Inter Relocation takes the stress out of the EuRA conference

Inter Relocation is proud to be co-sponsoring a Relaxation Station at the upcoming EuRA conference in Munich

Inter Relocation, together with two of  its strategic partners, is sponsoring a Relaxation Station at the upcoming EuRA conference in Munich. Conference participants are encouraged to take a break from their busy weeks to get a professional chair massage from one of the two expert therapists. Massages are free of charge but anyone taking advantage of this indulgence is encouraged to make a donation of at least €20 to EuRA’s chosen charity for 2019.

Come and find the Relaxation Station at the rear of the exhibit hall, in front of the staircase. Take a well-deserved rest and help us raise money for a good cause!

Inter Relocation and Charity

Inter Relocation is a proud holder of the EuRA Global Quality Seal. This industry recognised quality standard commits Inter Relocation to charitable activity as a part of its overall CSR strategy. In 2018 Inter Relocation’s charity activity included purchasing a digital infusion pump for the paediatrics department of a hospital in southern Hungary and to purchase a signed Liverpool FC shirt at the EuRA charity auction in Dubrovnik.

Inter Relocation takes the stress out of the EuRA conference

In 2019 Inter Relocation will continue to support sick and under privileged children in Hungary via its partnership with the Robert Burns International Foundation. Inter Relocation is also committed to working with EuRA again to ensure it raises the most money it can for its chosen charity for 2019, a multi-lingual language support service for immigrants.

Brexit Town Hall meeting report – 20th March 2019

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The British Embassy hosted a second Brexit Town Hall meeting last Wednesday, 20th March at the Budapest Marriott Hotel. Again, more than 200 UK citizens and other interested parties attended what this time was a more understated meeting. Significantly, the panel included senior figures from all the relevant ministries of the Hungarian government, while the United Kingdom government was represented by Her Majesty’s Ambassador, Iain Lindsay and Tom Whitehead.

Her Majesty’s Ambassador commenced the meeting by re-stating that it is critical all UK citizens register for legal residence before 29th March. Ambassador Lindsay also stated that the UK government’s aim remains to depart the EU with a deal.

The UK government continues to work with the Hungarian government to ensure that UK citizens can continue to live their lives exactly as they have done as EU members.

Pál Péter Schmidt, deputy secretary of state at the Hungarian Prime Minister’s office stated that the Hungarian government welcomes the vote of the UK parliament on 14th March stating that a no-deal Brexit should not take place under any circumstances. The Hungarian government has already passed a law covering many issues, intended to protect the rights of UK citizens in the event of a no-deal Brexit.

One key statement was to confirm that there would be no visa requirements for UK citizens within the EU, regardless of whether there is a Brexit with a deal or not. However there is likely to be a requirement in the future and certainly under a no-deal Brexit, for UK citizens travelling as tourists or on business to the EU, to pay the planned ETIAS electronic visa waiver fee.

Registration Card and Address Card

The critical information for UK citizens who are existing legal residents in Hungary, is that anyone holding a Registration Card and Address Card on Brexit Day (whenever that might occur), will be allowed to continue to hold those documents and use them as proof of legal residence for up to 3 years. Any UK citizen that has held legal residence 3 years or more, they will be allowed to transfer to a national permanent residence permit immediately after Brexit, with preferential terms. This provides lifelong equal treatment for work, residence, social security etc. If a UK citizen that has held legal residence 5 years or more, they will be allowed to transfer to an EU permanent residence permit, which also affords some rights to work in other EU member states.

Permanent residence

The preferential terms under which UK citizens would be able to apply for permanent residence are as follows: The normal requirement for non-EU/EEA citizens to prove that they have held significant savings for at least a year would not be imposed on UK citizens, neither would the requirement to prove that their being awarded permanent residence would be in the best interests of the Hungarian state.

Finally, if a UK citizen can only prove that they have applied for Hungarian residence or started the process of applying but has not yet got the required cards, they will still be allowed to continue to reside as if they had applied before the deadline. The indication here was that flexibility would be given to UK citizens in the event of any issue in the short-term after Brexit day.

