Jersey

[Threesoundslikealot]

Hi. DH has the chance of a job in Jersey. We currently live in South London, and have children at secondary and primary school, as well as pre-schoolers.

Pros: DH would earn the same as we both currently earn put together, and pay less tax on it. We could rent out our London house and more than cover our mortgage, hopefully paying it down as well. I could take a career break and we'd save on child care costs, and I'd have a chance to study, which I'd love to do. It would be a useful career step for DH and we'd want to come back to London within five years.

Cons: loss of social networks, no idea how the schools would coordinate, secondary in particular, and beyond me going there on holiday for a fortnight when I was 11, we know nothing about Jersey. It also looks like it might be tricky to find somewhere to rent as we'd be 'unqualified' I think. DH would be working in the public sector so I don't know if that would make any difference.

Any Jersey MNetters?

[Kelly1814]

I grew up in Jersey and family still there, it's a beautiful place! I have great memories of spending all year on the beach,,whatever the weather.

It did feel very isolated to me though as I grew older.you can't go anywhere without getting on a plane or a boat and the island is the size of a postage stamp. I left when I was 18.

[Kelly1814]

And yes renting is eye wateringly expensive if you don't have 'qualies'. Would DH's company not stump up for that?

[Threesoundslikealot]

Thanks, Kelly. It's a new job and employer, and until yesterday I'd never come across the whole qualified thing, so I'm pretty clueless on how it might work. Could the employer make him qualified?

[Kelly1814]

No, you have to have lived there for a period of time (15 years I think), be born there, or marry a local. It's a bit like a U.S. Green card.

[elizabethsmum]

I don't live in jersey but do go over several times a year for work and have been offered a permanent job there. it is a gorgeous place to live but as op has said rents are v pricey and cost of food shopping etc more- m and s, waitrose being main supermarkets. (someone I work with there estimates she spends £200 p week average on food shop for family of 5- to give you an idea). with schools as far as I have been led to believe there are a couple of state secondaries which appear to be favoured above the others so you may have to factor in school fees as well.

[elizabethsmum]

what I meant to add was that the cost of living has put me off accepting job as I feel my work life balance might actually suffer by need to work more hours to cover costs (I am main earner). also for future reference with university I believe that dc's would be classed as being 'overseas students' as outside the uk - i.e. extra costs to factor in there also- depending on how long you might plan to stay.

[homewoes]

My friend lives in Jersey. Just tried to send her this thread but the email bounced!

I would go there and see what you think. I've only visited but I can't stress enough how small it is! Lots of flash cars and nowhere to drive them Population less than half the one of the London borough you're living in.

Cost of living is expensive. Can't help on the 'qually?' stuff. Friend's DH was born there which helped them although I think she was unsure whether she'd get hospital cover when she went over at eight months pregnant. Check that sort of thing.

Great beaches. Good stuff for kids, but a limited amount. School fees probably needed. Good cycling. Good restaurants and stuff. One cinema. One Waitrose (expensive, more so than here). Airport in and out of London City and Gatwick. Main town of St Helier like any UK town in terms of shops. I've not got the impression there's lots of green space... Could be wrong.

I suspect being wealthy helps hugely, both with having a good lifestyle and also being able to escape to the mainland at will.

If you hate it you can always move back sooner.

If I had the chance to go for five years I probably would. My Dh wouldn't though

What does your DH do?

[homewoes]

Oh and they went for her DHs job. Like you the money was the same as they were earning in london, and his hours there are much shorter than they were here. And he cycles home in 20 minutes, as opposed to an hour on the tube.

Limited career options in general though.

[AFlorrick]

I live in Jersey. It's a fantastic place to live and bring up kids. The state schools are all good. The downside is the cost of living which is incredibly high. However salaries are higher, as you've identified.

If your DH is to be employed as a teacher he is likely to have a special category of housing licence (J category) so you will not necessarily be looking at unqualified housing. Suggest he investigates this a little further.

[AFlorrick]

Just realized he's not a teacher but public sector. Suspect he'll still get a J category though. He needs to check this. It is still more expensive to rent though than the local qualified housing.

[Morgan]

I live on Guernsey so not quite the same but check out Quintessential Relocation - a friend of mine who runs it - they are v helpful and knowledgeable .

