Moving to Tenerife

If you are wondering if Tenerife is for you, take a look at the sample chapter of Tenerife Lifeline 2009.  Many thousands of British and Irish expatriates live happily in Tenerife, and there are very persuasive reasons for doing so.  Having made the decision to make the move, you will soon start to realise how much there is to think about.

Relocation to Tenerife starts with lists that spawn more lists.  It really sinks in that you are embarking on a new beginning when you start to wind down your affairs and sorting out what needs to be given away, thrown away or packed snugly in boxes.  But should you move your belongings right away, or get settled in Tenerife first?  Tenerife Lifeline looks at the alternatives as well as the different ways to move your belongings over, and tells you about the Customs process.  Most people who bring their household goods choose to ship them, and many will use a removal company.  However, some people have found airfreight more suitable, and others have even driven through the continent and taken the ferry from Cadiz… which one is right depends on your personal situation.

The easiest option, and one which many people who are not entirely confident about their move will take, is to store their belongings back in the UK, or Ireland.  They may be worried that Tenerife is not for them, or they may be other reasons such as a new job or a relationship that makes hedging their bets a sensible course of action.  For most of us, storage in the UK or Ireland is simply the most convenient thing to do while we get paperwork organised and find a home to accommodate our belongings.  Whether you use a self storage facility or storage offered by one of the many removal companies, make sure your belongings are insured.  And beware… don’t leave your things in storage too long or you may end up paying import tax in Tenerife!

If you are moving pets too, then you will need to make special arrangements for them, which Tenerife Lifeline covers.

Links About Moving to Tenerife

The I am moving  website is a great idea that makes it easier for you to inform multiple organisations that you are moving home. Saves you time and money as you do not have to find all the companies phone numbers and call them individually – including government offices, utilities and banks.

You can redirect your UK post to your new address in Tenerife using the  Post Office redirection service .

You will need to contact your Council Tax office  Find your local council and inform them… Tenerife’s equivalent local taxes will be a pleasant surprise for you!

Cancel your Television License 
 

If you are storing your belongings in the UK, then the Self Storage Association is the largest association in the UK who claim to represent 70% of the industry have a search to find self storage facilities by location.  Other trade associations include The National Guild of Removers and Storers and The National Register of Approved Removers and Storers.

The Self Storage Directory is a search for local self storage facilities on a site with lots of useful tips and information

Help I am Moving is a useful site, packed with information and with a search facility for companies

You can find information about insurance from a specialist storage insurance company

If you live in Ireland, you can find more information about moving pets between Tenerife and Ireland at the Irish Department of Agriculture .  If you are moving pets between Tenerife and the UK, then take a look at the British Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA)