4 replies to this topic

[Vivienne]

I am soon to be transferring job locations internationally and permanently and I'm looking for flats that have a roll-in shower in London...
I won't be using (or eligible for) any government benefits or subsidizing.

Does anyone know of any useful resources for finding accessible (with roll-in shower) living arrangements?

Also- what is typical for payment of caregivers? Would I need a private insurance to get that paid for?

I will be eligible for NHS, I'm just not sure of the coverage.

[madhouse73]

 Vivienne, on 18 May 2011 - 02:33 AM, said:

I am soon to be transferring job locations internationally and permanently and I'm looking for flats that have a roll-in shower in London...
I won't be using (or eligible for) any government benefits or subsidizing.

Does anyone know of any useful resources for finding accessible (with roll-in shower) living arrangements?

Also- what is typical for payment of caregivers? Would I need a private insurance to get that paid for?

I will be eligible for NHS, I'm just not sure of the coverage.

Nhs wise I am afraid it could be pretty poor coverage a lot of budget cuts are going on .But sure someone with more experiance will be along shortly

[guido]

This is a good question and you may find it causes you a bit of a headache. (Real) Estate Agents are not set up to help you search for accessible properties, and generally have no interest in helping. I know, as I did this job in Central London for 30 months some time before SCI. When we searched for our current home (which we rent) it was an 11 month search with much frustration, but then ended up finding somewhere great, though I had to redo the downstairs shower-room - at terrifying expense to make it possible.


There is a website - www.accessible-property.org.uk - which in theory should be fantastic and really make the difference, but it seems so underused. Currently there is just one property listed for Greater London


If you have a twitter or FB account, it's probably worth starting a sustained search and request to see what comes up. Otherwise it's very much a hit and miss affair of calling agents repeatedly and seeing what has come up. Use #tags and do some relevant searches.


My mother rented her flat before finally selling it, and although the kitchen wasn't adapted or anything, she had put in a wetroom for me which worked well, and the lift up to the flat was quite big and even a roll in one side, roll out the other, so dead easy! So they DO exist.


Good luck!

[guido]

You could also see if http://www.cae.org.uk/ have any ideas.


You might also follow up http://www.mobilityfriendlyhomes.co.uk/affordable.aspx


A trawl through http://www.primelocation.com/ and http://www.rightmove.co.uk/ may also help - we found our current place through RightMove.
And these will give you an idea of areas, properties, prices, general background - which you'll need.


Your other option is to use a Search Agent to do the initial looking for you, which incurs a fee, but may take out the headache. I used to know who to recommend as I worked with some good ones, and I'm trying to remember a whole bunch to give you a recommendation. Phil Spencer's agency was good to deal with and seemed efficient: http://www.garringtonlondon.co.uk/ otherwise it's a question of googling "London Property Search Agents"


Presumably, if you are transferring here because of work, they'll provide a search agent for you or subsidise your cost as part of the relocation package?


It's a start.

[Vivienne]

 guido, on 18 May 2011 - 06:03 AM, said:

You could also see if http://www.cae.org.uk/ have any ideas.


You might also follow up http://www.mobilityfriendlyhomes.co.uk/affordable.aspx


A trawl through http://www.primelocation.com/ and http://www.rightmove.co.uk/ may also help - we found our current place through RightMove.
And these will give you an idea of areas, properties, prices, general background - which you'll need.


Your other option is to use a Search Agent to do the initial looking for you, which incurs a fee, but may take out the headache. I used to know who to recommend as I worked with some good ones, and I'm trying to remember a whole bunch to give you a recommendation. Phil Spencer's agency was good to deal with and seemed efficient: http://www.garringtonlondon.co.uk/ otherwise it's a question of googling "London Property Search Agents"


Presumably, if you are transferring here because of work, they'll provide a search agent for you or subsidise your cost as part of the relocation package?


It's a start.

Thank you very much for all of your ideas.

Unfortunately I will have no financial help by my company because this move is completely voluntary- they don't actually "need" me over there- but this relocation is something I've wanted for a very long time and I will do anything needed to make it happen.

I won't be looking to buy property, more to rent- would most of these resources still apply?