Questions & Answers from the participants

Q: How would this offer of permanent residence work in a no-deal scenario?

A: It’s important to hold a registration card or residence card at the time of Brexit. The cards UK citizens hold can be retained for up to 3 years, by which time they should apply for a national settlement permit.

Q: What documentation would a person need if they travel from London to Budapest on 30th March and then return to London on 2nd April [this question was asked before the Brexit extension to 11th April was granted by the EU].

A: There are two scenarios that must be addressed here, if you hold a registration card and re-enter the EU via any border and you will be recognised as an EU resident. If you don’t hold a residence card you can travel to and from Hungary with a passport, as a non-EU tourist.

Q: I hold a valid residence card and address card, do I need to do anything now?:

A: You do not need to do anything, just wait to see what happens with Brexit

Q: My registration card shows a different address to where I currently live. I have changed my address card, do I need to change my registration card too?

A: No, so long as your address card is updated you do not need to modify your registration card.

Q: If Brexit day is delayed, can a UK citizen apply for registration as an EU citizen between 29th March and, for example, the end of June?

A: If Brexit is delayed then UK citizens would continue to be EU citizens and would retain their existing rights to apply for residence as EU citizens.

Q: I have only been resident for 1.5 years. Until I have the 3 years needed, post-Brexit, for permanent residence, what are my intra EU travel rights, post Brexit?

A: The registration card will be registered with all EU borders, so you will be allowed to prove your residence in Hungary with that card.

Q: If the UK finally does not leave the EU, is the deal on permanent residence still on offer?

A: The EU registration card is of itself valid permanently, so EU citizens do not qualify for the national permanent residence permit.

Q: I hold a green ID card, can I travel freely?

A: You will need your passport to travel within the EU but the green ID card combined with passport will allow you to travel, post-Brexit.

Q: EIHC – will this card continue to be valid in the event of a no deal Brexit?

A: According to the law passed by the Hungarian government, these cards will remain in force until 31st Dec 2020. Whether the UK government will then accept the EIHC for a UK citizen resident in Hungary, in the event of a no-deal Brexit, is not yet clear.

Q: I am a UK pensioner and I have a Hungarian social security card, funded by the UK government. Will this status remain in the event of a deal or no-deal Brexit?

A: Either way you will continue to have full access to the Hungarian state healthcare system in the same way that Hungarian pensioners have this right.

More information:

The Hungarian government published a new website about Brexit in English:

Information for British nationals and their family members

UK in Hungary (British Embassy Facebook page)

 

Inter Relocation Co-Worker Will Run Charity Half Marathon

We’re so proud to announce that as a ‘Running Ambassador’ for Utcáról Lakásba! Egyesület (‘From Huts to Homes’ Organisation) our colleaugue, Viktória Rácz will participate in the K&H Half Marathon relay race which will take place on the 10th of June in Budapest.

Her goal is to collect 100,000 HUF for the organisation with the help of individual sponsors. The money will go to giving a homeless couple a fresh start with a roof over their heads. The organisation’s goal is to help the largest possible number of rough sleepers to move into affordable rental housing. They renovate run-down municipal apartments with the help of volunteers (Viktória is a volunteer there, too). Homeless families who will be able to move into the apartments also participate.

Click HERE for direct donation.

About the organization:

“Since beginning our work in 2012 we have been helping homeless persons move into renovated municipal flats. We renovate vacant, run-down municipal dwellings with the help of volunteers. The prospective tenants, civil society organisations, and individual and organisational donations also help. Members of the target group have no chance of ever obtaining long term, sustainable individual housing in any other way. This is because homeless persons are ineligible for municipal rental housing according to the vast majority of municipal decrees. At the same time, municipalities often have a low quality housing stock with many dilapidated, even uninhabitable flats, which they have trouble utilizing. This may also be the case for many privately owned apartments;therefore we recently began working on finding innovative ways to utilize private dwellings in affordable housing provision.

