Moving to Ireland

[Dweller]

Probably a bit off topic but has anyone any experience of moving to Ireland as a retired person? 

Been trying to do some research. Looks like we can still get our state pensions and probably a medical card. Of course Brexit has raised some issues but not many with regard to moving but the stability of the Euro worries me too, it's not going to last is it and will the UK be a stronger place to live when the Eurozone is having to revert back to individual currencies? 

Savings have been a BIG issue which has stopped us from doing this previously as we can't leave money in accounts in the UK if we don't live here! 

It's true that what to do with money is an issue in the UK in  any case in these zero interest /volatile times but the ROI does not seem to have such things as Building Societies /Banks  offering  1/ 2 /3/ 5 year saving bonds (OK in the UK  they are currently offering zilch in the way of interest but the products do exist) . We don't have a LOT of savings but being on basic state pensions what little we can make from our money does help of a year even @ 1.5% (which we had until recently). So anyone know what people living in Ireland do with their savings outside a Credit Union? 

Don't know much about banking etc but know NOTHING about Irish banks. 

Can anyone offer us any insight/advice re living in Ireland and what to do with money thanks? 

 

[Alistair Campbell]

Try asking the question on the NI forum - lots a people on there know people in the republic.

[hurlerontheditch]

3 hours ago, Dweller said:

Probably a bit off topic but has anyone any experience of moving to Ireland as a retired person? 

Been trying to do some research. Looks like we can still get our state pensions and probably a medical card. Of course Brexit has raised some issues but not many with regard to moving but the stability of the Euro worries me too, it's not going to last is it and will the UK be a stronger place to live when the Eurozone is having to revert back to individual currencies? 

Savings have been a BIG issue which has stopped us from doing this previously as we can't leave money in accounts in the UK if we don't live here! 

It's true that what to do with money is an issue in the UK in  any case in these zero interest /volatile times but the ROI does not seem to have such things as Building Societies /Banks  offering  1/ 2 /3/ 5 year saving bonds (OK in the UK  they are currently offering zilch in the way of interest but the products do exist) . We don't have a LOT of savings but being on basic state pensions what little we can make from our money does help of a year even @ 1.5% (which we had until recently). So anyone know what people living in Ireland do with their savings outside a Credit Union? 

Don't know much about banking etc but know NOTHING about Irish banks. 

Can anyone offer us any insight/advice re living in Ireland and what to do with money thanks? 

 

you can buy savings bonds or prize bonds. I imagine the rates are shocking though! used to be able to get long term savings accounts but this was 20 years ago, so no idea now

[Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz]

4 hours ago, Dweller said:

Probably a bit off topic but has anyone any experience of moving to Ireland as a retired person? 

Been trying to do some research. Looks like we can still get our state pensions and probably a medical card. Of course Brexit has raised some issues but not many with regard to moving but the stability of the Euro worries me too, it's not going to last is it and will the UK be a stronger place to live when the Eurozone is having to revert back to individual currencies? 

Savings have been a BIG issue which has stopped us from doing this previously as we can't leave money in accounts in the UK if we don't live here! 

It's true that what to do with money is an issue in the UK in  any case in these zero interest /volatile times but the ROI does not seem to have such things as Building Societies /Banks  offering  1/ 2 /3/ 5 year saving bonds (OK in the UK  they are currently offering zilch in the way of interest but the products do exist) . We don't have a LOT of savings but being on basic state pensions what little we can make from our money does help of a year even @ 1.5% (which we had until recently). So anyone know what people living in Ireland do with their savings outside a Credit Union? 

Don't know much about banking etc but know NOTHING about Irish banks. 

Can anyone offer us any insight/advice re living in Ireland and what to do with money thanks? 

 

Yes my dad moved back home (he is Irish) and had huge problems with healthcare and ended up emigrating again for hospital treatment (he said health insurance is very high there too - the private kind - because healthcare generally in Ireland is not well resourced - a lack of specialised care so patients often go abroad for specialized treatment). Also, watch other living costs such as food - not good. 

Cost of living in Ireland is about 14% higher than in Britain. 

My biggest concern if I was retiring there would be healthcare issues. In contrast, friends who have moved to SW France have better healthcare than here in the UK. 

Also, rural crime is a big thing in many places - you'll notice the advanced alarm systems many rural properties have... for good reason. 

