The Ultimate Guide to Moving to Alderney from the UK

Does the thought of living on an island with virtually no crime, where you have warm summers and mild winters, delicious locally caught and grown food is served in every restaurant, where you are never more than a stone’s throw from the sea, where there is a real sense of community, where the pace of life is relaxed and there is a perfect life balance appeal to you?

Are you an expat who misses the UK, who craves a full conversation in English, or some familiar products in the shops, but loves aspects of your Mediterranean lifestyle that you don’t want to give up?

Yes? Then Alderney in the Channel Islands could be your ideal relocation destination.

Alderney is the perfect blend of all that is familiar about England but with a French flavour, giving Alderney residents the benefits of a European lifestyle whilst still feeling comfortably at home.

Mention the Channel Islands and people automatically assume you have to be a millionaire to live there, but Alderney offers all the advantages of living in the Channel Islands but with far cheaper housing options and none of the housing or work restrictions or permits that Jersey requires.

In this week’s home moving blog, we look at Alderney in the Channel Islands and help you decide if it is the perfect place to make an amazing new life.

Read on to discover:

• Things to Know About Alderney
• Finding a New Home in Alderney
• Cost of Living in Alderney
• Healthcare in Alderney
• Education in Alderney
• Essential Information about Moving to Alderney from the UK

You may also like to read: The Bright Side of Moving Home. Moving home can be stressful but there are so many positives to moving home too. If you are thinking of moving to Alderney you should be especially happy, so this guide reminds us of all the great things ahead of you.

Things to Know About Alderney

Alderney is just 3 miles long and 1.5 miles wide with just over 2000 inhabitants, the majority of whom live around St Anne, a beautiful harbour with cobbled streets, independent stores, schools, and the only church on the Island.

Often described as the hidden gem of the Channel Islands, Alderney is a place where the clock has been turned back but modern conveniences are readily available and offers a truly relaxing way of life in absolutely idyllic surroundings.

Despite its small size, there are a surprising amount of things to see and do. The island is teeming with wildlife, and birdwatching is a favourite pastime, as is watching the whales and dolphins that play just off the coast.

Explore WW2 bunkers, ancient forts, and burial grounds, relax on the beach, admire the amazing scenery, enjoy watersports, or partake in art classes, there is plenty to keep you occupied here.

Community spirit is strong in Alderney and there are numerous opportunities to volunteer in your spare time, from firefighting to conservation. A wide variety of clubs and associations are also available. There are a number of sports clubs and a golf course with stunning views.

Even for those who seek a bit more excitement, there are nightclubs, bars, and plenty of excellent restaurants.

For those who are remote workers or digital nomads, the internet connection is fast and strong with numerous e-businesses located here.

With no commuting, very little traffic, and the ability to work from home with excellent communications, your work-life balance will improve immeasurably.

Alderney is a safe place to live with very low crime and is very family-friendly.

And there are no party politics on the island, you vote for the candidate, not the party.

However, there are things that you need to be aware of when thinking of living in Alderney:

Being an island and relying on most things being imported, living here takes some organisation, especially in the winter when you need to stock up on staple groceries for when the ferry is cancelled.

Bear in mind also that the island only has one school which provides pre-school to secondary level education. You will need to send your kids to Guernsey for higher education.

Healthcare is limited and if you have a chronic ongoing health condition there may not be the facilities to treat you on the island.

Lastly, some people may find such a small island claustrophobic and if you suffer from mental health conditions these may be exasperated by living in such a small community.

 But visiting here, and spending some time to get to know the island and its habitants will help you decide if moving to this wonderful island is the right move for you.

You may also like to read: How to Cope With Culture Shock. Even moving to such an idyllic place as Alderney there is the possibility that your home move will trigger culture shock. In this guide we look at ways to prevent that from happening and how to deal with it should you experience culture shock.

Finding a Home in Alderney

Unlike Jersey, there are no restrictions or permits required to own property or land on Alderney, if you have the right to reside in the UK, then moving here is as easy as moving across town.

St Anne is the only town on the island and where most people live. Here you will find a wide variety of homes, from quaint cottages to new builds, and there are some larger properties scattered around the island as well.

Property here is substantially cheaper than in Jersey or Guernsey but supply is limited.

• The average property price on Alderney is £325,000
• The average detached property costs £382,000
• The average semi-detached property costs £320,000
• The average terraced property costs £275,000

You can see recently sold properties and their selling price at www.rightmove.co.uk, as well as a selection of properties currently available to buy or rent on Alderney.

Bell and Co are the largest estate agents on Alderney and have a selection of gorgeous properties to rent or buy.

Hawkesford has properties to buy or rent as well as land and details of property auctions on Alderney.

You may also like to read: What Type of Property is Right for me? House, Bungalow, or Flat. Everybody has a wish list for a new home but sometimes we close ourselves off to opportunities that would suit us better. In this guide, we look at the advantages and disadvantages of different property types.

