Housing

This section of our web site is designed to give you practical help and advice on finding a property, finalising the deal, and moving in. The first step in any home search is to define your target search area. To help you with this, please review our Area Information. Clients using our relocation services can take advantage of a tailor-made Area Orientation programme, a half-day guided tour with a relocation counsellor that will help you to be sure that intended target area is right for you.

If finding suitable schools are an issue, please review our web section on Education. Our experienced counsellors can advise you on schooling options for your children, and as part of our relocation services, we can source school places for you, obtain and send you school prospectuses, and arrange accompanied school visits.

We have information sections on both renting and buying property for your review.

Renting Or Buying?

In an ever-changing housing market, the major issue for many relocating employees is whether to rent or buy. For what its worth, our feelings on this key issue are as follows:

• Unless you're certain that you're in the right location, then rent somewhere for six months BEFORE considering a purchase.
  
• If you're an expatriate not resident in the UK for tax purposes, then take tax advice from a professional BEFORE making a purchase.
  
• The costs of buying and selling are high, so unless your company's relocation programme will cover these costs, a rental will always make more sense for assignments under three years in length.
  
• If you're likely to be re-assigned to a different work location at short notice, then a rental with a break clause is the best option.
  
• Don't assume that purchasing a property will make you a hefty capital gain. If you have to move due to your job, then the carrying costs of an empty property can easily wipe out any capital gain.
  
• If you're leaving the UK to go on an expatriate assignment, and intend at some time to return here, then ALWAYS keep a foot in the UK property market. Unless you're an investment expert, don't be tempted to liquidize all your assets.
  
• If you ARE buying, then remember the golden rule - LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION!! 

Check out our information sections on both renting and buying property. Happy hunting!!

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