MITCHELL & PARTNERS LTD
AN ALDERNEY ESTATE AGENCY
John Postlethwaite M.N.A.E.A, Managing Director
Kate Postlethwaite M.N.A.E.A, Director
Anne Oliver
PROPERTY PURCHASE
Unlike Jersey or Guernsey, it is fairly straightforward for a newcomer to purchase property in Alderney providing one is a U.K. or E.E.C. passport holder. Property values are generally more expensive than in the south of England, with a small house starting around £150,000 being very much in demand. Conge, (an island property purchase tax) and Stamp Duty are payable upon the completion of any purchase and in total are equivalent to 5.0% of the purchase price. The services of an advocate (solicitor) are not normally required.
By law, one must be resident in Alderney for more than ten years before one may apply to build new residential property. However, encouragement is given to new residents to convert or rebuild existing buildings registered as dwellings. Slightly in excess of 1,000 dwellings exist on the island.
PROPERTY PURCHASE IN GUERNSEY
For property information in Guernsey please contact Swoffers
INSURANCE
The two insurance companies on the island are Islands Insurance Tel: +44 (0)1481 824100 and Rossboroughs Tel: +44 (0)1481 823242/823523
The Island receives all United Kingdom radio and television services, also Telex, usual telephone services, Fax, Internet, etc.
French television programmes are easily receivable on the Island.
The Island is twinned with the township of Beaumont-Hague, situated 5 miles inland from the port of Goury. Sporting, cultural, educational and social links are well established.
Owing to freight charges and no subsidies, the cost of living is probably around 15% higher than in the U.K. However, Duty on liquor, perfume, cigarettes and luxury articles is much lower than present U.K. levels and rates on property are minimal.
There is no Value Added Tax.
Employment Permits are required by those wishing to work in Alderney but these are usually available for skilled workers, except those in the building trade, provided there is no local unemployment in your particular category. Contact the Clerk of the States for details.
Tel: 822816.
St. Anne’s Parish Church, Victoria Street
The Methodist Church, The Butes
Catholic Church of St. Anne and Mary Magdalen, Braye Road
Society of Friends, The Pottery, Mouriaux
Over recent years, the Channel Islands have achieved considerable economic prosperity, mainly by virtue of their attractive tax structures, tax rates and stability of government. The flat rate of Income Tax is 20% with allowances similar to those in the United Kingdom. There are no Death Duties, Income Surtax, Value Added Tax or Capital Gains Tax. Taxation is administered by the States of Guernsey, 2 Cornet Street, St. Peter Port, Guernsey, GY1 3AZ. Tel: 01 481 724711.
Alderney has its own Companies Register and a brand new Companies Law. One interesting feature of Alderney Company Law is the fact that a company is able to own its own Share Capital.
ACCOUNTING
For accountancy services you would need to contact either Featherstone, Leach & Co, Carey Administration Limited and for trust administration contact either Corporate Services (Alderney) Ltd, or Stenham Trustees Ltd.
The following banks are represented on the island:
Lloyds TSB - Tel: 822340
NatWest: - Tel: 822681
HSBC - Tel: 822293
Barclays Bank is based in Guernsey - Tel: 723176
Local professional advice is available in Accountancy, Surveying, Law and Architecture.
Patients are required to pay for doctors and dentists. There are two medical practices in Alderney. There is one practising dentist. There is a small prescription charge.
The Mignot Memorial Hospital, opened in 1958, has a fully qualified nursing staff and up-to-date equipment, but normally only admits minor cases and convalescents. Routine surgical and more serious cases are referred to the excellent Princess Elizabeth Hospital in Guernsey. There is a compulsory health insurance scheme covering all costs at this hospital.
Accident and emergency cases are normally flown either to Guernsey or Southampton by charter aircraft, one of which is on stand-by every night of the year.
The Social Insurance Scheme in Alderney is administered by the States of Guernsey Insurance Authority, P. O. Box 38, Guernsey, there being a reciprocal agreement with Jersey and the U.K.
St Annes school takes pupils from 5 to 15 years, although some are encouraged to remain until they are 16 to take the GCSE examinations. Further education is provided in Guernsey where scholarships are available to those of the required standard.
Ormer House is an independent co-educational preparatory school for children between the ages of 3 and 13 years. The aim of the school is to provide a sound educational foundation in all the main classroom subjects. The Headmistress of this school has a good working relationship with many of the U.K. boarding schools and the children are individually prepared for Common Entrance examinations.
Nursery School, playgroups and Sunday School are also available and the active Brownies, Girl Guides, Cubs and Scouts undertake a wide variety of projects, including trips to France. There is a well-equipped and organised Junior Militia.
The principal and most convenient means of transport between the U.K. mainland and the other islands is by air.
We have 2 Airlines, Aurigny 01481 822886 and Blue Island 01481 824567.
The Alderney Shipping Company Limited operates a weekly freight shipping service throughout the year to and from Guernsey and a fortnightly service to Weymouth.
Telephone: (Alderney: 01481 822231) (Guernsey: 01481 724810)
Details of other services can be obtained from The States of Alderney (Public Affairs and Marketing - Tel: 824267).
For further information on Alderney, have a look at:
Island Life or the Alderney government