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[bllwnkle]

Hello all

I've two interrelated queries:

I've just been hired as a lecturer in London - starting around 40K GBP - but as the position is initially wholly international research, I'll be based overseas at my research site for most of the year, where I already have a house and the living is (of course) less expensive.  I'm required to spend an initial period in London and to make regular trips to the UK for meetings, advising students, and generally showing my face.  Teaching will be largely optional for little to no extra pay but is required for advancing through the ranks, so I'd need to be present to participate in modules of several weeks in length at times.  I'm thrilled about the position and prospects.  The job is largely "soft money" but guaranteed for 3 years initially.

I assume that short-term accommodation is relatively easily got, but does anyone have any suggestions on part-timing in London?  I must keep my costs to a minimum (I can hear the forum saying: "in London?  Ha!") as I will (at least initially) be maintaining my household abroad as well.  My institution provides no help for staff housing and does not maintain its own accommodation.  I'd like to move to London eventually but would be afraid of doing it on 40K with unclear job prospects for the spouse.  So I'm concerned about the financial implications of the job and my international commute.  I've lived in the UK before but never in London, by the way.

My situation has the blessing of my employer but a second concern of mine is whether my part timing will hurt me in the long run as I try to build a career there.   I would by no means be unique in commuting in to London in my institution but it's not considered ideal by anyone and I've been told as much.  The leadership prefer the reverse: living in London but commuting to research sites.  But on 40K...?  When I was offered the job I was very clear that I could not take the position if it meant that I'd have to move to London full time in the short term.  There was grumbling but the offer was extended nevertheless.

Again, I've already taken the job as it will be enormously beneficial to my career, even if I only work there for a few years.  So I want to make this work.  Any words of more general advice would be welcome as well.

cheers

 





 

[sandgrounder]

http://chronicle.com/forums/index.php/topic,60567.0.html
this thread might give you some idea of the career problems it may cause.

As to living part-time in London, it is going to be complicated (and I bet your tax situation is going to be complicated too - hope research site is a location with a double taxation agreement...). If you look on Gumtree you can find short-term accommodation ads http://www.gumtree.com/london/london-short-term-houses-for-rent_211_1.html but I really doubt you'll get a bargain. The only person I know who managed something similar in a halfway financially affordable way rented a colleague's spare room as an informal lodger. It only worked because they were friendly and the colleague was struggling with his mortgage so cash-in-hand was helpful. It might be worth e-mailing round to see if anyone in your department knows of anything like this, that might be arranged.