Edited June 2, 2021 by gruffydd

[NuBrit]

Savings bonds do exist in Ireland, there's a lot of options, but don't expect rates to be any better than here https://www.askaboutmoney.com/threads/term-deposits-fixed-lump-sum-savings.101813/

I don't think it's a very good idea for someone on a basic UK state pension to retire in Ireland. The cost of living in Ireland is a little more expensive than the UK, and the UK state pension is quite a bit lower the Irish equivalent. You also have to pay for GP visits, something to bear in mind as you get older.

Not saying it can't be done, but I think you'd want to either have a lot of money already, or be very frugal.

[reddog]

6 hours ago, Dweller said:

but the stability of the Euro worries me too, it's not going to last is it and will the UK be a stronger place to live when the Eurozone is having to revert back to individual currencies? 

 

Well I would not  say that the uk will be stronger, more like less weak than other EU countries.

 

There will definitely have to be some reconfiguration of the Euro/EU and this will probably lead to instability like we have had since 2016, as countries will have to decide if they wanted to be in or out of what will basically be one country, funnily enough the counties that are least suited will want to be in.

 

RE: Savings, I  not saying do this, as I don't think you are supposed to technically, but if you have a relative still in the UK, could you not just give their address to the bank?  (Probably still possible now, but probably not in a few years time)

Edited June 2, 2021 by reddog

[coypondboy]

I would suggest retiring to northern ireland as you get the NHS for free and can still have an irish passport enabling you to live in europe for more than 90 days.  Property prices cheaper than ireland and scenery and way of life very similar.  I am planning to do so in Newcastle County Down and apply for an Irish passport as my wife is irish and her family live nearby.

[Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz]

2 hours ago, coypondboy said:

I would suggest retiring to northern ireland as you get the NHS for free and can still have an irish passport enabling you to live in europe for more than 90 days.  Property prices cheaper than ireland and scenery and way of life very similar.  I am planning to do so in Newcastle County Down and apply for an Irish passport as my wife is irish and her family live nearby.

No you can't get an Irish passport simply because you live in Northern Ireland. If anything property prices are higher... the rural south is much less expensive than where I'm from (Camlough area). Newcastle's an odd town and not without sectarian tensions these days - you'd have to pay me to live anywhere near Newcastle, Kilkeel, Ballynahinch... just not nice on a social level. 

Newry's very diverse these days - huge numbers of immigrants so less of the prod/catholic thing, but it feels kind of dystopian. My home town but that's off the list too, then lol... as soon as I'm south of the border I feel more relaxed. That's what Ulster does well - grotty towns and a certain vibe of tension at times... not as bad as it once was of course but you can still "taste it in the air" sometimes. 

Was recently in Armagh and a guy I know gave me a tour of what had been bombed (a huge part of the centre) so even historic Armagh has a level of grot about it. Much of it is legacy stuff. Outsiders really don't have much of a clue about these places and what they went through. 

Edited June 2, 2021 by gruffydd

[Dweller]

17 hours ago, gruffydd said:

Yes my dad moved back home (he is Irish) and had huge problems with healthcare and ended up emigrating again for hospital treatment (he said health insurance is very high there too - the private kind - because healthcare generally in Ireland is not well resourced - a lack of specialised care so patients often go abroad for specialized treatment). Also, watch other living costs such as food - not good. 

Cost of living in Ireland is about 14% higher than in Britain. 

My biggest concern if I was retiring there would be healthcare issues. In contrast, friends who have moved to SW France have better healthcare than here in the UK. 

Also, rural crime is a big thing in many places - you'll notice the advanced alarm systems many rural properties have... for good reason. 

Thanks. Already 14% doesn't sound good when inflation is hitting the ROI as it is hitting the UK.  Rural crime is something that concerns me when part of the reason we are thinking about it is to be somewhere where we don't have neighbours breathing down our necks and have a bit of space.

[Dweller]

17 hours ago, NuBrit said:

Savings bonds do exist in Ireland, there's a lot of options, but don't expect rates to be any better than here https://www.askaboutmoney.com/threads/term-deposits-fixed-lump-sum-savings.101813/

I don't think it's a very good idea for someone on a basic UK state pension to retire in Ireland. The cost of living in Ireland is a little more expensive than the UK, and the UK state pension is quite a bit lower the Irish equivalent. You also have to pay for GP visits, something to bear in mind as you get older.

Not saying it can't be done, but I think you'd want to either have a lot of money already, or be very frugal.

Yes the cost of living is a big worry . Would have moved there years ago if we had good private pensions. 

[Dweller]

15 hours ago, reddog said:

Well I would not  say that the uk will be stronger, more like less weak than other EU countries.

