As Brexit starts to bite, more and more Brits are selling up and leaving Spain

[OhSusana]

As Brexit starts to bite, more and more Brits are selling up and leaving Spain
https://elpais.com/elpais/2018/03/07/in ... 76942.html

....“Many are returning because life has become incredibly expensive,” says Ball, who is 44 years old and arrived in Valencia when she was 14. “My mother has lost €160 a month in her pension since the Brexit referendum because of the devaluation of the pound. Now her pension is €690. …

Official figures show that while the number of residents from 15 EU-countries (before eastern European countries joined the EU) in Spain has fallen by 25%, the number of British expats has dropped by 40%....

the number of Brits leaving the country now outnumbers those who arrive. It’s a complete reverse of the previous trend...

=========

If anybody can find any statistics about Cyprus, I would be very interested. I have noticed several on this forum leaving, and returning to the UK. And it set me wondering. There also seem to be an increasing number of Russians, Germans and Dutch in Paphos now. But I could be wrong about this.
N.B. Article is from March, and about Spain.

Related articles -
TUI plans to bring more German tourists to Cyprus
http://www.ekathimerini.com/228515/arti ... -to-cyprus

Brexit exodus: Thousands of British expats living in Spain return to UK as Brexit nears
https://www.express.co.uk/news/world/10 ... ro-no-deal
(from August 30, this year)

British expats are returning home as no-deal Brexit scenario cuts savings
http://www.internationalinvestment.net/ ... s-savings/
(also from last Thursday)
quotes-
“If the UK crashes out of Europe with no deal in place, the estimated 1.8 million expats living in the EU could be financially impacted in two key ways.
“First, the pound would inevitably suffer and it could fall hard. This would deliver another heavy and serious blow for those who receive UK pensions or income in pounds as the cost of living, in effect, would be significantly more expensive.
“Second, unless there is considerable post-Brexit collaboration between the UK and EU there is a risk that existing payments from British companies, including pension and insurance companies, to those living within the European Economic Area (EEA) could be disrupted or even made impossible. ...

Domino Effect (updated): How a no-deal Brexit could affect all expats across Europe
https://dispatcheseurope.com/domino-eff ... ss-europe/

The 'death of the expat': the British community in Spain post-Brexit
https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/news/thebi ... rexit.aspx

[Jim B]

The majority of guests at the large hotel where my eldest daughter works are from Israel followed by Russians. The number of British guests at the hotel have fallen this year (according to her).

Jim

[Dominic]

I haven't noticed anybody on this forum leaving because of Brexit. And the facebook groups still have lots of posts from people thinking about buying or renting out here.

[Jimgward]

I think we are in a cycle of lots of Brits moving to the sun of cyprus and renting, looking for jobs and will likely find it much. More difficult than they thought. House purchases won’t reflect that as availability of mortgages is much less.... at one point, you could purchases on a 90% mortgage, probably 70% now.
In Spain, loads bought off-plan and found the value had dropped when they finally took possession and they couldn’t sell, never mind afford to sell.... many have been crippled by the situation there.

[OhSusana]

...and I suspect a major factor in Spain is the economic situation which is still recovering from their crash...... The percentage of "working" expats is also probably higher in Spain than most expat destinations.....

You make some good points, Hudswell. And your arguments made me think.
But rechecking the article, it said that the number of Brits actually increased from 2008 to 2012 (by about 40k). And the financial crisis hit in 2007-8. It is now that numbers are falling.
But I tend to agree with you that there would likely be more pensioners in Cyprus than Spain, percentage wise. I think the statistics show that.

Aside - being ex-military, I found this rather amusing, not that I was ever based in Cyprus - n.b. The capitals are not mine!
BREXIT WARNING: MoD prepares for NO DEAL with multimillion pound military port in Cyprus
https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/10105 ... ort-latest

[Jimgward]

Ex-Pats who want to work in Cyprus, need to either run their own business or be fluent in Cypriot, if they want decent money.

Unfortunately I have personally experienced loads who have setup businesses in the services sectors, some claiming to be skilled tradespeople or have experience of property management. In reality, some are far from it and poor at property management. If you didnt run or work in that business in the UK, why would ou expect to be successful in Cyprus, unless you have a niche product, or a service that isn’t generally available.

Too many complain of poor wages - as they are only qualified to work in bars or restaurants and that isn’t enough to maintain any kind of lifestyle.

[merchant_banker]

So many people have bought a set of electrical screwdriver in the UK, flown to Cyprus and when they land in Cyprus they claim to be electricians !!! same is true of other trades

[bromerzz]

I remember it as
Prior Preparation & Planning Prevents Piss Poor Performance.
I always made that the 7 P's.

[ApusApus]

My version drops it down to the 6 "p"'s


Shane

[PhotoLady]

We lived in Cyprus for 12yrs as most of you are probably aware. I worked for all but 3 weeks during that time for 5 different employers. For the 3wks I wasn't employed, I started walking a dog for some people who had just taken over at Sodexo.
I took Greek lessons in UK for 6mths prior to leaving and for 6mths when we arrived in Cyprus.
I never needed Greek in any of the jobs I had. I walked out of the first job after transferring with my UK employer to the Limassol office but it wasn't what they told me it would be. So I left...
I found another job in a completely different field of work almost immediately. After 18mths the work lessened and I was let go.
I again changed to a different field of work and then worked with 3 different employers for the remaining 9yrs. Two were Israeli and the other was British and Russian owners.
The mistake many people make when the idea to move overseas to live and work is to believe they can continue in the same kind of work and in the same capacity but don't understand why it doesn't happen.... Previous experience means very little to a prospective employer with the exception of the tourist industry and the hotel/restaurant trade.
You have to be prepared to diversify and understand you will earn less than before in most scenarios.
I was lucky, I was one of those who actually ended up earning more in Cyprus than the salary I left behind in UK, because the tourist industry is low paid.
When I switched my job to Cyprus, my salary was reduced by around 40% and my holiday allowance and travel concessions. Hence why I left the company after working for them for 10yrs previously.
There's no loyalty between employees or the employer and contracts generally don't hold water. Employees walk out after they get paid at the end of the week or month to start a job which pays more or the employer will say the job was on a trial period only.
You have to have money behind you for at least 12mths to cover the cost of living and accommodation for you and your family without having any work, because it can happen.... If you come and face it knowing the full facts and with your bases covered, then you're in with a fighting chance.
Greek helps a little but depending on the job, not always a necessity.

[tyelaw47]

It seems always the case that when people cannot find any FACTS to support their argument they resort to insults!