't make any decisions until we know what we are playing with yet :S

Thanks

[Deleted User]

Car allowance usually doesn't include fuel.. you'd claim that on top of the allowance as part of expenses. BTW - you'll probably need to include 'company use' as part of the car insurance

Back when I was a graduate, i was given £1k for relocation. The amount should be vaguely near the actual expense of moving. I'd be asking for £3-5k in your situation I think

gb12345

When I was offered a relocation package many years ago, we were given hotel accomodation/rent for 6 months while we looked for permenant accomodation and sold our old property, together with costs for trips 'home' every so often.

InsideInsurance

Car allowance is exclusive of fuel. As its your own car you claim mileage expenses as per the standard HMRC rates. At a previous place they only paid company car rates but you were free to claim the rest directly from HMRC (but they said you werent entitled to it)

As to relocation package, the only one I got was £3k plus 1 months hotel at cost plus weekend economy travel back "home" at cost whilst staying in the hotel.

SueC_2

I don't think there is such a thing as a 'typical relocation package' - it varies hugely according to the company, the role, how desperate they are to employ the individual, and how hard a bargain the individual strikes.

I know someone who had his entire family flown out to Australia, not once but twice prior to actually accepting the role, and was then provided with serviced accommodation for three months while finding a permanent house (which was then fully funded for six months), provision of a car, assistance sorting out schooling (including paying fees) for the children, a personal assistant for a month arranging these things and helping navigate the local area and systems, etc etc etc.

And I know someone who was given £250 contribution towards van hire.

You need to have a frank conversation with the employer and see what sort of thing they are willing to include. At the same time work out a list of what your actual costs will be. And then work out whether you are happy to pay the balance.

dseventy

I offer assistance up to 8K for relocation as per the HMRC guidelines.

See

http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/guidance/relocation.htm

D70

OllysMum_2

You have to clarify exactly where your partner is in the process. Does he have an offer? Or is the agency bargaining a shortlist with their client?

Do not use the agency for negotiation. It is for them to secure the offer for you. Once you have the offer you negotiate directly with the employer. At that point your bargaining position is at its strongest.

If you have the offer, then it is in their interests to make the relocation package as attractive as possible.

If it's a longterm move, then it is not usual for relocation to reflect the increase in costs for living in London (whereas a short term let might have been covered) - make sure salary reflects this. London is an expensive city!

So you're looking at:
temporary accommodation costs until you find long term accommodation.
Storage and then removal costs for the actual move
any legal costs
Fares between Belfast and London to resolve any issues.

£5k-£8k is probably ball park. As D70 says, any more than that there's tax implications

Car allowance - that's a good allowance and probably comes with the expectation that there will be a decent car (i.e. words will be said if an old jalopy turns up in the car park!). It''s usually acceptable not to use the full amount on the car itself, and use any leftover for running/maintenance costs.