A load of random questions!

LKC · 18-09-2008, 06:12 AM

We have just returned from our rekkie in Sydney (on Tuesday) and have decided that we would like to give Australia a go. My hubby has been offered an opportunity in Hurstville, so we are looking at living in Sutherlandshire or there abouts. We are going on a 457 because hubbys company want him there asap, but they have assured us that sponsorship for a PR will not be a problem because we have to invest some money in to the new business. They want us there within about three months.

I have been awake with the kids since about 3am (they think it is the middle of the afternoon so want to play!) and have been mulling over the emmigration etc and have a load of random questions that I can't seem to find the answers to elsewhere (although I am feeling ever so slightly confused and muddled at the moment!)

Both of the children will at some point need vaccinations (for example our youngest will need the mmr in march 09). How do I go about organising these and do we pay for them? Do we pay for the childrens healthcare? I can only seem to find answers about adults and don't know if children on a 457 fall in to the same category. When we get to Australia, how do we go about registering with a GP etc?

Are there any costs in owning/driving a car that we don't have in the UK that I need to be aware of? I know about stamp duty and the $25 transfer fee, but is there anything else to watch out for? Also, can you tell the age of a car by its registration number?

We are lucky enough to own our own property in the UK, but have worked out that taking away ea fees/travel/shipping/buying new cars etc from our equity, we are likely to need a small mortgatge in order to buy in Australia. Plus, I guess for the first few months we will need to rent somewhere. How can we prove that we are good for our money with respect to the mortgage/rent, when we have no payment history of this because we don't pay any at present? Will the size of the deposit that we are able to put down have any bearing or could we pay so many months rent up front to prove that we are good payers? Also, as we are on a 457 (even though oh's company will sponsor us for pr) will the banks see us as too much of a risk to loan money to because it is a temporary visa? Should we push for the pr, or wait until we have it before buying? I really wanted to buy fairly soon after arriving because I want the children to feel settled.

Can anyone recommend a shipping company? Are wea ble to start packing bits and pieces ourselves (eg the bits from the loft that we want to take when we sort it out), or do the removalists have to do it? Can anyone recommend an air freight/cargo/excess baggage company to take the things that we can't wait for three months for? I know that on a 457, we only get a normal baggage allowance.

Do we need a tv licence? The tv stations that we saw when we were there all seemed pretty commercial to me, but I don't want to find a fine on the doormat for non-payment!

Our house is on the market, but we have only had one viewing so far. My oh keeps trying to kick the ea up the bottom, but we don't seem to be getting anywhere. We are going to drop the price, and have been thinking about an auction, but in all honesty, I don't think we are going to be lucky enough to sell before we move. We have discussed renting it out but, as we have no family close enough to look after it, we are reluctant to do so. Plus, we feel that renting the house whilst it is on the market might be difficult. Has anyone ever left a house empty and on the market and gone to Australia anyway? My family seem to think that I should stay in the UK with the children until it is sold, but I don't want us to be split up - I feel that that could upset our toddler (she hates being away from her dad), and I fear for my own sanity!

Anyone got any advice/experience?

Really sorry about the randomness of the questions, but they are things that came to me whilst I was playing with 'Bob the Builder' duplo at silly o'clock this morning! I have decided that I am not going to let the kids fall asleep until nap time at 12. I shall keep prodding them awake and only let them sleep for their normal nap regardless of how tired they are! Mean mummy!

Thanks in advance and sorry about the length of the post!

Quoll · 18-09-2008, 06:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LKC

SNIP

Both of the children will at some point need vaccinations (for example our youngest will need the mmr in march 09). How do I go about organising these and do we pay for them? Do we pay for the childrens healthcare? I can only seem to find answers about adults and don't know if children on a 457 fall in to the same category. When we get to Australia, how do we go about registering with a GP etc?

There are mother and baby health centres about the place where you can get vaccinations but you can also get them from your GP - you are entitled to necessary medical cover under the reciprocal arrangement- register with medicare, get a card, register with a GP. Most Australians co-pay for GP visits. There are "bulk billing" doctors but usually for people who are low income - they dont charge the co-payment but get the medicare rate direct from medicare. temporary residents are expected to have private health insurance

Are there any costs in owning/driving a car that we don't have in the UK that I need to be aware of? I know about stamp duty and the $25 transfer fee, but is there anything else to watch out for? Also, can you tell the age of a car by its registration number?

No, dont think there are any traps for young players to watch out for - you can get pre-sale checks through NRMA (like the AA/RAC) to test for roadworthyness and no, you cant tell the age by the rego. Drivers licences can be exchanged for an Aus one which will be renewable every 5 years at some cost!!!

We are lucky enough to own our own property in the UK, but have worked out that taking away ea fees/travel/shipping/buying new cars etc from our equity, we are likely to need a small mortgatge in order to buy in Australia. Plus, I guess for the first few months we will need to rent somewhere. How can we prove that we are good for our money with respect to the mortgage/rent, when we have no payment history of this because we don't pay any at present? Will the size of the deposit that we are able to put down have any bearing or could we pay so many months rent up front to prove that we are good payers? Also, as we are on a 457 (even though oh's company will sponsor us for pr) will the banks see us as too much of a risk to loan money to because it is a temporary visa? Should we push for the pr, or wait until we have it before buying? I really wanted to buy fairly soon after arriving because I want the children to feel settled.

A bigger than average deposit on rental always goes down well - upfront payment of several months in advance is a sweetner. If you dont have references re payments - perhaps just a character ref about your reliability just in case. As a temporary resident you need permission to buy real estate in Aus - someone else will knowthe exact details

Can anyone recommend a shipping company? Are wea ble to start packing bits and pieces ourselves (eg the bits from the loft that we want to take when we sort it out), or do the removalists have to do it? Can anyone recommend an air freight/cargo/excess baggage company to take the things that we can't wait for three months for? I know that on a 457, we only get a normal baggage allowance.

