evets

I agree with rammygirl, when I relocated to Canada. The movers were very professional and efficient and very quick, in and out with a few hours. I was slightly concerned that things did not get packed as I would have done, but in the end no broken goods. I could not have done what they done in the timeframe.

Just ask them if they need a tea/coffee/water when they arrive. Small things!

4 minutes ago, Gbye grey sky said:

I feel that people who choose to keep their UK property as an ‘investment’ should ask themselves if they would actively look to buy a property on the other side of the world and tenant it, with all the potential pitfalls.  I think most would say “no chance”.

Keep it for sentimental reasons or to return to if the move does not work out perhaps but as an investment.....nah.

Interesting comment. I did not choose to keep mine as a investment. Something called GFC happened, and my home was worth less than I paid for. Fortunately I was not in negative equity. I could not see the point of selling, so choose to hang on to it

A new term emerged in the UK around that time, reluctant landlords, which I fell into. The costs involved selling outweighed the costs of not selling.

2 hours ago, AussieBeth10 said:

Thanks for the reply Grey Sky.  If it were up to me I would complete all ties also and just take the equity. We've had the house valued and we got it for £175k and now it's worth around the £240k mark so not too bad. 

The husband isn't so keen to part with it though and thinks the rental would be a good money maker eventually.  I've heard the taxes are insane for landlords living abroad so it's put me right off.  It's also worth noting that our area is about to start a seriously huge property build basically over the road so i figure the sooner we sell our house the better - before it dwindles in price! 

 

Well people at the moment, appear to be living in the bubble of house prices can only go up.

I would personally say rent it out for a few years while you find you feet. Downside you end up paying CGT unless one of you can return to the UK for at 3 months and (pretend to) live in the property to avoid that....

I was made tax exempt, so it could happen to you. I am not making a great deal of profit, then again not spending that much either. So have no reason to sell at the moment. Kinda missed the boat on the property market for Australia by at least 10 years.

What exactly are you looking for?

The WHV means you can visit Australia for a year, possibly 2 if you do the farmwork.

The year you are there, do no consider trying to advance you working career unless you get lucky.

Think of it as an extended holiday, which it is.

You can make some friends, have some fun, explore a new country.

How much will you earning?

The real cost of cost of living is probably higher than you would expect, but can be reduced with shopping at Aldi,etc. And also how far you are prepared to live from the CBD.

Rent prices ARE high and I personally think 100k with a stay at home wife and wanting 2 trips back to Spain will not really provide you with a fairly decent standard of living, let alone savings. It can/could be done depending on what you are going to class a good living!!! The return flight off season may be around the $4k mark for the both of you, not sure if you have children as you have not mentioned. But I did chat with a family who did the trip to the UK over xmas and it was around the 10k figure for them and 2 kids.

Does the 100k include Super or is Super on top of that?

Is the company providing your healthcare?

try a costco membership. it may work out. I am still trying to work it if it makes sense to me to keep it.

If you are looking to your shopping cheaply, then Aldi is the way the go but it depends on you sl;section and what your are looking for.

Farmers markets may or may not wot work out cheaper, depending on what your are looking for.

63k London verses $110k Sydney.  Not the best of deals especially if they are not going to provide any medical or insurance.

Does the salary exclude your super ann(pension) which they will pay on top?

Australia kinda pushes you into taking private healthcare, as you have a tax levy if you do not have it. In addition, if you are over 30 and do not have it, if and when you may decide to purchase it, again penalised by the healthcare companies. Not sure who your current provider is in the UK, as if you transfer with them, if they have an Australian outfit, they honour your years of service, so no starting afresh.

After living in London, and Melbourne. 63k for London is very good, $110k for Sydney not so good.

Since you already are Australian, and they are paying no relocation costs, except possibly the flights and maybe some good will a hotel for a few weeks. you also have to consider the actual cost of shipping your goods over.

The only real positive I can read from this, is you have a job to come to at your own expense. It really all boils down too are you wanting to move back? If so, you probably would have to incur those costs yourself and have no job to walk into.

I had a place, 2 bed detached bungalow, private courtyard in the bad, built in garage. SE Melbourne, 10 - 15 mins walk to 2 train stations, same line, Carnegie, also 10 mins walk to a tram. Very nice location as lots of good shops around depending on your needs.

Around $360/week.

But as @Melb2016 mentioned, is a good location as becoming/become very gentrified of late ie, lots of cafes, coffee shops and close to CBD and other parts of N Melbourne for nice nights out.  If you like cycling, great access to a cycle path close by.

