Returning from South Africa
 

Hi there,
We have been living in South Africa for ten years and are thinking of returning to the UK next year. The cost of living has risen so much over here. If we buy a house outright and have no mortgage, what other costs can we expect. For example gas, elec, water council tax. We are looking at the area aroung stratford upon avon and a two bed cottage. I have looked on rightmove and have a good idea of house prices. What is the cost of car licence (road tax) now and tv licence and sky???
any advice would be appreciated.

Re: Returning from South Africa
 

Cat licence? Do you mean my cats are unlicenced?
Only joking! We don't have cat licences in the UK!
Do you mean dog licence?
For a TV/ broadband/ phone package we pay around £85 a month for super fast broadband with VirginMedia.

Re: Returning from South Africa
 

We are a family of 4, approx figures....

Gas and Elec - £1200 a year
Water and sewerage - £500 a year
BT - phone and broadband - about £500 year (plus we have Sky Sports which is an extra £200 a year).
TV licence - £145 a year
Council tax - £1800 a year
Food - £7000 a year :eek:

Other extras car insurance, home and contents insurance (use comparison websites), petrol etc

Oh and car tax a year is £225 but less if you have a small engine in your car (less than a 1.4 I think)

Re: Returning from South Africa
 

Thanks a million

Re: Returning from South Africa
 

Hi Jenny

Whereabouts in SA are you returning from?

I'm returning from East Rand, Johannesburg in October.

The prices of everything here have certainly skyrocketed, I was in England last year and the food prices are a lot cheaper than in SA. Plus it seemed to me that you would get better value for money there.

Good luck with everything

Re: Returning from South Africa
 

We are returning from the Dolhhin Coast (Ballito) its a beautiful place but the cost of living is getting so high we pay R6500 in school fees and therapy alone and another R4500 in med aid which we would not pay in the UK. Also we have been running a guesthouse for the last ten years and its full on 365 days a year. So we looking at the UK near Stratford upon Avon where we have family. Still very much in the planning stage but keen.

Re: Returning from South Africa
 

The problem with answering this is that most of the things you have asked about will very much depend on you lifestyle and what you want. car tax depends on the emissions of your car, so a hybrid vehicle will be much less than a petrol or diesel one. Council tax will depend on the band the house is in, the more luxurious, the more the council tax. Gas and electric will, obviously depend on usage and how well insulated the house is. Sky or Virgin will depend on what packages you want, so can be from around £10 a month to £50+, telephone and broadband, again depends on package, we pay £40 a month for unlimited broadband, and free evening and weekend calls, for another £10 a month we could have free anytime calls, you can get TV packages via BT, and phone and broadband via SKY or Virgin, (other providers are available).