British Expats
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British Expats (https://britishexpats.com/forum/)
-   Moving back or to the UK (https://britishexpats.com/forum/moving-back-uk-61/)
-   -   Please help me with this big decision (https://britishexpats.com/forum/moving-back-uk-61/please-help-me-big-decision-871479/)

Wintersong Feb 10th 2016 4:47 pm
Re: Please help me with this big decision
 
Originally Posted by Downton Gabby (Post 11863927)
I'm not moving into the US, I'd be moving into the UK. Also, I'd kind of like to have a place to live when I get there.
Do you know anyone in the UK who might be prepared to act as guarantor?

Perth Feb 10th 2016 11:39 pm
Re: Please help me with this big decision
 
Originally Posted by Downton Gabby (Post 11863732)
This is a bit of a worry. I'm not going to be in a position to be paying 6 mos. in advance, that's for sure.
Are all properties handled by agents with fees? I would think you could find places listed by their owners.
How about looking into a house share? Not only will it be cheaper, but you will also have a fully equipped house at your disposal while you search for your own place.

holly_1948 Feb 11th 2016 12:27 am
Re: Please help me with this big decision
 
Originally Posted by Downton Gabby (Post 11863732)
This is a bit of a worry. I'm not going to be in a position to be paying 6 mos. in advance, that's for sure.
Are all properties handled by agents with fees? I would think you could find places listed by their owners.
It needs to be said that, by and large, as a general rule, the further you will be from London the less that is likely to be a problem you would run into.
And yes, dealing with people face to face is much more likely to work out well. But don't be afraid to simply walk out if the person turns out to be some sort of jobsworth lacking real authority to negotiate.

ldollard Feb 11th 2016 12:39 pm
Re: Please help me with this big decision
 
Originally Posted by Pulaski (Post 11864011)
You over looked the "As per ..... ", so let's try that again! :rolleyes:

As per my usual advice for people moving into the US, when moving to the UK you will likely do best finding a private landlord that you can deal face-to-face with, so they can appraise you as a prospective tenant and aren't constrained by some corporate or agency policy.
This is very good advice. Primarily as they have whatever leeway they wish. A Corp rental agency has to base you qualifications off a predetermined set of rules. And rarely deviate.

JaneRiley Feb 12th 2016 10:59 pm
Re: Please help me with this big decision
 
Easier to pass a driving test in Scotland? What rubbish.

Editha Feb 12th 2016 11:26 pm
Re: Please help me with this big decision
 
Originally Posted by JaneRiley (Post 11866260)
Easier to pass a driving test in Scotland? What rubbish.
But not entirely wrong:
Where's the toughest UK driving test? - BBC News

JaneRiley Feb 13th 2016 2:34 am
Re: Please help me with this big decision
 
Ah the media, a long standing source of truth. Of course some test routes may appear "easier" due to l back of roundabouts etc but the test is standardised. Anyone who feels that moving somewhere for an easier test is a fool unless you intend never to drive anywhere else! On the OP question, I think a holiday as a recce is the way to go.

Pulaski Feb 13th 2016 2:44 am
Re: Please help me with this big decision
 
Originally Posted by JaneRiley (Post 11866361)
Ah the media, a long standing source of truth. Of course some test routes may appear "easier" due to l back of roundabouts etc but the test is standardised. ...... unless you intend never to drive anywhere else! ...
I knew a number of people who wouldn't drive in London, and they live and drive in Gloucester, so far from a rural area. It is not entirely unreasonable to predict that people who pass their test in the most rural of areas may only very rarely if ever drive in the largest cities, not just London, but Birmingham, Manchester, and several others.

Downton Gabby Feb 13th 2016 5:42 am
Re: Please help me with this big decision
 
Does anyone know why it's so much more difficult to pass the tests in the UK than in the US? What's so different?

Downton Gabby Feb 13th 2016 5:46 am
Re: Please help me with this big decision
 
Originally Posted by Perth (Post 11864417)
How about looking into a house share? Not only will it be cheaper, but you will also have a fully equipped house at your disposal while you search for your own place.
No thanks :ohmy: I can't imagine being comfortable living with complete strangers, even temporarily. But thanks for the suggestion :)

Downton Gabby Feb 13th 2016 5:50 am
Re: Please help me with this big decision
 
Originally Posted by holly_1948 (Post 11864480)
It needs to be said that, by and large, as a general rule, the further you will be from London the less that is likely to be a problem you would run into.
And yes, dealing with people face to face is much more likely to work out well. But don't be afraid to simply walk out if the person turns out to be some sort of jobsworth lacking real authority to negotiate.
Thanks! I've never heard of a "jobsworth". I had to look it up!

Pulaski Feb 13th 2016 5:54 am
Re: Please help me with this big decision
 
Originally Posted by Downton Gabby (Post 11866566)
Does anyone know why it's so much more difficult to pass the tests in the UK than in the US? What's so different?
It is a choice the governments of the respective countries made, though appears to explain a good bit of why the US has five times the population of the UK, but TWENTY times the number of road fatalities! :scaredhair:

Other reasons for the lower fatality rates in the UK include: almost universal adherence to seatbelt laws, heavy enforcement of drink driving laws with harsh penalties long before you get to the point of having killed someone, and similar enforcement and penalties for holding pretty much anything while driving, other than the steering wheel and gear lever (smoking was recently added to the list of "drink, food, cell phone, etc.") .... I would like to attribute some of the difference to almost all cars being manual, but that would be speculation by me. :o

Pulaski Feb 13th 2016 5:59 am
Re: Please help me with this big decision
 
Originally Posted by Downton Gabby (Post 11866575)
Thanks! I've never heard of a "jobsworth". I had to look it up!
Despite DMV's the length and breadth of the US being exclusively staffed by jobsworths. :lol:

Editha Feb 13th 2016 5:59 am
Re: Please help me with this big decision
 
You missed out the MOT. I don't know about the USA, but a lot of cars on the road in Alberta would be illegal in the UK.

Downton Gabby Feb 13th 2016 5:59 am
Re: Please help me with this big decision
 
Originally Posted by Pulaski (Post 11866578)
It is a choice the governments of the respective countries made, though appears to explain a good bit of why the US has five times the population of the UK, but TWENTY times the number of road fatalities! :scaredhair:

Other reasons include almost universal adherence to seatbelt laws, heavy enforcement of drink driving laws with harsh penalties long before you get to the point of having killed someone, and similar enforcement and penalties for holding pretty much anything while driving, other than the steering wheel and gear lever. .... I would like to attribute some of the difference to almost all cars being manual, but that would be speculation by me. :o
Well, that all makes sense and sounds good, but what about passing the test itself? Why is it seemingly so much more difficult? If so many people don't pass, there must be a reason.


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