As others have said, the salary offered is not great for Sydney. Add to that you are a family of 4, I personally think it would(will) be a struggle. Cost of living is higher than you would expect.

The comment: at least we would be warm and poor! You may not be saying that once you have experienced a winter. While you do not get snow, houses have little to no insulation, no double glazing so you will feel the cold much more. Add to this higher electric bills, which are already high, during winter to keep the place warm. The old art deco houses are great in the summer, but shocking in winter. I owned more thermal clothes in Australia than I ever did in the UK.

Once you are in Australia on the 457, you could apply for PR, I believe after 2 years, by yourself but not so sure now with all the changes that have taken place this year. Note: I believe your occupation must be on the SOL to apply for yourself and family. So it may be possible.

Can you see the salary increasing much in the future. What about your partner, would they work and be able to to help you get past the skintness.

EDIT

If you and the family are looking for an adventure and some new experiences, go for it. But the reality of packing up and having to head home with no or little savings, will be a lot harder.

You mention being skint in the UK, do you own your own property? Sydney is one of the most expensive cities in the world for renting/buying. The Australia dream sold to the UK, is a far cry from the reality of living there.

Remember once you get your foot in the door and if eligible for PR, Sydney could be a stepping stone to other (cheaper) parts of Australia. All depending on what you and your family are looking for.

19 minutes ago, Perthbum said:

Dont sell, the rent you get will pay the mortgage and you will always have a home in the UK, with house prices going up and up you would be mad to sell IMO. plus if you dont like oz.

Prices going up is subjective. Who can tell what will happen in the next year or two!

I left the UK mid 2009, not long after the property crash. I bought the place near the top, so became the accidental landlord, phrase at the time. I have been lucky and fortunate , possibly due to location as not had too many expense's and the property has always been rented out. I was lucky decent deposit so did not hit negative equity but did not make sense at the time to sell.

The Melbourne property market since 2009 has been crazy, probably the worst time to move to the city. Not saying now is any better, if not worse!

The market in Melbourne is still insane and if you can rent out your property in UK while you transition, probably the best bet. Give you some breathing space. Downside you get hit with CGT when you sell.

As it stands I am now making a a slight profit and paying no tax and have very little to worry about, at the moment.

OP, what part of the UK are you currently living as 50k, will certainly go further in many parts compared to say London, which would make you a little more prepared for the higher living costs.

As some one who made the move from London to Melbourne, on a slighly higher salary than you have mentioned with super on top, top level BUPA healthcare etc.
Would healthcare be provided for you, if not that is another expense you would need to factor in. Dentists are also not cheap in Oz!

I would say you would struggle on that salary, esp a family of 4 but people do it on less. I was single and while I did not struggle, if I had to feed 3 extra mouths and all the other expensives that come with it.

The biggest factor is rent and then if you decide to take the plunge finding a property within your budget to buy. I was in SE Melbourne, 2 bed detached unit, garage was around $1700/m. Good location as only about 20 mins to CBD.

I doubt you would be able to find something comparable in Melbourne for what you are paying in the UK. Would you plan to sell the UK property or rent it out for a few years while you and the OH decide if you want to stay? It probably is possible depending on where you would be located for work and how much of a commute you are prepared to make.

Trips back to UK can work out expensive, I remember my first trip back around xmas time and got chatting to a family of 4 seated next to me. It cost them close to $10k, then again one of the most expensive times to fly.

Lifestyle can be very good in Melbourne, but if you are going to be stretched financially is it really worth it! Lots of really nice suburbs, cafe lifestyle, access to beaches, and so on. On the flipside, while the weather may over all be better than the UK, in peak summer if/when you start getting above the late 30's into the early 40's, it is unbearable and then consider the humidity. Winter is nice as no snow, but as a Canadian who I worked with said winter in Melbourne felt colder than Toronto.

Take a look online at Coles/Woolworths/Aldi which list the prices to get a better idea. Melbourne also has a costco, but never used it so cannot comment on the prices or variety.

Elec for 1 year $963.92
Gas for 1 year $1,007.48

Carpets, I really doubt the landlord/lady will change them unless they are extremely old, damaged and a safety issue. This is there retirement income and will not want to expend any money that is not necessary. And then it could be a struggle. If the area you are living in has a low vacancy rate and is popular, they will have even less incentive.

I tried to get a kitchen worktop replaced during an inspection of a new rental I was viewing. The landlady had just replaced the freestanding cooker and living room carpet. The RE said to me she was an OAP and did not have the spare money to fix up the rest of the unit. Sad, that this is what the rental market has been in parts of Australia.

