Looking to Relocate to Lanzarote

[craig1969]

  hi to all in lanzarote my wife and i and our 3 year old are looking to relocate to lanzarote from the uk.
what we want to know how easy is it to find a place to live and how is the employment scene?
i am an experienced bar manager and my wife has worked in schools and also had her own business as a smoothie bar
i would love peoples opinions as 12 months ago we were on the brink of relocating to salou only to miss out on the job i had applied for.
craig

[✈ Elle ☀]

HI Craig - and welcome to the forum.

The first place you should look is at www.lanzaroterelocation.co.uk for our personal experiences of moving over... as well as lots of hints and tips.

Finding a place to live is the really easy bit - but make sure you pick what's right for you, and not what you're cornered into (have been hearing all sorts of horror stories recently).

Employment is dire at best - godawful at worst. The jobs here are few and far between... and to be honest those that become available tend to go to people already here and settled. Not saying it's impossible... just giving you the heads up.

I am sure that some others will pop in and let you know their thoughts too hon.

Good luck with everything - and just yell if you have any other questions - everyone in here is friendly and happy to help

Elle xx

[craig1969]

we are deadly serious about doing this elle and i am gonna listen to every opinion on the forum.
want to get established asap and start job hunting

[richt71]

Hi Craig,
As a person that has lived on the island for a few months now I'll add my thoughts. I speak to many bar owners/mamagers and workers. Work as Elle says is very difficult with many bars/restaurants struggling to stay in business. If you are lucky to get a job in a bar/restaurant be prepared for long hours and poor pay compaired to the UK. Obviously there's jobs outside bar/restaurant work but many of these require a good level of Spanish.
Sorry not trying to shatter your dream here. Just giving you my honest view.
As Elle says getting reasonable long term rental property at the moment is relatively easy due to the drop in holiday makers renting so owners ooking for long term renters.
On the flip side love life here..if you can put up with laid back attitude and red tape!

Good luck.

[✈ Elle ☀]

we are deadly serious about doing this elle and i am gonna listen to every opinion on the forum.
want to get established asap and start job hunting

Good for you Craig! We'll always give you honest advice (I see Rich has too) but we don't wish to shatter your dreams. Good luck hon! xx

[craig1969]

ok guys here goes
1.i am looking for a 2 bedroom place? for my family
2.what prices can i be expected to pay?
3.deposits?
4.i dont wanna get ripped off

[✈ Elle ☀]

Depends on area honey. But in Playa Blanca you could get a villa with a pool for that including bills for about €700 per month now.

Deposits are normally one month in advance. Most Spanish agents don't charge the monthly finders fee now. A couple of British and Irish agents have followed suit now as well, such as Lanzarote Investments and Interval Marketing. Regarding this - you might find the following article useful: http://www.lanzaroterelocation.co.uk/dealing-with-spanish-businesses/. Times are tough - so deals are there to be made.

Puerto del Carmen and Costa Teguise are slightly cheaper... with the out of town places being cheaper again.

Really depends where you want to live - as despite a place being fantastic and in the thick of things for a holiday may or may not suit you for living in.

You mention family - so maybe you need to be looking at areas appropriate for whatever school that is appropriate. Tias is pretty central and is quite popular with English speakers... but it's all down to personal choice.

Elle xx

[Alan]

Criag - it's never going to be easy. But of course it's doable. As has been said by Elle and Rich, don't bank on getting a job of worth any time soon. You may be able to pick up bits and pieces, but there's a lot of competition even for that at the moment.... It's hard here, especially in the current climate. It's a level playing field, as whatever qualifications and experience you may have (unless really specialist) don't count for much. Okay, that's the downside...

On the upside, IF you can make it the lifestyle is fantastic, and it's a wonderful safe place to bring your 3 year old up...

What's it take to do it....

1. A bank balance - assume you're not going to make any money for a while so have enough to tide yourself over until you do...

2. Sheer bloody mindedness and determination...

3. Flexibility - whatever plan you have probably won't work, at best you'll have to make some adjustments as you go,, you are going to have to be open minded...