 

There will definitely have to be some reconfiguration of the Euro/EU and this will probably lead to instability like we have had since 2016, as countries will have to decide if they wanted to be in or out of what will basically be one country, funnily enough the counties that are least suited will want to be in.

 

RE: Savings, I  not saying do this, as I don't think you are supposed to technically, but if you have a relative still in the UK, could you not just give their address to the bank?  (Probably still possible now, but probably not in a few years time)

Yes, well put, "less weak than other EU countries". 

[Dweller]

13 hours ago, gruffydd said:

No you can't get an Irish passport simply because you live in Northern Ireland. If anything property prices are higher... the rural south is much less expensive than where I'm from (Camlough area). Newcastle's an odd town and not without sectarian tensions these days - you'd have to pay me to live anywhere near Newcastle, Kilkeel, Ballynahinch... just not nice on a social level. 

Newry's very diverse these days - huge numbers of immigrants so less of the prod/catholic thing, but it feels kind of dystopian. My home town but that's off the list too, then lol... as soon as I'm south of the border I feel more relaxed. That's what Ulster does well - grotty towns and a certain vibe of tension at times... not as bad as it once was of course but you can still "taste it in the air" sometimes. 

Was recently in Armagh and a guy I know gave me a tour of what had been bombed (a huge part of the centre) so even historic Armagh has a level of grot about it. Much of it is legacy stuff. Outsiders really don't have much of a clue about these places and what they went through. 

My daughter lives in the south . Years ago when it was cheaper to shop in a  supermarket across the border than in the south (not been the case for years) her in laws would never go with them across the border,  history doesn't just disappear overnight (not that it ever was just  historical and now  the border is back very much in focus isn't it ). As you say, you can't just get a passport. My daughter has been over there for more years now than she lived in the UK and recently applied for citizenship by virtue of her marriage, cost a lot of money, a lot of form filling and will take up to a year I think. I could get citizenship/passport as my grandmother was Irish. Again costs quite a bit of money + I need to provide evidence of my grandmother's birth etc (all possible) just not done it yet. 

[Dweller]

THANKS everyone just SO confused as to what to do. 

Like so many we would so love a bit of space and having sold last year before house prices went up £30,000 + would feel we were getting something for our money in Ireland where here, at the value we are looking it is all pretty depressing and if something nice comes along 30+ people are after it. We are old, we haven't got that many years left, whatever we put our money in right now will probably lose value overnight, but it would be nice to live somewhere with a bit of space without trampolines on the boundary, hot tubs, home bars etc., plus (as for what we can afford detached seems out of the Q) dogs barking through the wall, guitars (been an explosion of guitars in properties on RM + drums and keyboards)  surround sound TV etc..  

That said the property we decided we might just take the leap and go for in Ireland, turns out once again to have so many people after it we don't stand a chance. Thought it might be different in Ireland as properties tend not to move like properties in the UK but typical of us we chose the exception! Thanks again. 

[Dweller]

17 hours ago, NuBrit said:

Savings bonds do exist in Ireland, there's a lot of options, but don't expect rates to be any better than here https://www.askaboutmoney.com/threads/term-deposits-fixed-lump-sum-savings.101813/

I don't think it's a very good idea for someone on a basic UK state pension to retire in Ireland. The cost of living in Ireland is a little more expensive than the UK, and the UK state pension is quite a bit lower the Irish equivalent. You also have to pay for GP visits, something to bear in mind as you get older.

Not saying it can't be done, but I think you'd want to either have a lot of money already, or be very frugal.

Meant to say thanks for the link very helpful 

[Dweller]

Just had to share this one.

I have noticed that the listings on Irish property websites are mostly blurred and dreadful but this one has to get the award of the week!! What was the Agent SEEING when they listed this on Rightmove UK?  Didn't this house have a good side? 

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/94465223#/

[satsuma]

A lot of English or Irish ex pats retire to Ireland, north and south.  You need health insurance in the south and I think it’s 2k per year.  The north has the NHS.  The gap in house prices has narrowed but if your coming with 500k from the sale of a UK house you’d get a great house outside Belfast and Dublin.  I don’t think there’s an issue with savings, there are plenty of banks that would hold your money but they would have crap interest rates then same as everyone else.  It was common for people to sell their mid terrace in the north of England and buy a small farm in Ireland, I think the reality is most get sold again in five years.  

[satsuma]

5 minutes ago, Dweller said:

Just had to share this one.

I have noticed that the listings on Irish property websites are mostly blurred and dreadful but this one has to get the award of the week!! What was the Agent SEEING when they listed this on Rightmove UK?  Didn't this house have a good side? 

