Career & Work

Having signed on to a new position often means a new employer. Even if it’s your same employer, find out what relocation services that the company will reimburse you for. Some firms will cover the costs associated with finding a new home, assistance with selling your current home, or moving companies to do you’re packing for you. On more than one occasion, we have had employers pay our service fee on behalf of their employees. Many companies will pay for the transportation of your vehicles; however, it’s not very convenient to have a car in London. The cost of renting someplace to store the car can supersede the value of having a vehicle in the city. If you do feel you need your vehicle, be sure to let us know so we can begin the garage search for you alongside your rental needs.

Any amount an employer gives is up for negotiation; relocation expense is a standard among professional-level executives and is often part of a package. Even if you have already made your deal, the expenses add up quickly once you add the price of an overseas move. Don’t be afraid to return to your employer once you have all your estimates. Tell them the cost is significantly higher than you expected and see if they are willing to cooperate. A detailed outline of all your expenses can be paramount to getting a financial contribution.

However, you may not have that luxury when coming for a London job relocation. Take the time to read all you can about the different areas of London where you may want to go. If you do no know where to start, try starting with our area pages describing the many different neighborhoods. If you still feel you haven’t an idea where you want to end up, try listing all the things that your lifestyle entails. Think of your current memberships and activities and share that list with us. This gives us a much better idea of precisely what your needs are.

Most people with London job relocation don’t entertain entering the London real estate market. Certainly, if your position is long-standing, there will be time to consider buying, but it’s not a good idea initially. It takes a bit of getting used to learning how to move about London, making such a huge financial commitment.

You may find that there is one place you like above all others, but until you’ve lived here in London a while you won’t know that. It’s best to put buying on the back burner. The same can be said for long-term lease agreements. We generally like to put people into a place for no more than one year. The rental market here in London offers London apartments for rent with pricing by the week, so most landlords will not issue a tenancy agreement for longer than 12 months.

It’s important to check with an accountant or other professionals, but in many cases, the bulk of your moving costs can be when you’re involved in a London job relocation. In the United States, the IRS Tax Topic is item number 455, which details which expenses qualify. Naturally, you’ll need to consult your country’s laws regarding taxes.

But using the U.S. as an example, if you are to be eligible for moving tax deductions, you must be moving because of a new job; your new domicile must be a minimum of 50 miles from your old home or job (so folks don’t move around the block for a tax break). You must work full-time for at least 39 weeks of the previous 52 weeks following your move.

If you use your friends to network to make new friends as you would look for a job. You can establish connections before you go. Some services can help in this endeavor; MeetUP will help you find others in the area where you can connect over similar interests or hobbies. Also, see if the new job has social clubs or interest groups where you can meet new people. The other thing you can do when you finally undergo your London job relocation is to frequent pubs that cater to an ex-pat crowd.

London is full of small, intimate clubs, pubs, and bars, and many have a strong contingency of national followers. One thing is for certain, that the faster you can build up your social support network. The move at home you will feel and the happier you will be with the decision you made that led you to take the London job relocation.