Tenants renting an entire property as opposed to renting a room have a lot more protection than lodgers in England (Scotland, Wales and NI have their own laws).

Having rented rooms, I can see there are good reasons why - a lodger is essentially a paying guest in your home. I've had a few bad ones in the past and was glad I was able to terminate them. They are buried out in the garden somewhere.

[But seriously, I do think you need to be able to end a lodger's lease more easily than a tenant - I can't imagine being forced to share my home with a terrible lodger.]

Getting it down to basics, if you were to do a midnight flit, what would you take with you other than the crown jewels

On paperwork, documents & photographs - scan as much as you need onto a memory stick(s) or an external hard drive, then shred the documents.

Are books that necessary to keep, are they that important or valuable?

Definitely no electrical appliances or electronics (computer being the exception).

What is personal that would not stay boxed for the next 5 years you may want to re-look at is it really worth keeping

Bits & bobs - usually are sentimental, then its a keep or throw decision

Clothing, one suitcase worth such that you're ona two week holiday to the UK.

Pots, pans, dishes & cutlery - chuck it, then buy what you need to start at the UK charity shops.

Just curious as I haven't started asking for quotes yet and I can't remember from when I emigrated originally 20+ years ago, but do the shipping companies charge by volume or weight? I'm just wondering whether all this paring down to the bare bones is absolutely necessary if you're shipping furniture anyway -- what's a few extra items tucked in the gaps? Is it a false economy if you have to start purchasing everything to replace when you get to your destination?

It depends on how you ship it. If you have a container, you can fill it or not, they tend to be a flat price. Boxes tend to be based on weight and volume, so a bit trickier I think.

Of course! Thank you, Dashie. (A blond moment.) I hadn't thought about people shipping individual boxes. That makes sense then.

I shipped some things and left a lot behind. I wish I'd shipped it all because the replacement costs have far exceeded the amount I got from selling things and I don't think the extra shipping costs would have been nearly as much either. That was coming from the US where a lot of household goods are quite a bit cheaper.

Yep, that's why I'm keeping my pots and pans - they are very good quality and it would cost a lot to buy them new to replace.

The moving company I'm using charge by volume. I'm not packing that much but I am taking some books, some files of notes that I use and items that I have used in my yoga teaching that would cost to replace new.

That said, I've been quite amazed at how much I've whittled down - and I think as the process has gone on, it's been easier to whittle down stuff more and more (which is good).

I've got some more news though! I had a lovely chat with the individual who offered to rent me a room and have the run of his home for most of the week and he is really nice - very genuine (and his girlfriend also joined in the conversation). He didn't want to have me sign any paperwork at a distance so, for the moment, I just have his word that we'll sort it out when I meet with him in April but I have a good feeling about it and, while I will check out his ownership of the property with the Land Registry (thanks Editha) I don't think it will be an issue.

One of the things we talked about was the English countryside - and walking - he and his partner belong to a meet up group and lead country walks - Oh I have missed doing that so much and we had a great conversation about walks in the English countryside which has made me realise I can't wait to do that again!

If, for some reason, it falls through, I will go and stay in a B and B or (worst case) with my parents but I don't think it will.

More than anything, having a chat with a Brit has renewed my faith in human nature! There's something really nice about the way Brits make conversation - I have really missed the intimacy and banter of it.

So am feeling very happy at the moment - it's a great location and, once my tax paperwork is done and my packing is complete I am going to focus on applying for work - and I've already seen some jobs at agencies which look good so am feeling more optimistic by the moment!

Does anyone know whether you have to keep the CRA documents physically? I have 7 years worth of tax returns I have to keep (including all the accompanying documentation) as I have run my own business (p/t) - I would quite happily scan these docs and then shred them but I don't know whether CRA require me to keep docs physically? Any ideas? They take up a lot of space in my boxes!

Has anyone any experience taking an external hard drive on a plane? Is it okay to do? I've never done this before and plan on taking it on in my hand luggage (along with my laptop).

Still not booked my flight home yet - don't feel able to till I've got all my tax paperwork sorted out - hoping this isn't going to be a problem. How late do people leave booking a flight? Just wondering.

I took anything in my carry on that I would be upset to lose including my external hard drive.

I wouldn't panic about booking your flight unless you have a date you have to travel on. There are flights all the time If you can't get on one, you'll be able to get on another.

Some info here:

http://www.priceoftravel.com/1410/fl...ure-heres-why/

http://www.cheapair.com/blog/travel-...cheap-flights/

It is apparently always best to clear your cookies/history on your computer if you are looking up flight prices, demur and look again a day or so later; if you don't clear them, the airline or travel site knows you are looking for a specific route and travel dates and the prices may then rise accordingly....

A few years ago I was looking at flight prices from NJ to Florida. I took the dog for a walk, logged back in to buy the flights (4 tickets) and each ticket had gone up in price by $30.... Lesson learned! If I see a price which seems affordable nowadays, I don't procrastinate and just buy the ticket(s) on the spot!

I brought my external hard drive, and two laptops as hand luggage. No problems at the check in or on the conveyor belt once you get past check in. I also had silver items in there so my bag was pulled aside and opened separately as the X ray machine could not see what exactly they were (a silver tea pot). Not only did I have items on my external HD but I backed up the most important ones onto memory sticks. Sorry to be so specific but I was a graphic designer and my creative life was - and still is - on various HDs and back up media.

Wow! I didn't know that. Thanks.

I can't say whether CRA will accept scanned docs or not. I shipped my returns back to the UK, with some household goods, as I did not want to spend the time scanning the docs. It would have taken me ages. I took the chance that they would not be lost enroute and I was fairly comfortable that, if they were, I could obtain copies of the various docs from the issuers, in the unlikely event of an audit by CRA.


I took my external hard drive along with important docs as hand luggage. No problem. Good luck with your move.