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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be scared to move to the uk

70 replies

Ceci03 · 05/11/2018 13:57

Am single mother, and am living in ireland, but am fed up with housing situation here. rents have completely spiralled. I'm going to have to move again, 4th time in as many years, as the apartment I'm in has been re-possessed. Anyway, I think my best bet would be to move to the uk, but I'm scared of the move. I'm scared of uprooting my very happy 10 year old ds. Who loves where we live and has lots of friends and is very content. I'm worried about the future here. Where I will be living. Also my parents are elderly and will be devastated cos they live near me atm. Am scared of moving and it not working out. Have a good life here, except no house or secure place to live. WWYD

OP posts:
Jaxhog · 05/11/2018 15:04

But if you want to go somewhere cheap in the UK, try Lincolnshire. Lovely countryside, and houses are very reasonable (compared to the SE anyway), or Beverley in Yorks.

Mummyoflittledragon · 05/11/2018 15:05

Having lived abroad in a few European countries, I agree with mollymcguire. We lived in one country for example during a time of political tension - between people of the same nationality but different languages (we lived in an area being able to speak the other language from that of the locals and you could cut the atmosphere with a knife). It was horrendous. When we returned I would only live in the international area even though rents were sky high.

There is a lot of political tension in this country atm unfortunately. Do think this through very carefully. Also what sort of state is this country going to be in? You could potentially move for work and end up being unemployed - last in, first out.

Have you really thought this through? Wouldn’t you be better to buy a house in England post brexit and rent it out? As you are in the republic, you will have minimal tax on any income.

Rudgie47 · 05/11/2018 15:06

What I'd do if you can is move in with your parents and sav up for a deposit on a house where you are.Or move in with them and apply for social housing, if there is any where you are.

MaryCraven · 05/11/2018 15:25

Beverley is NOT cheap, neither is York. What do other people do in Ireland when they don’t own a property and they retire? I wouldn’t move away from your support network.

dontalltalkatonce · 05/11/2018 15:36

I wouldn't move just to become a homeowner, not with no family support and a single child that age. Not a chance.

VintageFur · 05/11/2018 15:40

There are places in the UK with good, secure tenancies and where it's cheap to buy. But these are generally not metropolitan hubs. If you're going to move out to the bogs to save cash, you may as well stick with Irish ones.

I've spent 20 years living abroad... The grass is never greener.

Poodles1980 · 05/11/2018 15:41

Assuming you are living in Dublin or a commuter town. Why not move within ireland?

LoniceraJaponica · 05/11/2018 15:45

“We've just moved from Leeds to the North East because housing is cheaper. I can't say it's very nice though ”

You are clearly living in the wrong area then Hmm
There are loads of nice areas in the North East.

LadyGregorysToothbrush · 05/11/2018 15:45

I’m not sure to what extent posters in the U.K. realise quite how acute the housing crisis is in Ireland at the moment. Particularly in the cities. It’s just crazy. Nor the lack of infrastructure, public transport or childcare availability outside of large urban centres. Moving elsewhere within Ireland doesn’t solve the housing problem and simply adds new problems on top of them.

I don’t know what the answer is for you OP, but YANBU to be worried about the future.

Kazzyhoward · 05/11/2018 15:51

Housing in the north may appear cheap, but the cheapest are usually in areas you really wouldn't want to live in, either due to poor neighbourhoods, lack of infrastructure, etc. There's usually a reason why certain areas are cheap!

txtbreaker · 05/11/2018 16:00

Would agree with LadyGrey66 and others to perhaps look further afield in Ireland. Or is there any friends or cooperatives you can form to buy a property? UK is just as bad for insecure housing, its really bad here and I wouldn't take for granted the support you have there and family.

