Moving to Jersey!

[jerseybound2027]

Hello all! As my username suggests, we are planning a move to Jersey in a year or so. This has been in the pipeline for a while but eventually the stars seem to be aligning!

We have decided, for various reasons, to move as Registered/Standard and just try our luck finding somewhere to live in the limited Registered market. My husband would still be travelling for his work for at least the first year and older kid would be at uni so it would often just be our younger kid and me, so we don’t need much.

Our youngest child would go to school here.

I’d absolutely love to hear from anyone else who has moved to Jersey and how it has been.

As a family we are active and love long walks with the dog, plus sport (cycling, golf, swimming, padel). We love to cook and occasionally eat out. We are social but not heavy drinkers. We’ve been ‘expats’ several times before in various locations so we are used to changes.

None of our extended family live in England but they are all happy to come and visit us whenever we are!

Any and all tips, feedback on your experience - or encouragement!- would all be welcome.

Thanks so much everyone.

just try our luck finding somewhere to live in the limited Registered market

not a good idea and a real risk. Have you looked at stock available within your budget? What is your budget?

Thanks for replying, why do you think it’s a risk?

We have a decent budget but don’t need anything fancy.

Do you live in Jersey yourself? Would love to hear your experiences!

Family member does

Have you looked at the stock available for your budget?

Have you? Because I think that will answer your question

I used to live in jersey, lovely place. I moved after 6 years due to it becoming highly populated, feeling claustrophobic and having nothing to do. However as you said in your original post you have moved numerous times, so it’s definitely worth it for a few years if you fancy trying it out, it is a gorgeous place.

Yes, we have. We know the choice is very limited but we are very flexible re area, size, style, etc and will be starting our search well in advance so remain hopeful! Obviously if we end up with absolutely nowhere to live, plans will have to change but we’ve moved before under trickier conditions and it’s always been fine in the end so I’m keeping my fingers crossed.

I’d love to know more about your family member’s experience living on the island?

And please do PM me if they know of anyone planning to rent or sell a Registered property anytime in the next year or two! We are a lovely family, I promise! :-)

Family member been there thirty years. She likes but took a good few years to feel settled as very much locals stick with the locals.

Lots of teen trouble. Low level but it’s a real problem. Why? Absolute boredom

Restricted housing is incredibly limited and depressing to see the variation in pricing between restricted and open market!

Yes family member has alluded to beginning to feel like this too

Thanks very much for replying! I come from a very small seaside place that was completely dead most of the year so I 100% get what you mean, but our lives are so busy and full in other aspects I think I’m craving life back beside a quiet beach! We also travel a lot to see family, especially at Christmas, and those trips are sometimes joyfully chaotic so I am hoping that might be a good buffer against quieter times/the winter lull

Will you work?

My friends daughter has recently moved there- she has a lovely flat, made some new friends from work, joined some outside activity clubs. Her partner has done the same so they’re not living in each other’s pockets- beautiful place. All is good 👌🏻

Oh that sounds great, thank you!

I’ve lived here 22 years, so it’s been a long time since I was on the non-qual rental market. I’m not sure what it’s like now. I came from Yorkshire for a summer job and never left. There’s a big community of people from all over the world who don’t have family here so lots in the same boat, my friends and I have become each others’ family through life and having children etc.

We love it here overall. It’s safe, clean, beautiful, plenty to do (if you look for it), good schools. The health service in terms of Drs and Dentists is all private so costly, but some GPs are moving to free of charge consultations now. Hospital treatment is covered by social security so check that out if you’re not working / paying in. We could move back to the UK or to DH’s home country but we weighed it all up before we had DS and decided to stay.

Personally I think the ‘teens are bored’ idea is something of a cop-out. They’ve got plenty more available here than I had in rural Yorkshire! That said, DS is still little so I may change my mind when he’s that age. What I have seen is a sense of entitlement from some kids that have grown up with plenty of money, a sense of safety and not enough idea of the ‘real world’, but that’s on the parents when it comes down to it and could be the same anywhere.

It can’t be denied that cost of living is high but wages in some sectors are higher which offsets that somewhat, there’s also something to be said for being able to get off the island from time to time so money for that is important. I was just in Guernsey for work today and it’s nice to see something different.

Happy to answer (or try to!) any questions.

This is so helpful, thank you FettleofKish! I’ve put a few questions below but don’t feel that you need to answer all (or any!).

