Moving to Birmingham Without Viewing

[reducingfootprint]

DD is due to move to birmingham from newcastle at the end of jan for work, as she cannot stay in a hotel as she wont be physically working, it means she cannot view any flats or anything!! What can we do?

What can you fo about what? The fact that she can't view places?

What's the link to staying in a hotel? Because she can't afford it?

Can she get to B'ham for the day and set up lots of viewings?

travelling from newcastle to birmingham is a long way for a day visit!

@FTMF30 yes about not viewing places

If this is about lockdown restrictions, you can stay in a hotel for the purpose of viewing houses. Some family members of mine are in the same boat, have just visited tier 3 from tier 2 to view properties and stayed in a hotel for the purpose as distance was prohibitive.

@newwnamme we've rang places and they said they are only taking business bookings

Are there no virtual viewings? How long will she be staying in Birmingham? If I was her, I'd get a short let so I at least have a base in Birmingham and then I could do in-person viewings when the tenancy is drawing to an end at the short let place. That way, it wouldn't be so bad if she unknowingly moved into a shit hole.

I actually live in Birmingham so can offer opinion on good/bad areas.

@FTMF30 thanks so much! can do online viewings but they wont really show how good/bad the place is and feel an in person view would be better!
She is looking to move to the city centre on a permanent basis, as her new home so to speak! we havent found any short term let places yet!!

I’d come down for the day. It’s a long way but I’ve done the journey a few times for meetings and it’s possible, and endlessly better then moving into somewhere she hates.

If she knows where she’s working and her budget, she’ll be able to narrow down where she can afford, and she can set up a bulk load of viewings.

There are LOADS of brand new flats available in the city centre for rental. Estate agents will do online viewing. Flats around Hurst St, Hagley Road, the jewellery quarter, the cube/mailbox and park Central are all worth a look.

Don't bother with flats in digbeth - it's too sketchy for a newbie to the city on their own. Things have changed a lot with HS2 being built, streetlights have been removed, access is blocked and so on. It's quite unsettling now, I wouldn't recommend. Especially as most everything is shut round there due to covid.

www.gov.uk/guidance/government-advice-on-home-moving-during-the-coronavirus-covid-19-outbreak

It says on this page specifically that you are permitted to stay in a hotel for the purpose of moving house. I would understand that to mean inclusive of the process of arranging to move house?

@newwnamme thats what we thought also but theyre adament she cannot stay

@TeaAndHobnob would you recommend just an online viewing?

All of the premier inns and travelodges that are open are allowing people to stay for any of the permitted reasons. Also Newcastle to Birmingham and back is easily doable in a day. It’s a long day but it’s an easy motorway drive. We do it every few weeks.

And just to confirm- she knows and likes Birmingham, ya? 😅

DD is moving soon for work and has done a couple of online viewings. Way too far for her to do a day trip.

Online isn't too bad I think, in these days of video calls, streetview etc, not like back in the stone age when I was young and it was just cards in newsagents, "room for rent, call this number." If she turns out not to like it she can move again when her 3 or 6 months is up and she's had a while to think about where she really wants to live. Or by then she might have made friends to move in with.

I'm in Birmingham, so many places to let. Stay for one night in a travel lodge.
Renting is not like buying. Online viewings are fine, get somewhere new-ish and tidy looking.
Agree completely with a PP who said to steer clear of digbeth.

Surrounding areas of Birmingham fine, particularly if there is train lines to commute.
Rowley Regis train station is 15 minutes commute from Birmingham, surrounding area isn't bad and wouldn't be expensive. Getting into Birmingham is easy on trains etc!

Bromsgrove and places south of Birmingham are in tier 2. Might she be able to stay in a hotel there and travel in for viewings?

Download Google Earth and have a virtual wander round and look at area/exteriors on 'street view'

I think you'll have to just swallow having to do a few long day trips tbh. Take the train so at least you can relax while travelling. I used to do that route regularly for work in a day and it's not too bad.

Bham is very very different to Newcastle. She really needs to see some areas and find the area where she feels comfortable.

Could she maybe try to be a lodger for the first month or so or even air b and b to give her a chance to find a good more permanent place?

I think she just needs to put her big girl pants on and travel to Birmingham for the day. Arrange 4 or 5 viewings for that day and be done with it.

@reducingfootprint yeah I think online is the way to go. I'm not being flippant but I do think city centre flats are all much of a muchness. What's important is the efficiency of the agency managing them and the location of the flat. She might get a bargain - there's a lot of flats being let at the minute so there would be no harm in asking if they would take say £100 less a month.