to ask how to relocate (to Belfast)?

[AdultierAdult]

My husband has been telecommuting and commuting to Belfast from a very expensive area in the South East and we are fed up of missing him during the week (obviously he is remote working now!). Both our parents live in ROI anyway so we feel like we are on the wrong island and paying a premium for London bubble living, without any real need.

We’ve decided to relocate to Belfast but feel completely out of our depth. We have a baby and a daughter who would be going into NI year 9 (she’s in y7 here), and husband needs to commute to city centre by bike or public transport. Schools and an area with a bustling community with access to the city are the priorities.

Feel so overwhelmed - how do I go about narrowing down schools to apply for, or areas to rent/buy, and how to find somewhere when the world has stopped!? Should we become accidental landlords and keep a place in the SE in case it doesn’t work out or sell up and go for it to avoid all that headache? How do we find somewhere to rent with two cats, or should we just go for it and buy (we dont need to sell here to do this)? I don’t feel like enough of a grownup to do this and I can’t sleep at the moment for stressing about it.

For anyone who knows Belfast and could suggest some postcodes - we’d prefer not to spend more than £1000 a month renting. Budget to buy would be max £300k if we keep our house here or probably about £650k if we sold up here completely.

I know this isn’t AIBU but other appropriate areas are dead! Any nuggets of wisdom greatly appreciated.

Lagan will probably pick up emails OP, they prioritise children from an integrated primary school (which I assume yours would've been as it was outside NI). It's a big modern school and there are rumours of another extension to separate the grammar stream in another physical building but don't know if there's truth in that. There is a lovely vibe about it and it takes a great cross section of children - possibly the best mix in all NI (unsurprisingly I suppose).

Campbell is boys only.

For what it's worth the few private schools Do not rate very well against other schools - so it really depends whether you prioritise that over the academic side.

That would be a shame if the grammar children are put in a separate building. Kind of defeats the point of being mixed.

Integrated has a specific definition and a school has to apply for status with support parents so just being a school outside NI with a mix of kids wouldn't meet the definition. The picture inside NI isnt as straight forward as most people believe either www.irishnews.com/news/2015/03/24/news/top-schools-enjoying-greater-religious-mix-118975/

I'm not a belfast native and I have lived in the north, the east and the south of the city.

The south of belfast is the easiest to travel in and out of without a car, it's within 3/4 miles of the city centre.

It's the most pleasant area, there are no interface areas therefore no flags, it's very leafy, and well resourced with shops restaurants etc.

North & east belfast have some lovely areas and you will get more for your budget but unfortunately wherever you live in these areas they have very significant pockets of deprivation and interface areas.

You will be driving past these areas every day and I found it depressing. It made me feel unsafe, and unwelcome in some parts with the flags etc particularly as I like to walk.

360 days of the year these things aren't a problem but the flags and the parades on certain times of the year can made travelling in and out of the city centre difficult.

I would recommend that you commit to a 6 month lease on a house in the Stramilis/ Malone area and use that time to get your bearings.

If you want to buy in the north and east as I say you will get a bigger house etc but it will come with some drawbacks.

BT9 is generally the high end of housing in Belfast.

The outlining areas of Jordanstown/ greenisland are very popular as are Cultra etc they are outside the city so you would have to factor in the travel although both have trains etc.

These areas don't have the same issues as north and east belfast do, are very attractive places to live etc.

Good luck with the house hunting.

I currently live in East Belfast, DH and I were brought up catholic but neither of us are religious, DS has an Irish name and no issues where we live, although our neighbour did seem a bit surprised. We're in the process of moving to Ravenhill area, Rosetta was number one choice but DH and I couldn't agree on a house there. BT6,7,8,9,10 are all lovely areas and you would find great houses on your budget. Tbh we are moving as we would like a more mixed area with a choice of catholic schools we could walk DC to, also to be closer to cafes, bars, restaurants and parks.
My DF is English, he's never lost his strong accent and he's never had any issues for the 30 years he's lived here.

That’s great to hear! Sorry I hope I don’t sound too suspicious of Belfast, I just want to make sure I haven’t got rose tinted glasses on.

We’ve had a couple of leads on really good schools. One is just asking for an interview, which is good because I think that’s where DD could really shine. At the same time I’m trying to chill and remember anywhere that doesn’t accept her may well be because they’re not the right fit for us either.

Got removals quotes now - £1200 +VAT - not nearly as bad as I thought it’d be as last year when we almost moved one mile away they were £800ish! Was bracing myself for £2-3k. All feeling a bit real...

I work in Belfast. Agree with this thread, it's a lot going for it. Schools are very good and increasingly integrated.