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/94465223#/

Beware these places, impossible to heat and damp, buy a proper house not the pig shed some idiot put a sofa in

[hurlerontheditch]

9 minutes ago, Dweller said:

Just had to share this one.

I have noticed that the listings on Irish property websites are mostly blurred and dreadful but this one has to get the award of the week!! What was the Agent SEEING when they listed this on Rightmove UK?  Didn't this house have a good side? 

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/94465223#/

its Best to use daft.ie or myhome.ie

 

[reddog]

RE: savings.  Surely most Irish banks have a £ account, becy there is so much cross border activity between UK and Ireland?

 

I am pretty sure the interest rate will be almost 0% and you will pry have to pay a fee

[Clarky Cat]

16 hours ago, coypondboy said:

I would suggest retiring to northern ireland as you get the NHS for free and can still have an irish passport enabling you to live in europe for more than 90 days.  Property prices cheaper than ireland and scenery and way of life very similar.  I am planning to do so in Newcastle County Down and apply for an Irish passport as my wife is irish and her family live nearby.

It has the NHS, but you're still going to need to pay privately if you want anything doing in a timely manner. Some sample waits for a first appointment pre-pandemic in Belfast:

Routine neurology: 5 years

Routine dermatology: 2 years

Urgent ophthalmology (i.e something sight threatening): 2 years

Suspected cancer urology - 2 months

Data

If you need a joint replacement you'll be waiting 5-10 years from referral. Over half of patients on waiting lists for a first appointment have been waiting for over a year.

[sexton]

1 hour ago, Dweller said:

THANKS everyone just SO confused as to what to do. 

Like so many we would so love a bit of space and having sold last year before house prices went up £30,000 + would feel we were getting something for our money in Ireland where here, at the value we are looking it is all pretty depressing and if something nice comes along 30+ people are after it. We are old, we haven't got that many years left, whatever we put our money in right now will probably lose value overnight, but it would be nice to live somewhere with a bit of space without trampolines on the boundary, hot tubs, home bars etc., plus (as for what we can afford detached seems out of the Q) dogs barking through the wall, guitars (been an explosion of guitars in properties on RM + drums and keyboards)  surround sound TV etc..  

That said the property we decided we might just take the leap and go for in Ireland, turns out once again to have so many people after it we don't stand a chance. Thought it might be different in Ireland as properties tend not to move like properties in the UK but typical of us we chose the exception! Thanks again. 

If you "havn't got many years left" why buy?

[2buyornot2buy]

9 minutes ago, Clarky Cat said:

It has the NHS, but you're still going to need to pay privately if you want anything doing in a timely manner. Some sample waits for a first appointment pre-pandemic in Belfast:

Routine neurology: 5 years

Routine dermatology: 2 years

Urgent ophthalmology (i.e something sight threatening): 2 years

Suspected cancer urology - 2 months

Data

If you need a joint replacement you'll be waiting 5-10 years from referral. Over half of patients on waiting lists for a first appointment have been waiting for over a year.

Yep, retiring to NI for access to the NHS is a bit of a joke. Fine if you want to see a GP in around a fortnight but for any consultant led treatment you're looking at a wait so long, you might as well say the NHS doesn't exist. You could (until brexit) use the EU directive, pay upfront and get treatment in Blackrock and reclaim. No longer possible. 

I pay around £140 a month for BUPA, I expect it's similar in the South. 

[Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz]

I think if I had to move anywhere on this side of the European continent... for peace and quiet, it would be Dumfries and Galloway... a growing Irish community there too, which surprised me on my last visit (quite a few Irish farmers because land is much better value). 

[Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz]

1 hour ago, 2buyornot2buy said:

Yep, retiring to NI for access to the NHS is a bit of a joke. Fine if you want to see a GP in around a fortnight but for any consultant led treatment you're looking at a wait so long, you might as well say the NHS doesn't exist. You could (until brexit) use the EU directive, pay upfront and get treatment in Blackrock and reclaim. No longer possible. 

I pay around £140 a month for BUPA, I expect it's similar in the South. 

Very true - the last place you'd want to retire to for the NHS is Northern Ireland... worst waiting lists in the UK by far and that was before Covid... the south is preferable to the north re: healthcare access... my relations, north and south... head to Britain for healthcare (where they can!). 

[yelims]

I live here anything in particular you need answered not yet answered above?

 

plenty of people from uk here, largest group of migrants it would be. Retirement shouldn’t be an issue if you can support yourself with own funds (probably won’t qualify for pension/welfare here if didn’t work here)

your money would go a long way outside main cities housing wise