But, if you didn’t mind, I’d love to get a feel for what sort of activities you (or your friends) get up to?

Is winter ok? I like to get outside even in the depths of winter and read that dogs can go on the beach anytime in winter so thought that would be a great outdoor activity for us, but is it often too blustery to get on the beach at all? And, if so, are there alternative inland walks we can do?

I also read there’s also a new activity centre being built at Fort Regent; and thought it sounded good to have a cinema and bowling especially on winter/rainy days.

It would be great to know if you recommend any good gyms on the island and/or any reformer pilates classes or studios? Or any other activity that you enjoy!

Also, we cook a lot of meals from ‘scratch’; do you find it easy enough to find most ingredients in Jersey? On the same topic, do people do an occasional big supermarket shop if you’re over in the UK visiting people? I thought that maybe we’d enjoy an occasional trip to France too (although obviously not for milk or meat or anything else that’s restricted).

Another random thought! Would it be helpful to refresh my rusty French before we come?

Thanks again for your lovely reply.

Hello!

I’ll try and answer in order!

We do a lot of outdoor stuff, walking, running, Parkrun, cycling, some surf or paddle board or sea swim but the open ocean is not for me Lots of nice places for a coffee, breakfast, lunch etc. Lots of sports facilities and organisations of all kinds. There’s often something good on at the Arts Centre and newly reopened Opera House. In Summer there’s TONs of events and things to do. Loads of music events etc. This bank holiday weekend is the Boat Show for example, amongst other things.

I recommend searching Facebook or Jersey.com for events, I hear people say ‘there’s nothing to do’ often but there genuinely is loads, if you look for it. Not everything to everyone’s interest of course but there’s always something.

Winter is harder than summer obviously, but we have less harsh winters than other places. It’s rare that it drops to freezing, maybe only a handful of days a year. Dogs are allowed on the beaches all year round but must be on a lead from 10am-6pm in the summer. It’s a rare day it would genuinely be too windy to be on the beach at all, but yes there are plenty of nice inland walks. There’s a system of ‘green lanes’ with 15mph speed limit and priority to walkers, horse riders and cyclists.

The Fort Regent conversation has been rumbling on for years so who knows what will ultimately transpire, but there’s already a cinema in town and a bowling alley near the airport.

I like a ‘nice‘ gym so was a member at DW before I had DS. Strive is the fanciest. Fitness First is popular, and the government ‘Active’ gyms are decent. I used to do Pilates at Kalimukti which is a nice studio in town, but there’s lots of options. I’ve never done reformer but there are studios (including at Strive, and a newish one for Women only called ReformHER).

No major problem getting ingredients here unless we have a patch of awful weather that disrupts the boats. Even then it’s not life or death, just a lack of fresh fruit and veg for a few days. We never run out of dairy obviously! I’ve never done it but definitely know people who will go do a massive Asda or Aldi shop for basics on their way back to the ferry.

Being able to go to France is great, we go often. There’s the car ferry to St Malo, or it’s possible to take a speed boat to Carteret just for dinner which feels very decadent! No need to refresh for your French unless for these trips.

I hope this helps!

Oh my goodness, that helps so much. You are an absolute star!! It all sounds exactly what we were hoping for, and a fabulous lifestyle.

You also sound like a lovely person by the way, maybe we will bump into each other one day! I really do appreciate your time replying to me.

Thank you 😊

We also travel a lot to see family, especially at Christmas, and those trips are sometimes joyfully chaotic so I am hoping that might be a good buffer against quieter times/the winter lull

I have friends living in Jersey. Don't underestimate the cost, time and hassle of travelling off the island. Almost all trips are via Gatwick which adds another flight and, frequently, an airport hotel depending on flight times and fog. Cost/time may not be an issue for you but it all adds up.

Lived in Jersey for a few years because of DH's work. The registered property market is way overpriced and you won't have much choice. Everything is expensive. The slightest weather issue causes shortages in the few supermarkets, shops can generally be chronically understocked and smaller shops only open a few days a week. Weather (fog) also plays havoc with flights on and off the island, and ferry travel. Your DH needs to get used to regular delays. Culture is limited, non-existent tbh. There are a few nice places to eat out, but few are special. It gets pretty dull, all told, and I'm no party animal. A 90 minute ferry trip will get you to northern France, though - and that is lovely.

Thank you @MoreMaths and @whymadam ; all good points to factor in! Appreciate your reply.