Buying in Jersey..

chaliepud

We have an opportunity to move to Jersey, but I have been astonished at house prices over there, I know there are diff housing categories and my OH convinces me we would be considered locals due to his job position and that he would be paying half the tax he pays now.
Has anyone any ideas as to whether companies over there offer assistance to employees at all, and how can locals afford to buy at those prices (We are currently in Surrey so it is not as though we are coming from a cheap area - we know all about price hikes!)

Hayley

Debt_Free_Chick

chaliepud wrote: »

We have an opportunity to move to Jersey, but I have been astonished at house prices over there, I know there are diff housing categories and my OH convinces me we would be considered locals due to his job position and that he would be paying half the tax he pays now.

You almost certainly wouldn't be classed as "locals". You might still qualify, but I think it's doubtful. Certain employees can rent - provided they are doing a job that no local is qualified to do.

Start here - you have loads of research to do.

Has anyone any ideas as to whether companies over there offer assistance to employees at all

What about the company offering him the job - have they offered no assistance?

and how can locals afford to buy at those prices

They can't - they rent (or inherit).

(We are currently in Surrey so it is not as though we are coming from a cheap area - we know all about price hikes!)

Hayley

Prices are only half the story in Jersey - you have to qualify first. There are even qualifications to rent, if you're not Jersey born & bred! :eek:

Debt_Free_Chick

This is a better summary of the qualifications, I think.

kitchen_buff

Jersey is a fantastic place especially in the summer. I know you have to live there for ten years before being allowed to be called a resident. Housing is expensive to discourage un-desireables, it is a tax haven. It has a vast summer employment population, mostly portugese. It is possible to rent, so I would consider renting out your property in surrey on six to twleve month terms and then do the same in Jersey if possible. I am not sure where you need to look though.

Alan_M_2

A friend of mine recently moved to Guernsey who I think have pretty similar rules.

You have open market housing and resident (local) housing.

If the employer can prove that they cannot find a resident for the position you're OH is offered you MAY (and only may this is never definite) be able to rent at local rates (not sure of the buy bit though).

My friend in Guernsey (employed as the business manager of the main motor dealer on the Island) can only rent open market, so He has to pay £3000 a month for a relatively modest house, but his employer offers an extra £10,000K a year on his salary as weighting for this.

It is possible that He may be accepted as a local and be able to rent at that rate - but so far this has taken 18 months and could take another 3 years.

Do plenty of research, houses are incredibly expensive on the Channel Islands.

PasturesNew

My father is a born and bred Jerseyman. He was the only one in his family that left the island (all my aunts/uncles/cousins stayed there and never left) ... and even I can't buy a house there any earlier.

Even Bergerac, the TV actor, having done so much for Jersey tourism, was disallowed his application to buy a house when he first applied.

Forget it. Everybody there rents. Even the wealthy.

TJ27

A cousin of mine lived on Jersey for many years and eventually achieved his housing qualies. However he found that houses were so expensive that he couldn't afford to buy one. He also decided that actually it's a rubbish place to live. So he bought a house on the mainland and simply gave up his qualies.

Despite being brought up there and living there for many years he much prefers it in Wales. Can't say I blame him. It's great for holidays but I don't think I'd want to live there either.

Alan_M_2

Debt_Free_Chick wrote: »

This is a better summary of the qualifications, I think.

I love the "High Value Resident" clause.....

Just open your chequebook, if it's big enough you're in...Splendid, just like getting a visa to the UK now:rotfl:

guppy

Alan_M wrote: »

I love the "High Value Resident" clause.....

Just open your chequebook, if it's big enough you're in...Splendid, just like getting a visa to the UK now:rotfl:

I liked the bit about "The Wealthy Immigrant Provisions"...I think all laws should be so transparently named

chaliepud

Thanks everybody, OH has an interview in Dec and has arranged a meeting with an Island Relocation bod, but not holding out much hope with housing, OH is convinced we would be allowed to buy but not convinced we could afford to.

Thanks again

Alan_M_2

Of course you can buy, but only buy open market.

But as you say, prices will be similar to Eaton Square and Sloane Street.