This way tenants can exit homelessness, for which they hardly have any other chance. Intensive social work, based on the Housing First approach, is a fundamental part of our work, in which stable housing is considered the first step in social reinsertion. The goal is to help clients retain their housing in the long run, for which we identify employment opportunities, and in some cases even offer jobs to our tenants. Some of our clients had no regular income whatsoever upon moving in their new housing, and today they are able to cover their bills on time.”

Source: ‘From Huts to Homes’ Organisation website

Inter Relocation Receives Commitment to Excellence Gold Award

Stars of Global Mobility

(Chicago – October, 2017) — Inter Relocation’s outstanding performance was honoured at Cartus Corporation’s 2017 Global Network Conference. Cartus Global Network is Cartus’ industry-leading worldwide service provider network. Each year, Cartus recognizes the companies and individuals in the Network who have provided extraordinary service to its customers and clients worldwide.

The Relocation Oscars

Inter Relocation Receives Commitment to Excellence Gold Award

Cartus named Inter Relocation winner of the Global Network Commitment to Excellence Gold Award for its exceptional service results. This award recognizes a supplier’s measurable commitment to excellence. Global Network service providers who distinguish themselves by achieving critical performance metrics receive it. Inter Relocation has now won either a gold or platinum award at the Cartus Global Network Conference every year for the past five years. Inter Relocation was also nominated for the prestigious Cartus Masters Cup in 2016.

A proud relocation company owner

Stuart McAlister, Inter Relocation’s owner and Managing Director, collected the award on behalf of his entire team. We asked him how he felt about this latest success:

“I’m extremely proud of how the entire team consistently receives such excellent feedback. The volume of work we do for Cartus has increased significantly over the last few years and to continue to maintain such a high standard of quality across the board is challenging to say the least. We continue to analyse every aspect of our service delivery and take any less than positive feedback on board and learn from it wherever possible. Delivering such a high standard of service over many years involves a re-focusing of our efforts from time to time and we do that specifically to avoid becoming complacent. We very much hope we’ll be back to receive another award in 2018.”

About Inter Relocation
Founded in March 2002 , Inter Relocation is a provider of relocation destination services and immigration compliance in Budapest, Hungary. Established with three full-time members of staff, Inter Relocation has a current staff of 17.
In addition, in 2003 Inter Relocation founded the international side of the company. From humble beginnings with the company offering relocation services in Hungary, the Czech Republic, and Poland. Inter Relocation now boasts franchise group members in 23 countries across Central and Eastern Europe and Central Asia, with the Budapest office acting as the group headquarters.

Stuart McAlister named Vice-President of the European Relocation Association

Stuart McAlister, owner and Managing Director of Inter Relocation has been named as the new Vice-President of the European Relocation Association.

He will hold this prestigious position for two years. Then he will have served the maximum six years that EuRA board members may serve. His time with the executive group of EuRA will end.

Inter Relocation Receives Commitment to Excellence Gold Award

Stuart will assist and work closely with EuRA’s new President, Andrew Scott and the rest of the EuRA board. He hopes to helps its management team further the causes of the world’s greatest representative organisation for Destination Service Providers.

Stuart was quoted as saying “I’m delighted to have been nominated as EuRA Vice-President for the next two years. The development in this amazing organisation that I have witnessed over the last four years has been phenomenal. I hope my time as Vice-President will allow me to further the goals of making EuRA a global representative for companies in the relocation industry.”

About Inter Relocation

Founded in March 2002, Inter Relocation is a provider of relocation destination services and immigration compliance in Budapest, Hungary.

Now the company covers 23 countries and is Central and Eastern Europe’s premier provider of services to expatriates.

The company also provides comprehensive relocation service – assignment planning, preview visits, home search, move management, immigration compliance, settling in, tenancy management, departure support.

A Q­uick and Dirty Guide to Renting an Apartment in Budapest – Part 2

In the first installment of this guide to renting an apartment in Budapest we looked at the process of actually finding the right property and ensuring that the legal and immigration aspects have been properly covered.