Agree with snifter on this. Leasing a car for only two years will probably be on the expensive side as they, the leaseholder, will be looking at 3 years min, maybe even 4 years to get the best return.

The second hand car market in Australia is also with its own issues as no MOT required every year, and only once you sell a second hand car do you have to get a road worthy cert, not mandatory, when you sell.

Some real bombs on the road as I found. Lots of people prepared to sell without the roadworthy when you meet them.

Find a good mechanic to do an inspection prior to purchase.

EDIT: If they are only moving out for two years, do they really need to buy a car, what about using a car hire scheme. Not sure what city they are moving too as you have not mentioned that, as Australia covers a large area!

I went with Commonwealth, on a 457 visa as colleagues who had also came this route mentioned they would give you a CC on the 457. I did not look at the others or check with them to see if they would provide the CC.

The CC was unsecured and came with a reasonable limit to start with, think may have been around $5000. I found the CC increases happened relatively quickly if you keep your account in good standing.

After a while joined ING, as they had cashback on the debit card. I believe they are stopping this now.

As Collie noted: Both accounts have very nice web interfaces to work with and the app for your phone also good for both.

The websites also make a lot of the UK bank account pale in comparison.

I did a couple of days later.

This may work, taken from the website as had to email them yesterday. Still pending a  reply!

info@bupa.com.au

I was paying $1000/year for gas and electric, so @2k/y. 2 bed detached unit, 1 person WFH, Had to pay for water, but for some reason or another I did not get billed. Odd.

Utility prices are soaring now in AU(scarily so), so try to look around for the best deals/discounts.

Body Corp fees taken care by the landlord.

WOW with your great English skills not sure why finding a new a new job a problem!

As a PR, your employer does not own you. You are free to work for who ever you want. If your new place kick you, obviously you feel confident about this role, u then you will need to join the job ladder like everyone else!

While I am not sure of the rental prices in Canberra, but 56k AU$ is very low in terms of cost of living. AU has a high cost of living, and just recently I have noted the amount of complaints/stories on news sites about the ever increasing electric/gas bills. I have recently moved to Canada and before I moved I heard horror stories of the electric prices hear, but in comparison to Melbourne, so much cheaper around 60% cheaper.

For a 2 bed detached unit in Melbourne single person with gas ducted heating and gas hob, to help you(Total for 2016)
Elect: $1000
Gas: $1000

As Quoll pointed out, houses in AU are generally poorly insulated and no double glazing so that means in winter keeping the electric heater on if you do not have a place with gas ducted heated heating. In winter depending on the property, you could find yourself running the heating constantly especially in Canberra which is much colder than Melbourne. Then in summer you may be running the AC. As a side note I met a Canadian who moved to Melbourne and he said he felt colder in Melbourne than back in Canada.

55 minutes ago, Luisa Cannon said:

Never turn up to a BBQ empty handed

If you are invited to a BBQ in Australia, whether at a house, park or beach, never turn up empty handed. Whether you make a salad dish, provide some meat for the BBQ, bring dessert, or bring some booze to go around (a bottle of wine or champers are excellent options), always turn up with a little something as a helping hand and thanks.

emm, believe the same could/would be said if invited to a BBQ in the UK or any where else in the world. Same principle would apply to being invited to dinner/housewarming/etc, bring a bottle of vino or something for the hosts.

Same courtesy applies world wide, well IMO. Not really an Aussie specific thing.

HAHA what you read online, is far from the truth...

I doubt you will even see any red backs or snakes. Dinner plate sized spiders aka huntsman, I believe are only found in NSW(Sydney) never seen any during my time in Melbourne. I seen more coakroaches/ants than the the critters you have mentioned. One thing to note, leaving your car unattended for periods of time, spiders have a field day with covering it with cobwebs. Flies are also a an issue during the summer, and you will learn the Australian wave!!!  

If you have a Kangaroo entering your house, then I guess you will be pretty far out from Melbourne CBD and suburbs. More likely to see see possums but only during the night.

From the distances you have described, have you considered Geelong? Easy access by train to the CBD and close to beaches, its own little city in its own right.

Toots, great picture, brings back so many memories from my childhood

VeryStormy, again awesome picture. Makes me realise just how beautiful parts of the UK are for such a small island. Nice you have such diversity in such close distance to you.

I was under the impression government jobs usually only could be filled if you had citizenship!