Living abroad for 3/4 months of the year

[Gaelforce]

Does anyone spend 3/4 months living abroad and where and then spend the rest of the year 'at home'?

I've never heard of anyone doing this and not sure what the advantages would be, if any. However I can think of plenty of reasons why it may not be a good idea.

I plan to do this on retirement, wintering in Florida for 3 months. I've got US citizenship, although DH doesn't hence the limit to 3 months. We'll also have to double check taxation implications, but that's the idea...

My in-laws do in Slovenia. MIL was born there though so it’s easier for them to do.

They spend April - September there.

thanks everyone. An acquaintance spends 4 months in Portugal and it got me thinking about it. It seems like the perfect scenario.

@Crankley - what reasons?

My son spends several months a year abroad and some time in the UK in various places. This year, not so as he and colleagues had to come home in February because of the pandemic. He's used to travelling but relishes being at home.

It works for some but can play havoc with relationships.

I would do It in a heartbeat. Realistically will have to wait until retirement.

I hope to do this when I retire. Three months in America and the rest in the U.K. Unless America gets even more divided, which I suspect it will after November elections.

If you plan this look into tax regulations, you need a certain number of days in a country otherwise you may hit double taxation problems.

Other issues are healthcare, most travel insurances don’t cover long term, you pay a decent premium for this. Obviously EHIC won’t work anymore after Brexit.

Home and content insurance and mortgages are affected as they also rely on people not being away for months, you will have to find someone as a caretaker, for your UK home to check regularly and deal with issues and post.

Gaelforce I was thinking 3-4 months would be too short a time to rent out your property and rent one in the other country. Same if you rent in the UK as most contracts are for six months.

If you have school aged children I can't begin to imagine how you sort out schools in both locations.

Unless you're retired and even if you WFH I would have thought it would be unusual not to have to visit the office for occasional meetings.

Not sure what you do about paying tax in the other country if you do work.

Having said all that if you're retired, can afford to leave your UK accommodation empty for the period and rent in the other country, have no school age children and are retired. go for it.

The only other thing is, if the country is in the EU, you may want to wait until we are finally out of Brexit to see what restrictions, if any, will be placed on moving there, albeit temporarily.

Don't want to be a party pooper, these are just some of the things that crossed my mind.

My in-laws do.
Since retirement, they spend the summer in the UK, and the winters in their home country (which has much more pleasant winter weather than here!).
Main issues are related to post, as their youngest still lives at home, and is a little haphazard at opening/storing post. But they do have someone in the house year round, so it is heated, and the insurance is fine.
And then, of course, covid hits, and they are still abroad. Not sure what the implications of 9+ months out of the uk will be yet.

My father does this. He lives in Portugal late March,April and May then September and October. The family use his place in Portugal during school holidays. He is 82 years old and very active and I am sure it is because he has these regular breaks.

My old next door neighbours did that after retirement, spent the winter in Spain. This was in the 1980s. Nobody we knew did this on a pension!

They stayed in a holiday apartment. Just rented for a couple of months at a time, can’t remember how many, 2 or 3 I think. Said it was cheaper than staying at home, no heating costs, half board so no cooking or dishes, ate out at at local eatery for the other meal.

Quite fancy that myself on retirement!

I also like this idea in retirement.

I’ve also met people who have grown up children and live mostly abroad but come to the UK for 3-4 months to do seasonal jobs to fund not working abroad.

Pre COVID I would spend 9 months here and 3 in Japan. I do agency work (In an In demand field) and make enough money to take the 3 months off each year. You can stay in Japan for 90 days on a tourist visa (though it’s also quite easy to get an extension which I did a couple of times). I’ve had no problems renting somewhere affordable for 3 months and have even made friends there who I catch up with whenever I go. It feels like my second home now. I know I can always get work when I come back so it works well for me. If it’s something you can make work I would absolutely recommend it.

The people I know who do this are semi retired: self employed with a good reputation and long career behind them they are able to take very well paid, short term contracts in the UK for some of the year, then spend several months playing golf somewhere sunny. Grown up family, a property in the uk and a property in Spain (or wherever). A sort of bridge between working full time and proper retirement. They are in the enviable position of being able to turn down work if it doesn't suit them.

@Crankey & everyone. These responses are really interesting. I'm not retired but I'm lucky to be in a position where I may be able to do this & I'm exploring options. I don't know where I'd like to spend this time but it wouldn't be a jetset lifestyle - just me in a different culture. Covid has made me assess what I'd like & afford to do.

All my older Italian family do this 6 months her and 6 months in Italy. My grandparents used to do it and we would go and visit them for August in Italy.

A small caveat- social relationships.

It's important to recognise that unless your 'social set' are as active as you, they'll have moved on in your absence without you, and may resent your belief that you can just walk back in as it suits.

Many are, some aren't.