Moving to Belfast Megathread

Mtx

What is a decent wage for a graduate in Belfast? I would guess £22k?

gustafo

Hi,

Will be moving to Belfast in February from cork and my Asian wife will be coming to join me, now this will be her first time in Europe so will be trying to make the move as painless as possible, i will travel up to Belfast a week before she arrives to try and find some suitable 1 or 2 bedroom flat to rent,

I have a few questions and would appreciate some help.

Would it be easy enough to find somewhere decent to live for around the £500 per month? would rather try and keep away from the loyalist areas, also ideally would like a place which is furnished as don't really want the hassle of having to buy.

As i work away at sea month on month off i won't need to find any work in Belfast but would not want to be a million miles from the city as my wife will be in college part time for English lessons and also as i will be away working for a month at a time and it may be easier for her to be on a bus route to the city,

Thanks for any help in advance.

Mollyb60

Folks, my sister is considering moving to Belfast with her bf and asked some guidance on a number of things. I'm a bit of an overachiever when it comes to projects so I've done up a document on things she might want to consider when moving. I thought it might be useful to anyone else thinking of moving to this great city. Apologies for the wall of text to follow!

Moving to Belfast

Current exchange rate:
£1 = €1.14
€1 = £0.87

National Insurance Number (PPS number):

https://www.gov.uk/apply-national-insurance-number

You need to apply by phone for a National Insurance number.
National Insurance number application line
Telephone: 0800 141 2075
Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm

You can only apply for it once you’re in the UK. You must have the right to work or study in the UK to get a National Insurance number.
You can start work before your National Insurance number arrives if you can prove you can work in the UK. You should tell your employer that you’ve applied for one, and give it to them when you have it.

Jobcentre Plus may write to you and ask you to come to an interview where you’ll be asked about your circumstances and why you need a National Insurance number.
The letter will also tell you which documents to bring to prove your identity, such as:
• passport or identity card
• residence permit
• birth or adoption certificate
• marriage or civil partnership certificate
• driving licence
You’ll be told at the interview how long it’ll take to receive your National Insurance number.

Bank Account:

BOI
Danske Bank
Ulster Bank
First Trust (AIB basically)

Banks need to verify both your identity and address. If you have a full Northern Ireland/UK/Republic of Ireland driving licence or provisional licence that can be used to confirm both.
Don't have a driving licence? They’ll need to see one valid and original item from the list below to verify your identity.
• Current valid signed Passport
• Electoral Identity Card including photograph
• Birth Certificate (if you are aged 18 or under)
• National Identity Card including photograph
• Translink Senior Citizens Smart Pass
• Medical Card (if you are aged 18 or under)
• Proof of address

And one valid and original item from the list below to confirm your address:
Bank, building society or credit card statement
Must be less than six months old. Not acceptable:
• Internet statements
• Store card statements
• Ulster Bank statements
• Duplicate statements
Utility bill - gas, landline telephone, water or electric bill / statement
Must be less than six months old. Not acceptable:
• Mobile telephone bills
• TV licences
• A bill that is addressed to a different address to where the utility is being provided
• A delivery bill for oil, coal or logs
• Internet bills
Mortgage statement
Must be less than 12 months old. Excludes Ulster Bank statements.
Rates bill or Council tax bill
Must be issued within the last 12 months.
Land and property services bill
Must be issued within the last 12 months.
Notification of determination of tax credits / tax notification
Must be less than six months old or valid for the current/next tax year. Acceptable documents include notice of tax coding, tax rebate and working family tax credit.
Not acceptable:
• Statements relating to VAT accounts
• P60s or P45s

Bills:

Electricity – https://powertoswitch.co.uk/electricity-comparison/
PowerNI
SSE Airtricity
Electric Ireland NI

Gas – http://www.consumercouncil.org.uk/comparison_tool/begin
Electric Ireland
Power NI
SSE Airtricity

Broadband – https://www.cable.co.uk/broadband/broadband-in-northern-ireland/
Virgin Media – Vivid 50 54mbps £35 per month
Sky – Fibre Max broadband 63mbps £27 per month
BT – Superfast Fibre 50mbps £36 per month

Mobile Phone –
Vodafone – Samsung S9 (£80 upfront cost) 5GB £34 per month
O2 – Samsung S9 (£29.99 upfront cost) 15GB data £34 per month
EE – Samsung S9 (£99 upfront cost) 20GB data £33 per month

Bin fees are included in council rates which are usually included in rent but you’d want to double check that when you talk to any estate agent. Also check about management fees for apartments.

