Channel Islands Housing, Etc

[Hansard]

I hear that the housing laws in the Channel Islands are fairly strict. Can anyone tell me what status non-native Aurigny/Blue Islands/FI/Etc. pilots have and what sort of accommodation they manage to find. The costs seem to be prohibitive.

[Matt Vinyl]

Hi Hansard

The rules are slightly different between the two islands but the outcome is much the same.
In Jersey they give you a 'J cat' which allows you to rent/buy accomodation but the prices are high.
In Guernsey they have have a slightly different system which I won't comment on as I don't know the full facts.
If you are single the options are better, as you can live in digs or share a house with local people.
On the plus side the income tax is very low (20 per cent maximum in Jersey) and the quality of life is great.
If would would like more details please feel free to PM me.

Regards

[GGFFB]

HI Matt

Are you sure they still give J cat to pilots??....

Reason I ask is that considering the shortage of police officers we have at the inute, My fiance was knocked back for J cat (10 year+ Sergent) and was told that this time last year it would have been fine, however the quota has been chopped??.

[kuningan]

Guernsey housing laws explained:

http://www.gov.gg/ccm/navigation/housing/housing-control/

Unless you get a licence (your employer would need to fix that):

http://www.gov.gg/ccm/navigation/housing/housing-control/housing-licenses/

you will need to live in the 'Open Market'. Buying houses start around £600k, renting £25k/annum. If you only want to rent a room in an open market house that starts around £700-£800 month.

[Hansard]

Thanks everyone.

My query was a general one, I haven't been offered a job but I was wondering if it would be possible to live decently on the lower end salaries being offered. The answer seems to be "no". How do people manage? I was happy to live in some strange cheap places as a student, but I wouldn't do it now. That's no quality of life.

[Johnny Hotspur]

But if you work for Aurigny/Blue Islands/FI/Etc then you'll get a local license so will be able to live in a fairly decent place!

[Pies]

ER 82!
I thought you had left! Quality of life is great, but flying a 'bus' you can not do!! Hows life at the big easy?

[Leo8]

When I flew for Aurigny from 2003 to 2005 I managed to find a 1 bedroom brand new apartment to rent for £550 per month back then. It was within walking distance of town and about 15min drive to the airport. It was small but very nice inside.

I was given a license to living in local market property that was valid for 5 years.

Really enjoyed my time there. Nice place to live, great restaurants and beaches but harsh slightly depressing winters!

[strappy]

Its also worth noting that in Guernsey currently (not sure about Jersey) you can off-set mortgage interest against your income tax. My better half is a Guernsey local and her sister doesn't pay a penny of income tax until she earns over £27k.

There is talk of this allowance being withdrawn however given the recent 0/10 rule being introduced which brought corporation tax to 0% for qualifying companies - gotta fill that budgetary hole somehow!

I would expect that you would be granted a local license if you got a job with one of the above airlines, although unless you make captian by its expiry I wouldn't hold out too much hope on getting an extension (got a a fair few well qualified / highly skilled friends from the UK who are there on 5yr licenses and face the same problem, despite the significant cost to their firms of filling their positions).