Failure may cause problems at the immigration office

Now we’ll look at the terms and conditions you need to ensure are included in your lease contract:

First of all the contract must state the right of all users of the property to live there. The contract must state “and family” or mention those family members by name as users of the property. Failure to do so may cause problems later at the immigration office.

Renting an apartment in Budapest: key contract clauses

There are then key contract clauses that you should ensure are included:

1. The security deposit should be refundable and would typically be an amount of one or two months’ rent.

2. In Hungary the tenant is not expected to return the property to the landlord in the condition it was given. The law allows that normal wear and tear during a lease is acceptable and not recoverable from the security deposit. The definition of what constitutes “normal wear and tear” is quite broad, however, and disputes can easily arise when it comes to handing back the property.

Guide ti renting an apartment in Budapest

3. It’s important to have a clause which states that should anything go wrong with the property it be fixed within seven calendar days. For critical losses of service such as power, water supply, heating, etc. to be addressed within 24 hours of notification by the tenant.

4. If the tenant has relocated to Budapest for work, it’s important to add in what’s called a diplomatic clause to the contract. This allows the tenant to break the terms of the lease at one month’s notice in the event that his or her position in Hungary is terminated and they can provide proof to that end. The pain of losing your job should not be compounded by having to pay rent on a property you no longer live in.

Housing law tends to favour the tenant

The Hungarian housing law (lakástörvény) actually tends to favour the tenant, and any contract clause that contradicts the law is considered invalid. The key of course in all such contracts is to reach an agreement that ultimately avoids the need for resolution via the courts.

Finally, before moving into your new home it’s vital to document the condition of the property to avoid any misunderstandings later. Most tenants accept some small fault or imperfection when they move into a property, and to avoid being charged to fix that fault at the end of the lease it’s important to write some kind of handover protocol, and ideally to have it witnessed when both landlord and tenant sign it.

Ideally you should also take photographs of every room and specifically of anything that isn’t perfect when you move in.

DOWNLOAD YOUR FREE HUNGARY GUIDE NOW

To learn more, please contact us on [email protected] or call +36 1 278 5680

A Q­uick and Dirty Guide to Renting an Apartment in Budapest – Part 1

For new arrivals in Budapest, finding an apartment at the right price with the right legal conditions can be a real challenge. Read our guide to renting an apartment in Budapest.

Finding a landlord who will respect the terms of the lease agreement you’ll sign further adds to this challenge.

There are plenty of real estate agents, management companies and even English-speaking owners advertising properties for an expatriate audience. There is also an increasing number of Facebook groups for Budapest where private owners and companies alike advertise their wares. Accessing the market is not an issue.

Using many different sources to find a new home can make the search process more complex. Conversely, shopping around or renting privately direct from an owner can help make the most of a tenants budget. There are pitfalls, however.

How to rent an apartment in Budapest: prices can suddenly rise

The internet can teach you a fair market price but note that most prices quoted online assume you’ll pay cash. If you ask for an invoice you might find that the original price suddenly rises by up to 40 percent. Similar increases may happen if you mention that your lease contract will be needed for your residence permit application.

Guide to renting an apartment in Budapest

Rental income is taxable in Hungary. So if your landlord wants a cash deal or is not too keen on letting you register yourself in his home, it’s safe to assume he has something to hide from the taxman. However, you don’t encounter these landlord-related issues, there are still some potential issues when it comes to the immigration stuff.

Read part two of this guide here.

Expert guide to renting an apartment in Budapest: prove or move

One example is that at the immigration office you may be asked to provide a land registry document (tulajdonilap). This is to prove that the person you’re renting from is indeed the owner, and that there aren’t multiple owners.

Any owner has the right to throw you out into the street because they didn’t sign up to you living there.

Another example is that the apartment has not yet been registered with the state database of properties, a legal requirement before a person can be registered at that address. This is typical for new build properties.

An easy way to test this is to ask the landlord to confirm if anyone has had an address card (lakcímkártya) issued for that apartment and, if so, to show you a copy.

