Relocating to the UK?
Homesforte relocation fact-file
If you’re considering a move to the UK, here’s our fact file on the essential must-knows – plus some useful links to help you plan your UK property search.
Language
English isn’t the only language spoken in the UK. In Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales, you may hear Gaelic and Welsh. Perhaps surprisingly, the second most common main language is actually Polish (one per cent, 546,000), followed by Punjabi (half of one per cent, 273,000) and Urdu (half of one per cent, 269,000) – source 2011 Census.
Healthcare in the UK
If you’re working in the UK, you – and your family – are entitled to use the National Health Service. The British are proud of their NHS: the largest and oldest publicly funded health care provider in the world. Healthcare is mostly free at the point of use, though charges are sometimes made for dental care, prescriptions, and eye tests. NHS Choices is the NHS website.
What about schools?
Education in the UK is free and of a good standard. However, this can vary depending on your chosen location – a factor which often affects property prices. Children must legally attend school from the age of 5, and continue to age 16. Alongside Government-funded ‘state schools’, there’s always the option of a ‘private education’ at a fee-paying independent school – though these fees can exceed £30,000 per year. Ofsted regulates standards of education in the UK. You can check a school’s’ most recent report here.
Public transport
Depending on where you currently call home, public transport in the UK can seem fantastic – or less than great. London’s famous buses and underground provide good links in the capital, but further afield you may have fewer options. Major cities all have decent public transport, but if you’re relocating to a smaller town, village or hamlet, you may need a car. Traveline can help you plan journeys using public transport – it’s a good way to work out if a commute is practical using public transport.
To rent – or to buy?
In the UK, most people aspire to buy a home. Renting is also common, though less popular than in other European countries. High quality rented accommodation is available, though can be more easily arranged through a specialist letting agent like Homesforte. If you plan to buy, it often makes sense to rent in the area you’re interested in to establish exactly what you’re looking for in a UK property before starting a search.
Asking prices, offers and ‘gazumping’
In the UK, buying a property isn’t as simple as you might think. Homes are listed at an ‘asking price’. In reality, you may end up paying more – or less! – than the asking price. It all depends on factors including the condition of the property, the location, the desired timescales, the market demand, and your position as a buyer.
What’s more, until contracts are exchanged – sometimes just days before a move – no-one is under any legal obligation to complete the sale. Another buyer can make a higher offer which gets accepted in a process called gazumping. Get an overview of what to expect when you buy a home in the UK with our first-time buyers guide.
Get expert advice
If you want to relocate to the UK and purchase property before you arrive, you can save stress, time and money by appointing a ‘buyer’s agent’. This is a property expert who will act on your behalf, researching the areas you’re interested in, before viewing properties and presenting suitable options for your to consider. If a property appeals, the agent can often negotiate a reduction on what’s called the ‘asking price’ on your behalf – potentially saving you more than you’ve paid in fees.
The value of local knowledge
We believe the local knowledge a buyer’s agent can share is particularly important if you’re relocating to the UK from overseas. As well as guiding you through an unfamiliar sales process, they can help you understand the nuances of an area, suggesting alternatives and factoring in important factors like school catchment areas, local facilities and transport links.
Categorised in: GUIDES