monthly rental homes in Manchester -- rents seem low
#16
Re: monthly rental homes in Manchester -- rents seem low
To be perfectly honest, I often ask myself that same question but unfortunately I have now been overseas for so long that I need to rely mainly on the British media and the views of my parents and friends for up-to-date information and they don't exactly paint a pretty picture of life in the UK in 2012.
#17
Heading for Poppyland
Joined: Jul 2007
Location: North Norfolk and northern New York State
Posts: 14,526
Re: monthly rental homes in Manchester -- rents seem low
To be perfectly honest, I often ask myself that same question but unfortunately I have now been overseas for so long that I need to rely mainly on the British media and the views of my parents and friends for up-to-date information and they don't exactly paint a pretty picture of life in the UK in 2012.
IMHO, of course.
#18
Re: monthly rental homes in Manchester -- rents seem low
I'm not necassarily disagreeing with you, just wondering why, especially since recent figures seem to suggest that employment in North America is on the increase where as the UK job market looks as promising as a one legged man in arse kicking contest and most of western Europe sounds even worse.
#19
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Joined: Jul 2007
Location: North Norfolk and northern New York State
Posts: 14,526
Re: monthly rental homes in Manchester -- rents seem low
Just out of curiosity, what makes you say that?
I'm not necassarily disagreeing with you, just wondering why, especially since recent figures seem to suggest that employment in North America is on the increase where as the UK job market looks as promising as a one legged man in arse kicking contest and most of western Europe sounds even worse.
I'm not necassarily disagreeing with you, just wondering why, especially since recent figures seem to suggest that employment in North America is on the increase where as the UK job market looks as promising as a one legged man in arse kicking contest and most of western Europe sounds even worse.
And I believe that hard times are coming, cold winds are going to blow in Europe AND North America. I think British people are more resilient maybe, I think things will get ugly in the US when conditions go from bad to worse.
#20
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jun 2005
Location: Oz -> UK -> San Diego
Posts: 9,912
Re: monthly rental homes in Manchester -- rents seem low
So many variables in that one..
Miles per year driven may be much less in the UK than in North America for all sorts of reasons.
Generally no need for air conditioning in the UK.
Milder temperatures, smaller houses, availability of efficient gas central heating can mean cheaper heating.. I live in a place where it is extremely cold for several months every winter. Fuel oil alone is costing us about $600 per month for maybe four months of the year...
Miles per year driven may be much less in the UK than in North America for all sorts of reasons.
Generally no need for air conditioning in the UK.
Milder temperatures, smaller houses, availability of efficient gas central heating can mean cheaper heating.. I live in a place where it is extremely cold for several months every winter. Fuel oil alone is costing us about $600 per month for maybe four months of the year...
We do more miles in the UK than in the USA, so the cost in the UK kills us. Same with heating - San Diego is much cheaper than England LOL.
#21
Re: monthly rental homes in Manchester -- rents seem low
Rents in the UK are much cheaper than rents in the US in my experience (London area aside).
Yes, it's definitely possible to get a 3/4 bed house in a good area for your budget. A so-so area would cost about £900 to £1,100, but once you get up around 2 grand, you're talking nice areas.
We're looking around Leeds/York which is similar to Manchester in terms of price, and we've found some lovely 4 bed houses in what I know to be really good areas for between £1,500 and £2,000. Renting an equivalent house where I live just outside New York City would cost about $6,000. But buying in the UK is about as expensive as buying where I live now. It's odd.
Yes, it's definitely possible to get a 3/4 bed house in a good area for your budget. A so-so area would cost about £900 to £1,100, but once you get up around 2 grand, you're talking nice areas.
We're looking around Leeds/York which is similar to Manchester in terms of price, and we've found some lovely 4 bed houses in what I know to be really good areas for between £1,500 and £2,000. Renting an equivalent house where I live just outside New York City would cost about $6,000. But buying in the UK is about as expensive as buying where I live now. It's odd.
Last edited by Jerseygirl; Feb 9th 2012 at 1:07 pm.
#22
Re: monthly rental homes in Manchester -- rents seem low
We moved to Canada from the UK in '06. On utility costs, although gas and electricity are cheaper here, we find that with a larger house and colder winters, we find we spend roughly the same as we did at home.
Something I find frustrating in Canada is that most of our energy bills are standing charges, which means that reducing our consumption has almost no effect on the bill, whereas in the UK there are no standing charges so reducing consumption saves money.
For us it is a no-brainer that retirement to the UK is the best option financially. Despite the austerity measures, social care for the elderly in the UK is better than in Canada, and waiting lists on the NHS are shorter than Alberta's.
There are a lot of aspects of health care in Alberta I prefer. I'm getting a much better GP service here than in the UK, but the advantages are outweighed by the 18 month wait to see a specialist.
However, financial and social care considerations are not high on my list of reasons for going back. I'd be going home, even if I were going to be worse off financially.
Something I find frustrating in Canada is that most of our energy bills are standing charges, which means that reducing our consumption has almost no effect on the bill, whereas in the UK there are no standing charges so reducing consumption saves money.
For us it is a no-brainer that retirement to the UK is the best option financially. Despite the austerity measures, social care for the elderly in the UK is better than in Canada, and waiting lists on the NHS are shorter than Alberta's.
There are a lot of aspects of health care in Alberta I prefer. I'm getting a much better GP service here than in the UK, but the advantages are outweighed by the 18 month wait to see a specialist.
However, financial and social care considerations are not high on my list of reasons for going back. I'd be going home, even if I were going to be worse off financially.