In the next instalment we’ll look at the key contract clauses you should always make sure you have in your lease and what power you have if the landlord isn’t doing what was agreed.

DOWNLOAD YOUR FREE HUNGARY GUIDE NOW

To learn more, please contact us on [email protected] or call +36 1 278 5680.
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Spousal Job Search Support: Tailored Career Planning

Inter Relocation recently added spousal job search support, also known simply as spousal support, to its service mix.

That sounds very exciting, you might be thinking. But what does spousal job search support actually involve and why would anyone want to make use of this service?

Across the globe, more than 50% of couples are now dual-income so when one spouse is offered a position abroad, it is increasingly important that the other has the opportunity to continue their career too. That goal is more easily planned than delivered, particularly in a region such as Central and Eastern Europe.

This support programme provides working spouses with career support to help them prepare for a job search in the country they are moving to. Services include a job search plan, CV development, a social media profile, networking and interviewing coaching, and more.

Helping the spouse prepare for their job search leads to less stress for the family, increased income in all likelihood, and more satisfaction with the relocation overall. When the working spouse is able to find a rewarding career in the host country, there is less chance of the relocation failing.

A tailored spousal job search support for all career levels

This service is ideal for all spouses who plan to work in the destination country. An experienced Career Coach collaborates with the spouse to prepare them for the cultural nuances of conducting a job search in a foreign country. If employment is not an option due to Visa restrictions, the Career Coach recommends alternative career paths, education/training options, and volunteer options to ensure the spouse maintains his/her skills.

One example is Tripti. She completed her first international relocation when her husband was relocated by his company. Tripti worked in the legal and education fields prior to her relocation.

She was unable to continue in her career path in the host country, but by working closely with her Career Coach, she analyzed her strengths and interests and explored new career opportunities. This enabled her to completely reinvent her career.

The spousal job search support programme provided her with:

  • A thorough assessment of her experience, skills, and career interests
  • Research on online courses related to her target goal
  • Connections to like-minded people in the new area
  • Networking coaching on techniques and tips
  • Career continuation support to ensure her skills remained up-to-date
  • Volunteer opportunity identification based on her goal

The coaching and resources Tripti received enabled her to launch a new career in advocating for individuals with disabilities.

“I am glad I had spousal job search support throughout the transition,” says Tripti. “My coach was the catalyst who helped me find a new career path in a foreign country. Settling into the new area was easy for me thanks to the support I received. My coach encouraged me to think differently and be more open to new ideas.”

Programme Details

This service provides one-on-one career coaching for job seekers at all levels in their career. Interested in this service? Here’s what you will receive:

  • One-on-one Career Coach (matched specifically to an individual’s needs and based on the destination country)
  • CV/ Résumé and Cover Letter Development
  • Interview Review and Recording with Career Coach
  • Networking Assistance with Target Companies
  • Customised Job Search Research Support
  • Social Media Guidance
  • Proactive Strategy for Targeting Companies

To learn more, please contact us on [email protected] or call +36 1 278 5680.

Inter Relocation Sponsors Burns Supper for Children’s Hospitals

At the recent Budapest Burns Supper, Inter Relocation once again helped the Robert Burns International Foundation to raise a record sum to support sick and under privileged children.

The charity ball held by the Robert Burns International Foundation each year. Inter Relocation’s bronze sponsorship of the Burns Supper made a contribution to a record total donation, more than €26,000.

The beneficiary of the donation is the Miskolc Children Hospital, the Tűzoltó street Children Hospital, the Péterfy Sándor Hospital children’s ward and a nursery in a small and less fortunate Hungarian village, Zabar.

Inter Relocation Sponsors Burns Supper for Children’s Hospitals

Owner Stuart McAlister helped the foundation set up a new SME sponsorship program. On the initiative of Inter Relocation, the foundation supported a children’s hospital in Miskolc.