4. Be on your guard and get the right advice - there are a lot of great people here - but also a few cowboys (as anywhere) who take advantage of new faces... Don't want to make it sound that bad - just take the steps you'd take back home - get several opinions about reputations, check out the Internet, don't hand money over for things not yet delivered. Sounds simple but you'd be amazed how many people who wouldn't normally do it throw caution to the winds.

5. People: It is also surprising how many people go back simply because they miss there families - it's more often than not the woman who misses their mum or their friends... Think this one through - and when you have be prepared for a 'wobble' in the first year - it happens to almost everyone...

If you can handle all this -just get on and do it... If it's for you - you won't regret it. If it doesn't work out - at least you gave it a go. It isn't for everyone - and it's never what you expect....

[Bob Cunningham]

Welcome to the forum Criag

[ExPat Rat]

Hi Craig.

Don't do it, theres nothing worse than waking up to the sun, putting shorts and flip flops on and spending each day in heaven....!!!

Only messing....

I made the move just under a year ago now, all the comments on here are first class information, the big one that pops up is work, and its true your in a better position to gain work once here on the rock, and as Bart puts it you may get bits and pieces. I was fortunate when i arrived as i had my fingers in many pies before i got here and was quite quick gaining employment, but you have to be very carefull of the promises etc, i also lost work waiting for promises to happen (and that was from a big British run reptable company), when it got busy in my game i was working 7 days a week at 2 diffrent company's so i was doing good, then over night that can all change and i went to being on call at 1 company and that was it. Saying that having good friends and contacts does make a big difference and when i had my wobble not long after Christmas, 2 special people and a dog, came good for me and helped me land a good job.......but on the flip side because i got that job i peed of 3 other people (not on here i might add)......so it can be tough. You need to be head strong, gutsy and determined to pick yourself up when you wobble......

Finding property is as said earlier is the easy part, but still don't rush into it, my advice is cut out the middle man were possible, i did and saved myself 300euro a MONTH yes 300 a MONTH...

The rewards of living here on the island out weigh the downsides, be strong give it a bash and there are people here willing to give a leg up if needed.

Now then, wheres my pint....!!!

Regards

Rat

[✈ Elle ☀]

Saying that having good friends and contacts does make a big difference and when i had my wobble not long after Christmas, 2 special people and a dog, came good for me and helped me land a good job.......

Two dogs now Phil!

[ExPat Rat]

Saying that having good friends and contacts does make a big difference and when i had my wobble not long after Christmas, 2 special people and a dog (now got 2 dogs, although Guido is mine) , came good for me and helped me land a good job.......

Two dogs now Phil!

There you go sweetcheeks....lol

Lovely day today....

[craig1969]

  i have got the money to tie me over for 12 months so do people reckon the possibilities are there once i get over there?
i want to get a place sorted in the next 3 - 4 weeks so i can look to move there in april or may.
i really appreciate these comments there really is some nice decent folk around.i am gonna spend as much time possible researching over the coming weeks so i dont fall flat on my face.

[richt71]

i have got the money to tie me over for 12 months so do people reckon the possibilities are there once i get over there?
i want to get a place sorted in the next 3 - 4 weeks so i can look to move there in april or may.
i really appreciate these comments there really is some nice decent folk around.i am gonna spend as much time possible researching over the coming weeks so i dont fall flat on my face.

Craig,
I'd suggest getting a week or 2 weeks holiday appartment sorted. Come out here and then go and visit all the places for rent that interest you. If you are on the island you'll probably get a better deal. I agree if you can cut out the agents you'll get a far better deal. Some agents take 1 months rent for deposit and another months rent as their commission! So that could be 3 months rent upon moving in.

[craig1969]

morning all...
right i want to get up to speed on everything as quick as i can with the best possible advice.
where is the best place to start looking for a place to live with me still being in the uk still?
where is the best place to live?
where is the best job opportunities?
where is the best schools? my child is 3 and want to get him sorted thats a big thing.
help please.........