If you live in Guernsey....how?!

[Fuckaduck21]

I've been sent a targeted marketing email as they're recruiting ITU nurses I Guernsey. Just out of pure curiosity (I'm very happy where I am right now) I had a look and, on the face of it, their relocation package looked rather inviting and generous. Then I had a look at rental prices of houses, as the numbers quoted in the relocation package seemed rather a lot.....CHRIST ALIVE 😳 I thought rental prices in my current county were astronomical but they seem cheap as chips in comparison! How on earth do people afford to rent there?! The wages offered aren't extravagant, about £2k pa over my current pay, so how on earth do they expect people to be able to move there and be financially OK? A run of the mill 1 bed, 1 bath flat £1500pm. My family would need a 3 bed house....£3000pm.
Not really a point to this, other than being incredibly nosey and shocked. If I was considering it, I certainly wouldn't be now!

Hi was a nurse in guernsey for 7 years. I joined as a band 5 ICU nurse then moved around and ended up a specialist palliative nurse.

Myself and DH left as it was impossible to buy a house even on our (what is considered in the UK) very good wages. You can live under local license which reduces your cost a bit but it's still crazy prices!! You do get a portion of your rent paid for you for the first 2 years in post - this may actually have been upped to 5 years now. And you get bonuses after a year and after 3 years.

You cannot have children in the nurses accommodation unfortunately but the hospital does have links with local landlords to help.

My dad still lives there and he said since the pandemic the prices have skyrocketted as they have had so many people move there.

It is a beautiful place to raise children and if you are a beach person it is right up your street!! Plus I can't say I worked anywhere near as hard as I do back in the NHS 😩 a 'busy' guernsey shift is a picnic!! 😂

I bet food is expensive too, both in shops and eating out. Also online shopping limited or expensive delivery.

Lower commuting costs though?

Is tax payable in Guernsey? Just trying to figure out how you could justify the outrageous expense of living there!

Tax is lower if you currently pay the higher rate of tax in the UK- 20% in Guernsey.

We’ve moved back after several years and rents are very high, and unlike the UK you can’t just live further away! They struggle to recruit due to the high cost of living, particularly in jobs that aren’t high paid finance/law.

It’s a beautiful and very safe place though, and as a PP said, it’s nowhere near as busy as UK hospitals.

I have a friend in the CI... she has 4 kids in a 2 bed flat. (Aged 2-10, both sexes). Apparently not uncommon there. Shes on the housing list for somewhere bigger...

Very low tax, not that much to spend money on (you definitely don't need a fast car!)
If the weather is bad the island runs out of bread and other "basics" as they are so dependent on boats for deliveries (but are set for milk!)