Read the interview with Stuart McAlister about the SME (small and medium enterprises) sponsorship scheme. (Released in the Robert Burns International Foundation’s publication on 21st January 2017).

The joint patrons are the British Ambassador in Hungary and the Hungarian Ambassador in London. The Deputy Head of the UK Mission has a permanent seat on the Curatorium that runs the foundation. Legendary football manager, Sir Alex Ferguson was appointed as the Honorary President.

Inter Relocation and the Budapest Robert Burns Supper

The company’s longest standing charitable effort is its ongoing sponsorship of the Budapest Robert Burns Supper and its associated charity, the Robert Burns International Foundation. Inter Relocation has sponsored the supper since 2002. Stuart McAlister was a committee member for 11 years and worked as Chairman of the event for 6 years.

The Robert Burns International Foundation and the Burns Supper are committed to raising money for sick and under privileged children in Hungary. The organisation have raised over 1 million EUR since starting their good works in 1996. When the supper first began the focus was on Budapest (specifically the 2nd department of Paediatrics at Semmelweis University Hospital). However, support has expanded to hospitals, orphanages and other children’s organisations outside the capital.

 

Inter Relocation and the SME sponsorship scheme

Interview with Inter Relocation owner Stuart McAlister about the SME (small and medium enterprises) sponsorship scheme.

The SME Sponsorship Scheme marks a new chapter in the RBIF’s fundraising efforts. It is one that opens up the potential of giving purposefully for charity to a much wider range of companies. The SME Sponsorship Scheme involves the RBIF teaming up with small and medium-sized enterprises to fund targeted smaller-scale projects. These small-scale projects make a huge impact on improving child welfare in Hungary. For the first project, the RBIF and Inter Relocation supported a children’s hospital in Miskolc specialised in hand surgery.

Below, we asked Stuart McAlister, managing director of Inter Relocation, about the scheme and his motives for helping the RBIF.

Stuart, you’re no stranger to the RBIF, but this time you’re helping in a different way, could you explain why?

I’ve been involved in the Burns Supper and latterly the RBIF since 2001. One of the aspects of fundraising that has always bothered me is that the sponsorship focus was always on the companies that could donate the most in absolute cash. Small and medium enterprises such as Inter Relocation can’t contribute the amounts that multi-national companies can. But as a percentage of their annual turnover, the amounts are far larger.
Back in the spring of 2016, I sat down with Dougie Arnott with the intention of addressing this challenge. I could see a way to highlight the contribution of smaller sponsor organisations and to make those sponsors feel they are making a real difference.

What Dougie suggested was to work with the Curatorium of the RBIF and its medical adviser to determine the best causes to raise funds for. We were searching for smaller projects that companies such as Inter Relocation could call their own. Inter Relocation is now making a major contribution to a specific project we chose for a hospital in Miskolc. It feels good to be contributing to something concrete, rather than just making a donation into a general fund.

A successful partnership is a win-win situation for both sides. What does the RBIF offer you and why do you support the foundation?

The key for me with any charitable involvement is that said charity must keep its over- heads to an absolute minimum. The RBIF does this as well or better than any charity organisation I know in Hungary. Inter Relocation is a small organisation but we have been very fortunate to have the chance to operate successfully in Hungary for the last fifteen years. Where we have the chance to give a little back, we like to do so. When we make any kind of contribution we want both to know where the money goes, and to see complete transparency in the organisation we donate to. With the RBIF, both our key criteria are met.

How does the RBIF’s activity fit in with your company’s CSR initiatives? Why would you recommend the RBIF to others considering sponsorship?

Inter Relocation’s CSR policy is very much about giving back to the community we live and operate in. The RBIF’s long-term commitment to helping sick and under privileged children in Hungary very much aligns with our desire to help wherever we can. The new addition of the facility for the RBIF to provide us with our own smaller charity project makes our contribution all the more personal and effective. I would certainly recommend having the RBIF facilitate sponsorship to any small or medium company that wishes to get its staff behind a specific project.

-Released in the Robert Burns International Foundation’s publication on 21st January 2017-