Getting a place to live:

https://www.propertypal.com/

https://www.propertynews.com/

Best places for newcomers is around South Belfast. Lisburn Road, Lower Ormeau Road, Stranmillis. Also worth considering outskirts of Belfast such as Glengormley (near University of Ulster campus), Dunmurry, Lisburn.
Average prices for 2 bed apartments at the moment is around £600 - £700


Doctor:

https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/your-local-doctor-gp
Patients must be a resident (or be intending to live) in Northern Ireland for longer than six months to register as a permanent patient with a Northern Ireland GP Practice. You have to fill out the HSCR-1 form found here: http://www.hscbusiness.hscni.net/services/1814.htm

To find a GP practice go here: https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/services/gp-practices

Finding a job:

Monster – https://www.monster.co.uk/jobs/l-belfast,-northern-ireland.aspx
Indeed – https://www.indeed.co.uk/jobs-in-Belfast
NI Jobs - https://www.nijobs.com/

Big software companies in Belfast:
Allstate
Concentrix
PWC
Deloitte
Citigroup
Kainos

Commuting Costs:

Translink – Zone 1 iLink card (unlimited bus and rail travel on Translink services) £67 per month
aLink card (unlimited travel between Blacks Road P&R and City Centre) £56 per month

Lex_Luthor

Hi all,

Long time reader, first time poster. Bumping this thread.

Any further information of what it is like to move to Belfast? I am from Dublin, worked years away in Switzerland and Germany. Returned to Dublin end of 2017 thinking that would be that, after 2 years of renting sub-standard accommodation for high price, headed back to a good job in Switzerland. I had been thinking another 2-3 years away and come back and buy in Dublin, however that is not looking likely. Crazy the housing situation in Dublin and to a lesser extent outside Dublin.

I visited Belfast a couple of times and really liked it, got an edge and a good vibe which suits me more than where I am now. It has great transport connections to Dublin and an airport.
The company I work for has offices in UK, so they would be a chance to stay with them (I like working for company) and wfh on a UK contract in Belfast. It would not be possible to get an Irish contract, I would have to leave.


So any of you made the move and it has worked out well?

Cheers

getoutadodge

Great info given by the poster below. Much appreciated!

I ll be in Belfast later this week to do an initial scout. Should be interesting since my last visit was in the mid 80s

I'm retired and looking to sell up in Dublin. Had enough of the place. Having no joy with the provincial towns in ROI that I had targeted since there is simply no stock available and...now ,,,silly pricing. Related no doubt.

Looking for a rental first to test the waters so to speak before pulling the trigger completely. There seems to be a rental company called esquire advertising lots of upmarket house shares on property pal. These might suit since I don't need to get into utility and internet tv etc connections off the bat while I get a feel for where might suit me long term. Anybody know of this company?

This thread has suggested Lisburn. Might suit me for a purchase since I want a quiet area to live in with a rail line to city centre for six months and then head off each winter to escape the rain.

Ends

====================================
Moving to Belfast

Current exchange rate:
£1 = €1.14
€1 = £0.87

National Insurance Number (PPS number):

https://www.gov.uk/apply-national-insurance-number

You need to apply by phone for a National Insurance number.
National Insurance number application line
Telephone: 0800 141 2075
Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm

You can only apply for it once you’re in the UK. You must have the right to work or study in the UK to get a National Insurance number.
You can start work before your National Insurance number arrives if you can prove you can work in the UK. You should tell your employer that you’ve applied for one, and give it to them when you have it.

Jobcentre Plus may write to you and ask you to come to an interview where you’ll be asked about your circumstances and why you need a National Insurance number.
The letter will also tell you which documents to bring to prove your identity, such as:
• passport or identity card
• residence permit
• birth or adoption certificate
• marriage or civil partnership certificate
• driving licence
You’ll be told at the interview how long it’ll take to receive your National Insurance number.

