Moving abroad

GwylimT

My wife and I are hoping to move to Sweden in winter 2016, but we are aware it could take longer. I know people who have moved further afield, such as Aus but I don't know anyone who has moved to mainland europe.

Does anyone here have any experience or valuable advice they could share?

We have a rental property so I know we need someone reliable in the UK regarding that, we will be selling our mortgage free home to enable us to purchase a property, we haven't finalised what area yet.

missbiggles1

There's a long thread on living abroad on the Over 50s Board and many contributers are below that age.

agrinnall

Use form P85 to inform HMRC of a move abroad.

https://www.gov.uk/tax-right-retire-abroad-return-to-uk

benjus

GwylimT wrote: »

We have a rental property so I know we need someone reliable in the UK regarding that

Make sure you're aware of the tax implications of being a non-resident landlord: https://www.gov.uk/tax-uk-income-live-abroad/rent

GwylimT

missbiggles1 wrote: »

There's a long thread on living abroad on the Over 50s Board and many contributers are below that age.

Thanks, that didn't come up in my search so I will pop over and have a good read.

pollypenny

Will you still be teaching in Sweden, gwylim?

GwylimT

pollypenny wrote: »

Will you still be teaching in Sweden, gwylim?

No, I start a new job on Tuesday which allows me to work anywhere within a certain distance (most of Sweden has been approved) as long as I can make my meetings once every eight weeks, so I can remain in this role, or find work actually in Sweden. My employer has many colleagues on a system like this so they can also sort out tax etc which I would also be double checking.

Obviously if I did go into teaching I wouldn't be earning as much as now and there is also a less structured pay scale, but other costs would be much lower, so even if I earned a little below the national average before tax, we would be still be better off than here.

There seems to be far more opportunities for my wife than there are here, luckily her role is a high demand one so hopefully despite her disability her opportunities should be a bit better.

SleeplessinScandinavia

Swedes generally pay themselves more, tax themselves more, and charge more for goods and services (than in the UK). For example, my UK-based pension attracts no tax in the UK - but 25% in Sweden, where I live.

If you're 'normally resident' in Sweden, you'd be liable to pay tax on your worldwide income; there is a double tax treaty between UK-Sweden, so that any UK tax paid is deducted from a Swedish tax bill.

As far as property is concerned, (again) generally there is a shortage of accommodation in principal cities like Stockholm, with prices 'going through the roof' in some cases - but an over-provision in the countryside, where prices are lower.

Swedish estate agents carry out the conveyancing. When I bought a property here I thought this was a conflict of interest (in representing vendor and buyer) and there were several discrepancies in the contract. As all documents are in Swedish, you might need a Swedish expert with you at the contract signing. Its also the buyers' obligation to have a property surveyed before purchase - otherwise there may be no redress later for any faults found.

Good luck!

GwylimT

Documents in Swedish are not a problem all, I am Swedish and regularly visit my father in Sweden, its the practicalities I'm trying to tackle such as getting your stuff over, do we rent first or buy straight away (would be mortgage free in our chosen area).

Our car is a big thing, so we are going to get my dad to purchase in his name and have it modified for my wife so it is ready for us, her car is rented through DLA so obviously it isn't ours to take.

SleeplessinScandinavia

There are no ferry services between UK and Scandinavia (DFDS closed their service to Esbjerg last year). I heard of a Danish company called regina line who held out the prospect of starting a new service - but they wanted people to email them expressing an interest: last time I visited their internet site, I got a '404 Error - site not found' :mad:

I reckon one alternative would be a ferry to Amsterdam, and then a long drive north.

As for property, if I had my time again I would rent first; me and my partner feel on reflection that the property we bought, is not worth expense of maintenance and fuel bills.

When we bought the house (at the end of 2007) , there was an absolute feeding frenzy, with people bidding over each other: not quite the same now :cool: