Moving to Canterbury area, rent or buy, buy or rent -

[shinybaubles]

Hi
We're currently living overseas are will be returning to the UK in July , and will be moving hopefully to somewhere nearby Canterbury. We are trying to decide whether to rent or buy, should we rent while we look for a house - if so I am worried as I hear landlords in the UK quite often kick you out after 6 months ( not ideal with children) , and I can only find one or two houses to rent in the Canterbury everything is a student let? Another problem with renting is credit checking - and since we have no history in the UK how would this work, could we just offer a years rent in advance? Any advice welcome?

Or should we just buy straight away and avoid renting, not sure how often we can visit the UK to view houses etc and most of it would be done online. It seems the more stable solution. Can anyone advise on how long it takes between making an offer that is accepted and moving into the house, so I can get an idea on when we should start looking?

Any other useful tips really appreciated.

If you go the the Langton boys website there's a whole page on the changes they are proposing - I know it will significantly extend the catchment area - out to Whitstable/Herne Bay/Fav and quite a way toward Dover - but exact details are on the web page.

Hahahahaha I think I know the headmaster you mean. Has a name you could link to water? Sits you down in wood pannelled room? He almost sent me to the loving arms of the other school you are looking at, but DH was insistent that it was head's job to be a businessman not a cuddly feely teddy bear. Funnily enough the children seem to really like him - he has weekly chats with the different year groups and is OK with them - it's the parents who find him, um, 'unusual' in style. FWIW we are very very happy with the school and have no regrets at all.

We have two sets of friends who have left this school (not because they were unhappy, but for other family reasons) and they both switched to the cheaper one of the other 2 (the one that doesn't look so pretty and doesn't appear anywhere in the tables) and they are also very happy and settled there (that school caters for very wide range of abilities and is very highly though of round here, despite tables). As for the other private school, I know one family who are happy there but there seems to be a trickle of parents heading from there to the other two schools for one reason or another. But that's probably swings and roundabouts and I am sure the flow will turn in the other direction when the wind changes.

As seeker says, though, the Langton is probably at least equal academically to the private schools and if you google it you will see all the space station stuff it's doing. Apparently 1% of all physics undergrads in the country now come from the Langton which is bloody impressive for any school, let alone a state school with no special funding or whatever.

By the way, reasons I love the school:-

1. Forest school classroom where they learn how to climb trees and whittle wood
2. V small class sizes - smallest my DS was in had 8 children, with a teacher and TA. Largest so far has been 14 (limit they set is 16 I think)
3. Teachers that really really care - DS is dyslexic, and his teacher had tears in her eyes when she told me she had found him in the library reading to himself for pleasure
4. 5 hours of sport a week (plus option for them to do more on Saturdays from yr 4).
5. Teachers highly experienced, well qualified, and very low turnover. always available by email
6. Good wrap round care and shedloads of extra-curricular activities (from the v. poncy - eg fencing - to the very non-poncy - eg lego club, monopoly club)

Of course, some of the primaries round here will also have exceptional teachers and excellent facilities.

And here are the reasons to love the langton

number1

number2

number3

Thanks Stillsquiffy - you are absolutely right he had exactly the same effect on me. It's reasuring to know I wasn't the only one who reacted like that. Because when we looked around I absolutely loved it until we were sat down, and then as soon as we got into the car I had changed my mind and was determined to look for other schools. I really hope he gets in now as they have space for him and his little brother.
Thanks for all the help and advice.

Hi OP I got your pm but squiffy has done such a thorough job there is not much more I can add!
Loved your positive review of The Langton sqiffy did wonder if you might be Becky but she'd be far too modest to blow her own trumpet like that!

No problem musttidyup - stillsquiffy has been filling me in although I have only just seen those links - very impressive and I suddenly felt very dumb.

Hi shiny I'm in Canterbury too. I think I wrote a few posts to you when you posted about whether to move to Canterbury a few months back - and suggested you to try the other 2 private schools?

For commuting to London on hi speed train most people live in the st dunstans or st Stephens area. The private schools are near enough (just up the hill). The scary head teacher one is 3 miles away.

Market way and harness drive are nice areas with 4bedrooms, double garage detached. Prices around the £350 mark. But there are other nice streets nearby. St Stephens hill has v big properties (Tyler hill too). It's not all student properties. Many of my friends (with 2 kids like us) rent. They pay about £800-900 for a 3 bed semi so you can get a 4bed for your budget.

If you want to live outside of Canterbury then there are many lovely villages like littlebourne, wingham (nearer to jks). Blean (near to other 2 private schools).

Good agents to try are kent estate agents, miles and Barr, reeds rains.

Langton is fantastic- but you do have to be "the type".

which is.....

...another Canterbury resident - well a outer village resident anyway.

My son went to Langton up until the 6th form and has now switched to the Langton Girls for 6th form...

We spent a great deal of time when we first moved down here from London - and we worked out that the best way of finding out about various villages was to attend their "Summer Fayres"....

I think that that we initally did choose well and live in a great village (no shop or pub though - any longer) - but near enough to Canterbury and close to the Channel Tunnel etc etc etc....

If you need any help or want to "chat" please send me a PM - more than happy to help you sort out stuff with the Canterbury area..

Hi DrCrab, yes I remember you - we have decided on Canterbury. Thank yo u for the recommendations for estate agents.
Langton seems fantastic - but with a 5 year old and a 2 year old it's a while away yet.

Lookoveryourshoulder thankyou will pm you .

We have a 4 and a 1 year old. So Langtons abit away yet too! A boy and a girl. So if we can help with any 'childre related stuff or schools or whatever do pm me. Welcome to Canterbury!

Hi I have just stumbled upon this thread and so fingers crossed someone replies. We are also looking to relocate to Canterbury. We have a 1 and a 3 year old and would love some information on primary schools and of course the Grammar schools that they might feed into, to help us choose a place to live.