I'm not from Belfast but I love the Belfast sense of humour, which I enjoy at work and the craic we have in the office. No-one takes themselves too seriously and there's a healthy lack of deference towards management

there are rumours of another extension to separate the grammar stream in another physical building

I'd be very surprised if that was anything more than just a rumour tbh... when my dc went there, Lagan prided itself on not making a noticeable difference between the 2 streams. A lot of the time the kids had to work it out for themselves what stream they were in

OP, Lagan is a great school, and surrounded by fields so lovely scenery too. They are both integrated and all-ability. I also agree with PP about South/South-East Belfast being the best to live in... Stranmillis, Malone, upper Lisburn Road, upper Ormeau, Rosetta, Knockbreda

Good luck with the move :-)

Which removal company are you going with? I would caution against Brown's - we used them and they were terrible.

Thanks will avoid Browns.

Lagan full, Strathearn full, have three we are definitely in the process for. One exam, other just wants to interview DD, third TBC. Need to chase about 5 who haven’t responded at all (understandable, lots going on!) I’m going to ring round all the ones that are full again in June because presumably some of the kids who are trying to move won’t be telling the schools until they’ve got their places?

EANI said schools generally decide within 11 days but I don’t think that’s happening right now, not from timelines we have discussed with some of them.

Sorry just blathering, it’s really stressing me out. On a lighter note DH and I have been saying “new town erds” and he said his boss mentioned it on a call today and it’s pronounced “Newton-arrrrds”. I wonder what else I’m mispronouncing!

Sorry you asked who we are looking at, leaning towards AH Tripp, à local company well known and liked. We almost moved last year but sale/purchase fell through and they’d already quoted so knew what stuff we have.

Have contacted another couple for quotes but need to do the inventory ourselves as they’re not coming in.

Got boiler serviced and gas safety cert done for renting today, waiting for EPC booking. Gardener and handyman coming early June to tidy place up. All seems to be happening.

Newtonards also just called Ards.

The Dixon Line is also a great removals company. It's based in Belfast but goes all over the UK.

On a lighter note DH and I have been saying “new town erds” and he said his boss mentioned it on a call today and it’s pronounced “Newton-arrrrds”

Genuinely made me laugh. Holywood is pronounced Hollywood, much to DH’s indignation.

He also keeps calling Tigers Bay “Tiger Bay” which does my tits in.

Hello! We moved from London to Belfast a few years back and with your 650k budget you could pretty much buy anywhere! I would personally avoid east Belfast but only due to the terrible traffic. It also only has bus connections (no rail) so if your husband doesn't drive I wouldn't recommend. Holywood would be a better option as it has bus and rail connections (10 mins to city centre on rail) and has a lovely community feel as well as being right on the water.

Beware of Traybakes. They're impossible to resist!

You'll need to learn the difference between Omagh and Armagh then.

Omagh is Oh-ma (emphasis on the Oh, short ma)

Armagh is Arrr- maaa (long extended maaa)

I’m waiting for someone to explain the Derry/Londonderry situation 😂😂😂

Re removal companies, I moved from Belfast to Wales in the last couple of years and The Dixon Line company were fantastic. We used them for storage too while we rented.

OMG I wish everyone would just say Derry. It’s quicker!

When I hear someone say Londonderry or The North Of Ireland it makes my eyes nearly drop out from rolling so hard.

Thanks Nigella, that’ll save a bit of embarrassment.

Will check out Dixon line. Today’s job is to tidy house and get photos taken for rental listing (did outside yesterday - nicest the house has ever looked ☹️) then do a video walk around for a couple of removals companies to quote.

When we moved from London to Belfast we used these guys

https://www.b-lineremovals.com

Couldn't fault them!

South Belfast for sure, Lisburn Rd area, Malone or Stranmillis... personally I prefer Lisburn road, but all are really lovely. Happy house hunting ☺️

@blue5467 do you remember the rough cost? I've asked for a quote, and have had such a wild range of quotes (£4k difference between smallest and largest) I don't know if the expensive ones are taking the piss, or if the cheap ones are dodgy.

Update: we've secured a house in Belmont and will be moving next month! Have a few good leads on schools. One grammar has actually verbally offered her a place just based on the information I've sent. Very excited to become a Belfastian. Just need to finish work on our house, get tenants, arrange removals, apply to some jobs (decided I do definitely want to go back to work for the next year at least), find childcare for the baby and confirm DD's school. So not much then.

We were moving the contents of a 2 bed flat and it cost approx £2k!

Good luck!!

All the best of luck. I have been following this thread with interest (and a little jealousy). I hope you enjoy it all. Please keep us updated on how you get on.