Expat Community > England

kvvyas
Joined 2008
Posts: 1

London Expat Package Questions

16 years ago

I've read a lot of posts on here regarding expatriate packages to London and I've recently come across an opportunity of my own.

I'm in my mid-twenties and have no major commitments. I have been working with this particular company for about two and a half years. There is a need for someone with more experience in our London office and I have been presented with an opportunity to make the transfer.

I have the impression that the initial package offered was skimpy, compared to what is probably considered standard for a move like this.

I was given a 30 percent upward adjustment to my US base salary (I will be paid in pounds in the UK) and $8,000 for a 450 pound box to be air-shipped to London. That's it...

I already live and work in a higher cost of living area, San Francisco, and my current standard of living is very comfortable and my financial situation is sound. However, I'd be most comfortable with a dollar for pound salary adjustment (75,000 dollars into 75,000 pounds) since they are not offering any housing allowances or COLA.

The negotiations have begun and I've requested income tax consulting, temporary housing/house hunting trip prior to depature, a higher shipping allowance, and a higher overall compensation (in the range of 55 to 60 percent upward from my US base since they are not offering any housing allowances or COLA).

I'm wondering how much of what I've requested is considered unreasonable?

I've put together preliminary budgets based on things I've read here and elsewhere and have assumed fairly sizeable monthly expenses (1,500 pounds for rent, 250 pounds for utilities, 100 pounds for transportation, 300 pounds for groceries, 100 pounds for dry cleaning, and 400 pounds for entertainment). I have considered all of this after a tax liability of between 45 and 50 percent. Therefore, their offer, as it stands, seems low.

Given what I've been presented with, if they are not willing to meet all of my requests fully, how much, if anything, should I be willing to concede.

Any feedback or advice would be appreciated.

Thanks.

William Russell

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