17 replies to this topic

[Califanna]

My daughter really wants to live in the United Kingdom for a year. I use a wheelchair 24/7 and wondering how difficult it will be for us living there. Can I find accessible housing? I need two bedrooms minimum as I have two children. How much more expensive will it be there compared to the United States? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. We would be moving there in 2006.

[Lucydog]

First thing is Where are you looking to move to? Which town or city? There are big variations to be honest and London will be enormously expensive for you especially as the dollar is so low against the pound at the moment. Its not too hard to find the right accomodation. You would probably need a bungalow or ground floor flat I suppose. new builds are better as since 2000 (I think) new housing has to be acsessible. Public transport can be dodgy though and I suggest you look at a major conurbation area if you are not going to drive as its very difficult out in the country.
Other than that britain is pretty good for accessibility compared to other european countries. Scandinavia is better. We all manage ok here so i guess its not that bad!

[Simon]

Lucy is generally right though the accessible housing issue I still doubt, I see new builds with steps in, not to mention bathroom sizes etc! To get an idea of house pricing look on http://www.rightmove.co.uk

You may find the weather a shock too (depending where in the US you live). Not sure what visas etc you'd need but British Embassy in the US will help out there.
Simon

[Apparelyzed]

Also, remember that the Pound is very strong against the Dollar at the moment, so your cash wont go as far.

Regards

Simon

[DaveP]

Try this web site:

http://www.accessible-property.org.uk

They have lists of properties for sale and some also for rent.

[Califanna]

Thanks all for the information about living in the UK. I was thinking of living in London. Wow on the cost of housing there. I may try and find someone willing to relocate here for a year. You know swap abodes. Any takers out there? I am serious.

[Lucydog]

Califanna, on Aug 25 2006, 06:06 AM, said:

Thanks all for the information about living in the UK. I was thinking of living in London. Wow on the cost of housing there. I may try and find someone willing to relocate here for a year. You know swap abodes. Any takers out there? I am serious.

Personally I would not even consider London as 50% of the population are not even British. To my mind Id want to stay somewhere that was less cosmopolitan and more typical of the country. The south east of England is hugely expensive and overcrowded. But thats my 2 pennys worth, and Im sure Londoners will disagree.
But you seriously might want to consider Manchester which I think is a really cool city with great cultural/social/ academic/everything you would want life, plus a great tram system and friendly people. Or Liverpool which is having a huge transformation, lots of money put into it as its going to be European City of Culture 2008 and scousers are enormously characterful people. (I married one!!)

Then there are Edinburgh and Glasgow, but Scotlands different again.

Anyways I just wanted to emphasise that there are really fabulous other places you cold go to. Britain does not start and end in London.

[Gary Anderson]

Hear Hear!

London is a hugely expensive place to stay unless you are a millionaire. Even renting is extortionate.

The suburbs are better.

Edinburgh - another expensive place to stay.

Glasgow - the prices here are more reasonable and you get good value for money.

I agree with Lucy - the world does not start and end with London. If you are planning on staying here for any length of time then you would be better to look outside of London.

Example - my brother in law just purchased a 6 bedroomed bungalow with loads of ground and room for extension if required in Carlisle for just under £200,000. Now THAT is what I call value for money.

Good luck and hope you enjoy the UK if you come.

[russ1]

Whilst i'm no great defender of the expensive South East I just couldn't bring myself to move North purely on the basis of the Weather. The weather is significantly better down south.

The OP doesn't say why her daughter wants to move to the UK for a year but there may be an employment or educational tie in with London.

Edited by russ1, 25 August 2006 - 10:46 AM.

[LadyPilot]

russ1, on Aug 25 2006, 11:40 AM, said:

Whilst i'm no great defender of the expensive South East I just couldn't bring myself to move North purely on the basis of the Weather. The weather is significantly better down south.

Hey, Don't knock the the South East!
Yes, I think we do get the driest, sunniest weather and we are FLATTER (but not flat) than the rest of the UK. Only a couple of hours from London, Norwich is now in the top 5 retail Centres. House prices on the outskirts are reasonable.
Some examples- 1)2 double bed bungalow (single story property) garden,sitting room,kitchen/breakfast room, bathroom, garage- £189,950 .
2) Newly reburbished bungalow. New fitted kitchen and carpets-£174,000

Califanna-
There is also the huge USAAF base at Lakenheath in Suffolk if you feel lonely for "home"!!