Anamnua · 05/11/2018 16:01

Until the border question is resolved Brexit wise there's no way I'd advise anyone from Ireland to move to the UK. It may be very unpleasant in the worst case and in the best case you'll encounter a lot of mild prejudice that is exhausting. It also may not be that easy to make friends, Also salaries tend to be higher in Ireland, and although housing is bonkers, there are other costs to living in the U.K. Such as Council tax, transport is very dear etc

anniehm · 05/11/2018 16:22

Depends where you live, here houses can be had for just over £100k, 100 miles south is London where the same house would be an extra 0 (£1m!) But if you can find decent work in the smaller cities in the midlands or the north life is a lot cheaper (some bits of York's and national parks are seriously expensive though including York)

BMW6 · 05/11/2018 16:24

I thought loads of people are moving from UK to Ireland post Brexit?

Original poster
Ceci03 · 05/11/2018 19:02

thanks for all the replies. I was thinking of moving before Brexit while you're still letting 'foreigners' in lol Wink
I had a look at rents around York and they are nearly half what I'm paying now. Im paying 1350 pound sterling for a 2-bed apartment here. And rents have gone up since I moved in a year ago. A year ago I really thought we were going to be homeless. It's just horrific at the moment. I have a teenage daughter too. So really need 3 beds as me and ds are sharing a bedroom. I have a good job here. But can find similar jobs around UK. work in admin. No, I've investigated all round Ireland and there just aren't the opportunities for teenagers and there just aren't the jobs. I have considered moving 'to the west' or even to the 'middle' but no jobs. I think I would have at least a chance of getting a mortgage in the UK, just cos there are so many more banks, so many more opportunities. I will never ever own a house in Ireland. Well maybe somewhere in the middle of nowhere lol. I guess the first step is to start applying for jobs and then just see if I get one. I'm turning 50 next year and just really want a change and a future IUKWIM. Retirement in Ireland is looking very very bleak for me with nowhere to live. I think there are parts of the uK where house prices are reasonable??? Or am I wrong. Guess I need to do some more research. I get scared when I start looking though. DUnno if I have the courage to do it. Am thinking there would be a lot more opportunities for my kids there too.

OP posts:
Original poster
Ceci03 · 05/11/2018 19:05

Whats a good university town? all my experience is in a university so I@m looking for jobs in one. When I say 'good' I mean, reasonable cost of living.... thx so much

OP posts:
Original poster
Ceci03 · 05/11/2018 19:06

PS yes a lot of companies are coming to Ireland post-Brexit - hence housing is a major issue and rents are spiralling as people are desperate. it's a complicated situation in Dublin but part of it is the new companies relocating and then all their people need somewhere to live etc etc.

OP posts:
BobbinThreadbare123 · 05/11/2018 19:10

In that case, have a look at Lancaster, Preston and Liverpool. University cities with reasonable living costs and, particularly Liverpool, Irish friendly (well, that's how we got our amazing accent Wink)

Rudgie47 · 05/11/2018 19:47

Lancaster!!!, I did my postgrad there and that was enough. Its very small and theres nothing there.

BobbinThreadbare123 · 05/11/2018 20:09

When did you do your postgrad? It's a pretty thriving little city nowadays. Nice for family life.

GiveMyHeadPeaceffs · 05/11/2018 20:12

Would you consider NI? As other posts have said you'd still be within an Irish cultural background. What about Belfast and QUB? A Russell Group uni. Or even Derry? Lots of great affordable housing around there and still lots of tertiary education there not to mention that it's really starting to develop. Personally I really like Derry but Belfast is a fantastic place to work, live and socialise on a reasonable budget.

huggybear · 05/11/2018 20:30

Honestly I couldn't believe the house prices in Northern Ireland, surely that makes much more sense.

costacoffeecup · 05/11/2018 20:34

Came on to day the same as pp - my friend's just bought a house in NI and it's cheap as chips, much cheaper than anywhere in the UK apart from the north east. Surely makes more sense?

LivLemler · 05/11/2018 20:37

Yeah when I saw you were in university admin, that screamed Belfast to me. It's a fabulous place to live, and housing is cheap as chips compared to the South.

peachgreen · 05/11/2018 21:23

South Belfast makes perfect sense for you imo. Live a bit further out where it's cheaper. Queens are a good employer, loads of opportunities. Schools are fantastic, health care is great, the people are amazing. I'd struggle to go back to England now I think.

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