Bank Account:

BOI
Danske Bank
Ulster Bank
First Trust (AIB basically)

Banks need to verify both your identity and address. If you have a full Northern Ireland/UK/Republic of Ireland driving licence or provisional licence that can be used to confirm both.
Don't have a driving licence? They’ll need to see one valid and original item from the list below to verify your identity.
• Current valid signed Passport
• Electoral Identity Card including photograph
• Birth Certificate (if you are aged 18 or under)
• National Identity Card including photograph
• Translink Senior Citizens Smart Pass
• Medical Card (if you are aged 18 or under)
• Proof of address

And one valid and original item from the list below to confirm your address:
Bank, building society or credit card statement
Must be less than six months old. Not acceptable:
• Internet statements
• Store card statements
• Ulster Bank statements
• Duplicate statements
Utility bill - gas, landline telephone, water or electric bill / statement
Must be less than six months old. Not acceptable:
• Mobile telephone bills
• TV licences
• A bill that is addressed to a different address to where the utility is being provided
• A delivery bill for oil, coal or logs
• Internet bills
Mortgage statement
Must be less than 12 months old. Excludes Ulster Bank statements.
Rates bill or Council tax bill
Must be issued within the last 12 months.
Land and property services bill
Must be issued within the last 12 months.
Notification of determination of tax credits / tax notification
Must be less than six months old or valid for the current/next tax year. Acceptable documents include notice of tax coding, tax rebate and working family tax credit.
Not acceptable:
• Statements relating to VAT accounts
• P60s or P45s

Bills:

Electricity – https://powertoswitch.co.uk/electricity-comparison/
PowerNI
SSE Airtricity
Electric Ireland NI

Gas – http://www.consumercouncil.org.uk/comparison_tool/begin
Electric Ireland
Power NI
SSE Airtricity

Broadband – https://www.cable.co.uk/broadband/br...thern-ireland/
Virgin Media – Vivid 50 54mbps £35 per month
Sky – Fibre Max broadband 63mbps £27 per month
BT – Superfast Fibre 50mbps £36 per month

Mobile Phone –
Vodafone – Samsung S9 (£80 upfront cost) 5GB £34 per month
O2 – Samsung S9 (£29.99 upfront cost) 15GB data £34 per month
EE – Samsung S9 (£99 upfront cost) 20GB data £33 per month

Bin fees are included in council rates which are usually included in rent but you’d want to double check that when you talk to any estate agent. Also check about management fees for apartments.

Getting a place to live:

https://www.propertypal.com/

https://www.propertynews.com/

Best places for newcomers is around South Belfast. Lisburn Road, Lower Ormeau Road, Stranmillis. Also worth considering outskirts of Belfast such as Glengormley (near University of Ulster campus), Dunmurry, Lisburn.
Average prices for 2 bed apartments at the moment is around £600 - £700


Doctor:

https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles...ocal-doctor-gp
Patients must be a resident (or be intending to live) in Northern Ireland for longer than six months to register as a permanent patient with a Northern Ireland GP Practice. You have to fill out the HSCR-1 form found here: http://www.hscbusiness.hscni.net/services/1814.htm

To find a GP practice go here: https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/services/gp-practices

Finding a job:

Monster – https://www.monster.co.uk/jobs/l-bel...n-ireland.aspx
Indeed – https://www.indeed.co.uk/jobs-in-Belfast
NI Jobs - https://www.nijobs.com/

Big software companies in Belfast:
Allstate
Concentrix
PWC
Deloitte
Citigroup
Kainos

Commuting Costs:

Translink – Zone 1 iLink card (unlimited bus and rail travel on Translink services) £67 per month
aLink card (unlimited travel between Blacks Road P&R and City Centre) £56 per month
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getoutadodge

That should read Elite...not Esquire. Sounds like a slapper hire site

https://www.propertypal.com/room-2-73-malone-avenue-lisburn-road-belfast/547840

Just scrapped Lisburn....appears to be a "blackspot" ...a term I first heard in belfast in the 80s

getoutadodge

Anybody know this town? Had a girlfriend from there back in the stone age. Will I have to step out on the 12th and sing the sash to integrate with the locals?

https://www.propertypal.com/38-magheraknock-park-ballynahinch/699740/photo-15

catrionanic

getoutadodge wrote: »

Anybody know this town? Had a girlfriend from there back in the stone age. Will I have to step out on the 12th and sing the sash to integrate with the locals?

https://www.propertypal.com/38-magheraknock-park-ballynahinch/699740/photo-15

I dont know it well, but I think Ballynahinch is mixed. There are Catholic schools there anyway. But as with all towns in the North, there can be very segregated areas within the town. It is a bit of a minefield for an outsider to navigate.

Mollyb60

A very general rule of thumb for a place is if there are painted kerbstones and a ton of flags up, then its not the place for you.

Not familiar with Ballynahinch myself but my husband reckons it would be mostly unionist as is most of north Down. Places like Saintfield, Carryduff and Hillsborough which are the next towns over would be primarily unionist. Newcastle and Downpatrick to the south are more nationalist leaning.