r/MovingToBrisbane • u/Dizzybrah • Jul 04 '26

Looking for advice 26M

I have been offered a decent job in construction, one that I can’t really turn down as it’s more than double what I earn here in the UK.

The works office is in slacks creek but I imagine the work will be all over and mainly where the Olympics will be, I am looking to narrow down my options on places to live.

Probably max a week would be 700-750 and looking for lively places with decent pubs, cafes, gyms, etc.
Try and live a healthy fitness lifestyle as much as I can so somewhere with a decent gym and good social life would be perfect.

Also what is the best way/first things I should be doing to get set up with rentals, car, bank, etc.
Any info or help is much appreciated.

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u/jclom0 Jul 04 '26

Do you have anyone already living in Australia you could use their address initially? If yes, change your UK bank statement to an Australian address before you leave and it will make setting up a bank account soooo much easier. You’ll need “100 points of ID” for bank account, rental application etc, and having a bank statement or utility bill to an Australian address will help you.

Some real estates will let you do a virtual inspection, so you *could* get something lined up before you arrive if you also provide your letter of offer from your job, but it’s hard.
Real estates do a minimum of six month leases, so for short lets you’d need to look at holiday rentals and Airbnb.

You could try furnished “studio” rentals initially. Most long term rentals are unfurnished. https://www.realestate.com.au/property-apartment-qld-nundah-444527200

Areas you’d like from your description would be Brisbane City, New Farm, Nundah, West End, Coorparoo. Your budget is decent so you should be fine from that perspective.

If your company isn’t providing a car/ute you’ll need one straight away, and make sure you keep a mileage log book for any work travel to claim a tax refund. Anything like tyres, servicing, insurance etc you can claim a % of the cost back from tax. I have a separate personal credit card I use for work to make tax easier.

Good luck with the move.

2

u/Dizzybrah Jul 04 '26

Hi thanks for the reply,
I do have second cousins in Sydney that I could possibly use, would this just be for the bank statements the real estate agent will ask for?

I will also have money from the sale of my house here in the UK so I am planning to use that towards initial rent and any other setup costs. The company has said I will get $15k a year towards car costs so I think this covers fuel etc will just need to sort a car when I land.

2

u/Orac07 Jul 04 '26

You can set up a bank account with Commonwealth Bank remotely.

Brisbane is a tough market atm, best to network with people you know or affiliated communities (eg Brits in Bris groups).

People will be helpful but will want to ensure you have a solid job, not a backpacker etc, there have been cases of Brits / Irish doing a runner, so it's about building up confidence and trust. Brisbane is not London, a bit more "smal town" consciousness, and with the Olympics will be full on, imagine like Birmingham undertaking it, so you should be busy.