[Threesoundslikealot]

Wow, thanks all. DH's job is a bit 'outing' but he'd be earning almost our current joint full time salary on his own with less tax to pay, so it would definitely be a financial move! He has the option of a fixed five years which I think we'd take over permanent as we'd want to come back.
Lots of things to think about. There are six of us to feed and we live in Lidl over here. And state schools all the way. And we're very South London lentil weavers most of the time, so I think the culture shock is potentially enormous.

[magimedi]

I was born there & we moved back, with DCs for about 3 years.

Then came back to UK. Found it very expensive & stifiling to live there. And that was in the 80's/90's when it was not so crowded as it is now.

It is very small!

[homewoes]

Six of you!

I would go for a visit.

Also, do you drive? I think it's essential there.

[Threesoundslikealot]

We do drive. Not a lovely gleaming motor though!

DH will be flown over if interviewed, obviously, so I will try to go with him, kids permitting, and get a feel of the place.

[elizabethsmum]

Just another quick thought would be factoring in travel costs- obviously not much cost in travel/commuting locally but trips back to the UK are pricey- I fly from Midlands airports and flights generally £150pp whatever the time of year so obv a consideration with family of 6. ferry is also not cheap- costing me £600 this summer (my work usually pay flights but I am bringing kids for hol)- quick ferry takes 4 hrs but there are some probs with it in winter with rough seas when it is too rough to dock so then it is much longer trip on other ferry (around 8 hrs I think?) anyway basically even though not far from UK it is not terribly cheap or always straightforward to get back on a regular basis as a family.

[LillianGish]

And we're very South London lentil weavers most of the time, so I think the culture shock is potentially enormous. Yes it is. I love Jersey, I have family there, but not sure I could live there. I think coming from South London you will find it an incredibly small pond full of some very big fishes. Gorgeous beaches though - I'd go for a few years. DH would die if he had to live there.

[Iloveadrianmole]

I live on Jersey. It is very lovely but very small. We have just paid £600 to get ourselves off the island on the ferry for two weeks in the summer. Food is very expensive- we have several Waitrose supermarkets, several M&S Simply Food and a large Co-op - all are very expensive.

Our children are educated privately - there are good state schools on the island both secondary and primary, however,,like the UK it is down to pot luck / catchment area as to whether you get in. I have one at private primary and one at a private secondary. You may need to factor in private school fees if you aren't happy with your state options.

Housing is usually on a license - your husband's employer will have to apply for one for your husband to enable him to rent a property - there is a market for un qualified people- but there is very limited choice - I wouldn't like to have to look with no J Cat!

The island is beautiful - lots of lovely beaches and town (St Helier) is pretty. I do like living here - I'm originally from the mainland so it has been a massive culture shock! We have lived here for a few years now and our children are very settled. I would look very carefully at salary as even though with much lower tax it is very expensive to live here and to really take advantage of the lifestyle on offer.

[Threesoundslikealot]

Thank you all again. Lots of food for thought. The job application is in so if he is offered an interview we will go and sniff around.

[ememem84]

I live in jersey. I wouldn't live anywhere else. Feel free to pm me any questions.

[Threesoundslikealot]

Ememem, thank you very much for that offer. Sorry, I had forgotten to check the thread.

DH has an interview for the post soon and they are flying us both over for a night so I can get a feel of it while he is being interviewed. Interestingly his interview programme includes a discussion about living on Jersey. We're excited to go and visit, but suddenly it feels quite real!

[Threesoundslikealot]

Hello, thread. Well, he was offered the job and after much thought we are off to Jersey. He will be qualified for housing, and as he's coming in a fairly senior role, we'll be given support finding somewhere to live. The rents are quite high I know, but coming from London, they're more or less in line with what we're used to. Abandoning Lidl for Waitrose will be eye-opening I think, but we'll be able to buy lots of fish. The idea is to stay no more than five years, both for career and personal reasons, but we're half excited, half terrified.

And we've already had our first encounter with the cost of leaving, as we're trying to work out how on earth we're going to get to our pre-booked holiday in February half term without it costing the earth!

[SeaSandSun]

Hi - we live in Jersey with 3 children, a crazy spaniel and 2 cats.

I have sent you a direct message.

Good luck with your move.

[BringMeTea]

Aw, lovely update. Lots of luck with your adventure!

[Threesoundslikealot]

Thank you, and I've emailed you, SSS. Sorry to take so long but I had major problems getting back on here after the hacking!