Cost of Living in Alderney

The cost of living in Alderney is higher than in the UK as most things have to be imported. That said, local produce is readily available at reasonable prices.

Although the cost of living is comparable to that of London for things like eating out, there are considerable tax savings to be made by moving here.

• 20% maximum income tax
• No inheritance tax
• No capital transfer tax
• No VAT

These tax advantages, amazing quality of life, and a safe community in which to live often outweigh the cost of living for many people moving here from the UK.

If the sums add up for you, it is a golden opportunity just waiting to be taken.

You may also like to read: 15 Simple Ways to Save Money on Your Home Moving Costs. Moving home is never cheap but these 15 tips will help make your home move easier and cheaper.

Healthcare in Alderney

Healthcare in Alderney is unlike the NHS and for GP, dentist, and non-emergency appointments a fee is payable although this is subsided by the state for residents.

There are also fees to be paid for emergency treatment which is tiered and depends upon the length of time the treatment takes.

Specialised long-term treatment is given usually in the UK or France.

For this reason, many residents have private health insurance for peace of mind.

There is one hospital on Alderney, Mignot Memorial Hospital. 

You can find out lots of useful information about the healthcare system and associated charges at www.gov.gg  

You may also like to read: The Health Benefits of Moving Home. Moving to Alderney will give you the opportunity to live a more outdoor lifestyle but there are plenty of other health benefits to moving home. Here we look at those health benefits in more depth.

Education in Alderney

Education is considered to be very good on Alderney and is taught to GCSE level. Those seeking higher education tend to go to Guernsey or the mainland.

The only school on Alderney is St Annes School for 4-16-year-olds.

Additionally, there are preschool groups available:

• Hummingbees Day Nursery 
• St Anne’s also offers a reception year

Reception year schooling is free for 15 hours per week, 38 weeks per year.

St Anne’s also hosts adult learning classes in computer-related subjects.

Discover more about education on Alderney at www.alderney.gov.gg  

Must Read: Dido The Dragon Moves Home. A Home Moving Book for Children. If you are relocating with young children it can be a very confusing and unsettling time for them. This short book helps them understand what is happening and also gives you ideas on how to make the whole experience so much easier for your children.

Essential Information about Moving to Alderney from the UK

Moving to Alderney is the simplest of moves to any Channel Island in terms of buying or renting a property. As mentioned earlier there are none of the restrictions that you face in Jersey or Guernsey.

However, any overseas home move requires perfect organisation, and hiring a good removal firm that specialises in moving to the Channel Islands is essential.

Hiring a good removal company will make moving your things far less stressful and so much easier.

Crucially, they will take care of all the paperwork and navigate the Customs & Excise procedures for you.

A professional packing service is worth hiring so that your valuable possessions get the optimum protection.

Some removal companies will use container freight to get your things to Guernsey and then to Alderney. There is a twice-weekly sailing to the Channel Islands on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

If your things are being transported by sea container then door-to-door delivery usually takes between 8 to 10 days.

Some removal firms will have a dedicated removal lorry rather than a sea container service, for which the transit time is quicker, so check which mode of transport the removal company is using when deciding which removal firm to hire them.

If a dedicated removal lorry is used to move your items then less handling is involved and consequently, there is less risk of any damage being caused to them.

There are many specialist removal firms in the UK who regularly ship items between the UK and Alderney and we would recommend you can read all the latest reviews for these firms.

Get a free, no-obligation removal quote for your move to Alderney now.

You should know that there are some things that you need to be aware of and which a good removals company that specialises in home moves to Alderney will be able to offer you assistance with.

#1. There are certain items that are prohibited or restricted to be imported to Alderney.

• Firearms, ammunition, flick knives, gravity knives, and CS gas sprays
• Inflammable goods & substances
• Plants & plant material
• Foodstuffs and perishables including liquid milk
• Narcotics and dangerous goods
• Offensive materials
• Alcohol & Tobacco
• Endangered animals and goods made of or taken from them

#2. Pets require no special vaccinations nor do quarantine restrictions apply for cats, dogs, and ferrets. Dogs must be registered and licensed annually in Alderney.

#3 All vehicles require a Vehicle Import Permit

Must read: Step by Step Guide to Choosing a Good Removal Company. Nothing will make your home move as stress-free as a good removal company. Equally, a bad removal company will make your move extremely stressful. Here we show you step-by-step how to choose the best removal firm for your home move.

Useful websites if you are thinking of moving to Alderney:

• www.alderney.gov.gg is the state website for Alderney and has lots of useful information and contacts
• www.alderney.life has useful information about moving and living in Alderney
• www.virtualbunch.com contains useful information on every aspect of living in the channel islands

Good luck relocating to Alderney and come back and tell us in the comments below about your move.