relocation to UK 120k household income

[homealone2022]

Hi,

Currently live in a different country but DH has just been offered a post in London with an annual salary of 120k. The post looks really interesting but we've heard that London is very expensive so not sure whether it would be enough for our family to live on - it would be DH, myself and our seven year old son. Would anyone have any pointers as to whether it's enough and what we can expect? Thank you

I get £500/week for my sub 600sq ft flat with no outside space in zone 2. That's very small for a family. Add council tax and bills and your after tax salary (just under £73k) that's coming up to near half. Still, that's way more than most, though I imagine you want a bigger place with some outside space if possible. If you plan on private schooling though that's another thing entirely.
If I were you I'd want to live in London proper. Look at state school options - that will be a big deciding factor in area, as much as your husband's work location.

Will take everything on board and check out the price of a 2 bed flat. I didn't realise that rentals were quite so expensive in the UK. We will probably have to continue trying to save some money - though not sure how pensions will work. Might also check out some of the expat websites. My British friend recommended mumsnet as the go to place for all things to do with the UK

You are going to get so many varied responses to this. I haven’t read any yet, am posting before I do.

You have one child, and you don’t say how old, what childcare (if any you need), where you’ll live, renting buying etc

Very hard to advise properly.

120k per annum for 1 taxpayer doesn’t go far at all in London for a family.

Just my view of course.

Are any of you British nationals? If not that will impact your access to free healthcare beyond emergency

I don't know. Can I afford to move to Paris and maintain my current lifestyle?

Surely if you're looking at moving somewhere new you look at the cost of housing there and approx cost of living and work out what your outgoings will be and then look at prospective income and see if the proposed budget adds up. Asking on a random forum when people in the UK have vastly different ideas of what an acceptable lifestyle is, isn't the best approach.

Yep, this entirely.

If you want to privately educate at least your son is young, prep is cheaper than secondary school, but still probably £25-£40k depending on where

OP, I'd have a look at Highgate, which is a lovely area, good primary schools (both private and state) and has the tube direct to Moorgate (2 mins from Liverpool Street). It also has lots of trailing ex pat spouses. A decent 3 bed flat would cost you £35-40k pa.

Wherever you end up aiming for, one thing to do early on is get on the phone to local schools and find out whether any has a place. Primary schools in London are often over-subscribed- it's not as bad as it was pre-covid but definitely something to look into at an early stage.

If the OP's partner will be working in Liverpool Street and they want to live in London, it doesn't mean they need to live in Liverpool Street!
Liverpool Street is good for buses, as PP says there is are also trains to Moorgate from both directions. And it's well connected on the tube!
Personally I'd recommend looking in Islington, your partner could get the bus or a train from Essex road to Moorgate. Islington is a lovely central area, you can walk to lots of central places, eg British museum. Lots of international people.

Unless you are UK taxpayers or UK nationals, don’t assume you are entitled to access free at point of use state services like healthcare and education. As far as I know, it dependent on your immigration status. Please make sure you check that side of things out before you do anything, particularly the schooling . I agree, joking a specific expats/overseas living Facebook group or forum would probably be more helpful.

Joining not joking

This is incorrect. You do not need to be a British national to access the NHS. You need to be a UK resident on a resident visa to be able to access the NHS. OP - given they are working in UK - will be residents.

People on visitor/tourist visas cannot access the NHS other than for emergencies.

If you are accustomed to slumming it you’ll probably cope. On such a low income you will have to do most of your shopping at M&S with just a few treats from the artisan markets. And one may need to sell a few heirlooms for barely satisfactory prep schools. If you don’t mind living hand to mouth I suppose you could manage.
For comparison, Dp earns £700k and we’re having to consider hiring nanny out just to make ends meet.

It is definitely doable but you may find you are happier slightly out of central London, with less congestion, parks, schools, community feel etc. Liverpool Street is an easy commute from all directions and distances within the City not as far to walk as you may imagine.

You don't need to live near Liverpool Street to work at Liverpool Street. I'd guess 99% of people who work in the vicinity don't live there. All but a miniscule percentage of Londoners live within walking distance of their jobs.

On a salary of £120k, it's highly probable that the DH will get private medical insurance as part of his package, although an additional salary sacrifice will be required to cover the OP and DC. Given how badly the NHS is creaking, private is a much quicker option.

I would live just outside OP in somewhere with good state schools and good train lines- we live in Windsor for example- big 4 bed detached house here around £3500 or large nice 2/3 bed flat around £2000 . No need for private schools though . Also a pretty quick commute with the new line.
Similar in Guildford, or Richmond (quick commute) or Kingston or Surbiton . You would get by just fine unless you are really extravagant, although not much saving!!

Hi OP - the most "pleasant to live in" parts of London are -

Chelsea
South Kensington
Knightsbridge
Holland Park
Notting Hill

The above are 'prime locations' though with prices to match.

A little further south-west (but still in zones 2-3) you have -

Parson's Green
Fulham
Putney
Barnes

The above are fantastic for families because if the schools, relative safety, access to the Thames, gorgeous river walks and loads of green spaces. Still expensive, but not as much as Chelsea etc.

In West London, you have -

Chiswick
Ealing (inc parts of Acton)

Again, very family- friendly with everything you can think of in terms of shops, restaurants & facilities. Feels a slightly more "busy" perhaps than Barnes etc as the river is less visible and roads are going out west to the A4, M4.

NW London there is -

Hampstead
Highgate

Expensive again (but not as much as Chelsea, Knightsbridge etc). Loads of character, "villagey" atmosphere - everything you could want inc. open spaces (Hampstead Heath). No River Thames here though.

Yhode are probably the most sought-after places to live for families.

East London (has many very cool and trendy areas too, which may or may not be your vibe.

You know there are parks, schools, community feel etc in central London too??! Maybe the OP might want to feel like she's actually living in London rather than a suburb that could be in any big city in Europe?

OP, this is why you need to find an expats forum as they will have a different perspective on London living to Mumsnet. Mumsnet doesn't really like central London (unless it's for the theatre or visiting museums). It's a seething den of inequity and they'll have you packed off to the burbs, dressed by Joules and clutching your Mulberry handbag before you're barely off the plane. As an expat (and I write this as a former expat myself), your priorities will be different so please take this all with a pinch of salt.

What job do you have that will give you a sabbatical for two or more years?

I call bullshit on this thread, there's been too many similar ones recently

Of course there are, but it comes at a cost and is more of a risk if you are not well orientated. Central London itself is not that big and the City even smaller.

I’m waiting for someone to suggest Croydon or Penge 😭

Why the hmm emoji @LIZS? It’s a stupid question, deserves a ridiculous answer.

Because someone might take it seriously!