Pass

Do we need a tv licence? The tv stations that we saw when we were there all seemed pretty commercial to me, but I don't want to find a fine on the doormat for non-payment!

No tv licences at all you will be pleased to hear!

Our house is on the market, but we have only had one viewing so far. My oh keeps trying to kick the ea up the bottom, but we don't seem to be getting anywhere. We are going to drop the price, and have been thinking about an auction, but in all honesty, I don't think we are going to be lucky enough to sell before we move. We have discussed renting it out but, as we have no family close enough to look after it, we are reluctant to do so. Plus, we feel that renting the house whilst it is on the market might be difficult. Has anyone ever left a house empty and on the market and gone to Australia anyway? My family seem to think that I should stay in the UK with the children until it is sold, but I don't want us to be split up - I feel that that could upset our toddler (she hates being away from her dad), and I fear for my own sanity!

Anyone got any advice/experience?

Dunno, but good luck with it anyway

Really sorry about the randomness of the questions, but they are things that came to me whilst I was playing with 'Bob the Builder' duplo at silly o'clock this morning! I have decided that I am not going to let the kids fall asleep until nap time at 12. I shall keep prodding them awake and only let them sleep for their normal nap regardless of how tired they are! Mean mummy!

Thanks in advance and sorry about the length of the post!

LOL jet lag excuses almost anything!!! Hope you can get some kip during the day

LKC · 18-09-2008, 10:47 AM

Also, has anyone got any advice on where on earth to start/what needs to be done/in what order etc so that I can get started? I just feel like there is so much to do that I can't do anything if you know what I mean! Three months is a very short space of time and I am feeling very slightly panicked, especially as I am sleep-deprived!

ash911 · 18-09-2008, 11:24 AM

Hi you are in a similar situation to me. We move to Melbourne on Monday after a job offer for my OH three months ago. So hopefully i can be some help!

We have a house in the UK that after having it on the market to sell, had to rent it out as there was very little interest with the current climate in UK. That was all very smooth and the tenants have been in there for three weeks. The rent however doesnt cover the cost of our mortgage, so we dont have to pay UK tax, but i would expect that as you fully own your property you would have to pay capital gains tax in UK. We have left our house in the hands of a managed ea which means we have to pay the a fee every month - but for you you would be making profit! We also decided that it was a good idea to rent out as on a 457 and not owning a property in Oz we are entitled to LAFHA (living away from home allowance) through my OH company. We intend to buy a house in 2 years and apply for PR before then.

We also have a toddler who is 22 months - i am unsure of the immunisation side of things but do know that MBF do a family private health policy, that covers all children for there injections etc, so we plan to get private health insurance as soon as we get there.

We have lived in Sydney before (approx two years ago) and we used Allied Pickfords for our shipping from Oz to UK. We have decided to use them again now on our return, as they were very good! I would advise that you dont pack much as they have to pack everything for you, to ensure that customs dont have to inspect every single box. Plus if you pack boxes your self you cant insure thoses boxes! We just sorted through things and divided into piles - they came in a packed everything!!! Even clothes!!

We also bought a car when we were in Sydney and i am sure we paid on roads costs, but cant remember how much thats was - maybe about $1000, but really not that sure.

In terms of doing everything, i remember three months ago thinking where the hell do i start!!??? I would say sort your house out and sell any cars etc first and then just make one big list of everything (even the small things) you need to do and then work through and update every day - once you have done that, you strat to realise how many other little things have to be done!! But we did it - you just have to be organised!!!

Good luck with it all xx

caramac · 18-09-2008, 11:37 AM

Hi LKC. Not much I can really help with re stuff related to visa type as we are Aus citizens but we are in the process of relocating from East Anglia to Sydney too - got ea coming Mon.

One thing I would say though, is go with oh when he goes if at all possible. We used to live in Perth and I stayed behind there, with 3 kids whilst oh came over here and started work. It was really tough in every way. The girls were all emotional because they didn't want to leave their friends (eldest cried every night for 3 wks before we left) and I had to cope with that, all the packing and paperwork and the saying goodbye to all our friends, on my own. And we were coming 'home'!
It might be different for you, but it's not something I'd do again - we're all going together this time.

We've just been told by the removalists not to pack anything ourselves as it wouldn't be covered by the insurance if anything was broken. Check with whoever you go with. We went with ********* (Neaves) last time and they were great, but so are lots of companies. Get several quotes and go with the ones you're most comfortable with.

It's not much help I'm afraid, but good luck - it's exciting and scary, isn't it?

C x

LKC · 18-09-2008, 12:08 PM

Thank you so much for your replies! I have permanent butterflies in my tummy about it all! Until we went to Sydney, it was a dream that we had, but once we had been and realised that we loved it enough to give it a go, the reality of what we are doing hit! It was funny that it isn't the distance from family and friends that bothers me at the moment, after all my nearest and dearest are coming too (hubby and two daughters), it is more making sure that everything goes smoothly and that it all fits in together. I am stressing about the house at the moment because one part of me says rent it out to contribute to our rent etc, but another part of me knows that we need to sell in order to buy and I don't know how selling with tennants in place would work. Plus then there is the worry that tennants won't look after it and we'll have to have electrics certificates etc which is more cost. Ash911, have you still got yours on thhe market?

LKC · 18-09-2008, 12:14 PM

Sory ash911, another question! What is the living away from home allowance and are all people on a 457 eligible?