[russ1]

LadyPilot, on Aug 25 2006, 02:37 PM, said:

Only a couple of hours from London, Norwich

Yes - but flying is cheating and who can think about Norwich without images of Alan Partridge

[LadyPilot]

russ1, on Aug 25 2006, 03:51 PM, said:

Yes - but flying is cheating and who can think about Norwich without images of Alan Partridge

I'm afraid I didn't watch Alan Partridge so I cant comment on that.
I didnt mention anything about flying to London, No need! Norwich has its very own International Airport which had no problems during the recent scares.

Anyway all those roadblocks ie Newmarket, Thetford, Attleborough and Wymondham, have bypasses and the A11 is almost all dual carriage way now. London is a mere 108 miles away

So come and visit, I'll even make you a cake and how about test driving a Lotus? they're made just down the road from me and the dealership is pretty close too.

See, I am a nice person afterall

[russ1]

Alan Partridge - hilarious but not overly complimentary about Norwich.

Quote

London is a mere 108 miles away

So not quite as "close" as Bristol (South West) or Birmingham (Midlands)

Although the point about Lotus is extremely well made and I still miss mine desperately but they're not the most practical of cars for an AB - add the chair and..........

However the cake has absolutely sold it


Which road did you say ?

[LadyPilot]

russ1, on Aug 25 2006, 11:51 PM, said:

Which road did you say ?

I didn't

Edited by LadyPilot, 30 August 2006 - 09:50 PM.

[ruth]

Not knocking the south east (a lot of my family live there) but it is less accessible than other areas of the country due to the sheer number of people who live there (in my experience all the disabled spaces are always taken coz there arent enough of them, actually got to book stuff coz if you turn up on the day its always fully booked)

I guess seeing as you were thinking of London you want a city?

How about Cardiff? Cardiff is the capital city of Wales - flat centre and loads of amenities, and not so big you will never find your way around? House prices in Cardiff itself is not cheap (but not London prices) the Valleys are much cheaper, and only up to 30 min drive from Cardiff centre.

Or Birmingham? Vast ciy, loads of amenities, fairly cheap for a city

I live in a small town - not so many amenities, but I can always find a disabled parking space, rarely get properly stuck in traffic jams (coz there arent any ), cheap housing and I drive past sheep, cows and horses every do to get into work through the countryside (takes about 30 mins to my nearest city)

Dont forget that the UK is a LOT smaller than the US. The LONGEST drive you will ever have to do to London (if you stick in England or Wales) is about 250 miles. Its about 100 miles birmingham to London (just over an hour on the train) and about the same from Cardiff.

What about York - that is a really beautiful city - fairly flat, but there are a few cobble stones (you would get used to them honest!). If I could pick anywhere in the UK to live it would probably be York.

[Califanna]

Thanks for all for the comments and information. We want to live for a year there just to see how life would be. My daughter wants to go to college there, so this is a test run.

[ruth]

Califanna, on Sep 1 2006, 06:43 AM, said:

Thanks for all for the comments and information. We want to live for a year there just to see how life would be. My daughter wants to go to college there, so this is a test run.

Hi

If your daughter wants to come to college (you mean University, right?) I suggest you have a look at where the Universities are that have a good reputation for the subject she is interested in and if they will accept her with her qualifications. The admissions process for British unis are very different to the US.

If you want the low down on British Universities, PM me and I'll send you some links. Also you have to apply for Uni the year before you go, so if she is intending to start next September, now is a good time to start researching where. She must have been accepted onto her course (esp if its a popular one at a 'good' uni pretty soon as the places do get filled up.

Note that our 17-18 year olds are applying for uni NOW!!!!!!

[xMaddiex]

i live in the south east and though i love it, it's definitely somewhat easier to live there if you're born and bred and know where you're going etc etc, especially when it comes down to accessibility. that and the fact that prices are in the middle of a major boom and so are incredibly steep! and its almost £500, 000 for a 3 bedroom house in london now! it depend why you're moving too, because if you're moving because you want a lot of places to go etc, then you'll want to move near a town or city, but if you're looking for peace and quiet then a city is a bad place to go.