#23
BE Forum Addict
Joined: May 2007
Location: England
Posts: 4,211
Re: monthly rental homes in Manchester -- rents seem low
I am expecting a transfer to the Manchester area from the U.S., and have been looking at rental sites to get a sense of the monthly cost of renting a home. We have two children and a dog, and therefore would prefer a detached home with a garden, with at least 3 bedrooms. I saw a number of properties which seemed pretty nice for between 1500 and 2000 pounds per month. I would have figured that the Manchester suburbs would have been considerably more expensive than that. Am I missing something? Is it really possible to get a nice 3-4 bedroom home with a garden for that price in a decent area?
#24
Re: monthly rental homes in Manchester -- rents seem low
Spoken like someone who lives in San Diego where it's always 70 degrees!
The OP should investigate for themselves because it all depends what you're used to. For me energy costs will be way lower in the UK than they are in New York. Home costs will also be cheaper. Cars cost about the same but my car insurance will be cheaper. Only petrol is more expensive.
There are no sweeping generalizations when it comes to a move like this.
The OP should investigate for themselves because it all depends what you're used to. For me energy costs will be way lower in the UK than they are in New York. Home costs will also be cheaper. Cars cost about the same but my car insurance will be cheaper. Only petrol is more expensive.
There are no sweeping generalizations when it comes to a move like this.
#25
Banned
Joined: Feb 2012
Location: Purgatory (PU, USA)
Posts: 860
Re: monthly rental homes in Manchester -- rents seem low
As I said, in MY opinion. My perspective. I'll be retiring soon, and I have my retirement savings & various income streams set up and ready to go. Not looking for a job. I find North America tedious & alienating, I've had enough of it. Weather's bloody awful here. Daily Mail etc. is entertaining but does not reflect UK reality. If I want to visit a National Trust property, I'd rather jump in the car and drive 20 miles than have to fly across the Atlantic.
And I believe that hard times are coming, cold winds are going to blow in Europe AND North America. I think British people are more resilient maybe, I think things will get ugly in the US when conditions go from bad to worse.
And I believe that hard times are coming, cold winds are going to blow in Europe AND North America. I think British people are more resilient maybe, I think things will get ugly in the US when conditions go from bad to worse.
#26
Re: monthly rental homes in Manchester -- rents seem low
I am expecting a transfer to the Manchester area from the U.S., and have been looking at rental sites to get a sense of the monthly cost of renting a home. We have two children and a dog, and therefore would prefer a detached home with a garden, with at least 3 bedrooms. I saw a number of properties which seemed pretty nice for between 1500 and 2000 pounds per month. I would have figured that the Manchester suburbs would have been considerably more expensive than that. Am I missing something? Is it really possible to get a nice 3-4 bedroom home with a garden for that price in a decent area?
My house in UK is in a very quaint village in Hertfordshire, commutable to London, 3 bed, 2 bath, home office, dining room, two reception and home cinema. Newly decorated and brand new bathroom and kitchen. It rents out for £1,400 per month.
#27
Banned
Joined: Feb 2012
Location: Purgatory (PU, USA)
Posts: 860
Re: monthly rental homes in Manchester -- rents seem low
Spoken like someone who lives in San Diego where it's always 70 degrees!
The OP should investigate for themselves because it all depends what you're used to. For me energy costs will be way lower in the UK than they are in New York. Home costs will also be cheaper. Cars cost about the same but my car insurance will be cheaper. Only petrol is more expensive.
There are no sweeping generalizations when it comes to a move like this.
The OP should investigate for themselves because it all depends what you're used to. For me energy costs will be way lower in the UK than they are in New York. Home costs will also be cheaper. Cars cost about the same but my car insurance will be cheaper. Only petrol is more expensive.
There are no sweeping generalizations when it comes to a move like this.
Petrol = cheaper in the US
Electronics = cheaper in the US
Clothing = cheaper in the US if you're a size 0, cheaper and more varied in the UK if you're bigger in size
The following are more expensive for me personally:
Rents (can't get much around here for under $1,000 unless you want to live in the ghetto)
Car insurance (we pay $140 a month)
Mobile phone contract
Healthy / unprocessed food (fruits, vegetables, meat, cheese, bread, cereal)
Health insurance (my wife and I pay $300 a month for a fairly limited plan)
Heating & gas (approximately $160 per month for a 1BR apartment)
Vets bills (pray your animal doesn't get sick here)
Doctor's visits ($20 out of pocket each time + prescription costs)
Higher education costs (currently being fleeced dry by my wife's student loans)
Bank charges
If you are a well off or upper middle class British expat, the above won't hurt you as much. You will still most likely be better off than the UK for the tax savings and you'll most likely be earning more than the UK. So "better off" really depends on your own personal situation. In my case, being an average bloke with no college degree, I would most likely be better off in the UK where I'd have more chance of bettering myself to climb the ladder.
Last edited by Ethelred_the_Unready; Feb 11th 2012 at 8:28 pm.
#28
Re: monthly rental homes in Manchester -- rents seem low
I am expecting a transfer to the Manchester area from the U.S., and have been looking at rental sites to get a sense of the monthly cost of renting a home. We have two children and a dog, and therefore would prefer a detached home with a garden, with at least 3 bedrooms. I saw a number of properties which seemed pretty nice for between 1500 and 2000 pounds per month. I would have figured that the Manchester suburbs would have been considerably more expensive than that. Am I missing something? Is it really possible to get a nice 3-4 bedroom home with a garden for that price in a decent area?
#29
Re: monthly rental homes in Manchester -- rents seem low
Yes, I am aware of this. As I said, I am from Manchester.