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Thoughts on moving to Cornwall
Comments
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I liked the look of the Cornwall House in the latest Omaze lottery. So I bought a ticket.
Then reality came calling. It's tens of miles from anywhere, stuck on the Lizard peninsula, no mains sewage, it's own water bore (no water mains - so at least there wouldn't be a hosepipe ban), almost twice the average rainfall compared with Essex both quantity and number of days. Would I really want to live somewhere where it rains virtually every other day?
And, of course, getting to Charlton would be nigh on impossible.
So, if I win, does anybody want to buy a house? https://omaze.co.uk/pages/cornwall-viii
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Having done exactly that I would say you’re correct.usetobunkin said:If you want a total life style change, consider Ireland, especially the Wild Atlantic Way route.Real gentle country. The people are so welcoming and friendly.
However, like with moving to Cornwall, there are many things to consider.
One thing that I found very important about where we were moving to was how cosmopolitan it was. That made a huge difference to us. Many folk from all over the world moved to West Cork in the 70’s looking for that alternative lifestyle and that’s left a legacy of different race/cultures behind. Coming from such a diverse place as London I couldn’t imagine not living in among many different people.
Then the other most important thing is to chuck yourselves right into local stuff. I was told to join every women’s group and until you find the right one for you. Such a great piece of advice. We didn’t have kids so joining GAA etc was a no no. Instead we went to local pubs when the sports was on, trying to get involved that way. We then joined meals on wheels. Now we’re Community First Responders.
We’ve been here 12yrs now and I wouldn’t go back if you paid me. But we’ve put the hours in. Do we still get called a blow in? Of course and we always will. My great aunt married a local man (I didn’t know that until after I moved here) and she was still a blow in. It doesn’t bother us at all.
I remember your child has autism? How are they going to cope with the change? I know that that will be a huge factor for you.
Clonakilty, a town not far from us is known for being autism friendly, they have shopping days that a deliberately quite to facilitate families with these needs.
One thing I would add. The summers are getting busier. We don’t visit Baltimore much in the summer as you can’t get parked (hence why I’ve just bought an electric bike). And the winters are getting wetter. It doesn’t bother me but my husband suffers when he can’t get stuff done when the weather sets in.
I wish you nothing but the best 🙏🏻4 -
Depends on how you feel about living in one of the wettest parts of the country
On average slightly warmer than the south east but significantly wetter with fewer sunny days.
Fills up with bloody tourists from Easter throughput summer
Being a largely agricultural and fishing economy, it also has its fair share of deprived areas, St Austell for instance is known locally as St Awful not least for its class A drug problems.
That same agriculture/fishing community voted overwhelmingly for Brexit despite Cornwall receiving one of the highest proportions of EU economic subsidy - work that one out.0 -
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What a brilliant thread. Nothing to add of much use, but the discussion between @Algarveaddick and @Oggy Red really hits on some big questions.
Good luck @ForeverAddickted in whatever you decide.0 -
I lived in Devon once upon a time, and went to Cornwall a few times. The Southwest is nice, but can feel very isolated. That can be a good thing depending on one's preferences.
The seagulls there are something else.0 -
Last time I was in Penzance, anyone behind a bar or counter seemed to be from Lancashire!2
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Two stories to give Lifers an insight into some Cornish.
1. Many years ago, our friends, living in a very small, very rural Cornish hamlet and living with his parents, became aware of an ideal cottage to rent. The potential landlord had a newspaper cutting anonymously put through the letterbox. It was a report from the local paper a number of years previously of when he was done for no car tax. They weren't offered the cottage as a direct result!
2. Staying the night in Padstow, we were in boozer, when verbals began between a group of local lads and visitors from South Wales. We couldn't help but hear what the argument was about. We fully expected blows to be exchanged, it got that heated. The cause of the barney? Which group was the least English, I shit you not.1 -
I don't think they do, a house is up for sale, they've made an offer, seller agees to sell to them. Th council tax is just another tax and a way to make money, I doubt someone buying a £500k holiday home is going to not do it because the council tax is a bit dearer. Doesn't even apply to holiday lets.Algarveaddick said:
When it is the home of a deceased person being sold I would imagine that 95% of the time trustees are selling for the children of the owner, in this case, Cornish children. Those children can decide who they sell to, I can't imagine they are going to sue the trustee or executor if they sell to the people the children tell them to? I would also imagine that 95% of the time the vendors know exactly who is buying and why - they can pretty much work it out when Tarquin and Jocasta turn up in the Porsche...Rob7Lee said:
Trustees have a legal duty to sell a property for the best market price and can face legal action from beneficiaries if they sell it cheaply, ditto repossessions, friendly societies, charities etc. So not quite true that nobody ever......... I doubt selling cheap is top of 99.9% of people selling priority who aren't one of the above!Algarveaddick said:
Sorry old bean, but as I said a hill I would die on, nobody ever has to sell a house for the going rate, there is no gun to anyone's head. They choose to do so, whether their job is moving, they are a landlord that sells, or kids inheritance. The only one I will give you which I admit I hadn't thought of is care home costs, as I know there are rules preventing deprivation of assets. I am not convinced that takes up a huge chunk of available real estate.Oggy Red said:
That may be how it appears on the surface, Algarve - but look a bit deeper and it's not as simplistic as that.Algarveaddick said:
Swerving off topic, so apologies, but this IS a hill I would die on.Oggy Red said:Hi Forever,
As you know, I've lived down here in Cornwall for quite a long time now.
It's a very different mentality from London and Kent, you'll need to adapt and muck in with the locals - sense of community is still strong in Cornwall.
Second home owners are despised, buying up houses that would otherwise be homes for young families.
The buying of second homes is killing villages ....the plethora of these houses empty for most of the year, are causing the village shop to close down, then the pub and school.
Cost of living can be quite high and wages low, you'll see a lot of people struggling to make ends meet - especially in towns like Bodmin, St Austell, Redruth and Camborne.
Maybe take a look around Saltash or Liskeard, 30 minutes to Plymouth (city of 250,000) many more work opportunities, facilities, shops, etc.
Truro is the capital city of Cornwall, population 20,000.
Treliske hospital in Truro is the only A & E for much of Cornwall;
Derriford hospital in Plymouth covers E and SE Cornwall.
First responder local service is good, ambulance and air ambulance helicopter covers the rest.
Doctors and dentists in Cornwall, much deteriorated since COVID. Be lucky.
Don't underestimate the distance, Cornwall is a long way from London, no motorways and the main roads are of variable quality, gridlocked on summer Saturdays.
Only one main railway line, Plymouth to Penzance, though including direct through services from Paddington, Cardiff, north of England, etc ...west of Exeter, the journey quite slow and time consuming.
Be aware that Cornwall can feel very different from England.
People here are very proud to be Cornish, proud of their heritage and culture, language even.... it's definitely not the Home Counties.
And it can rain a lot - when it starts, it never bleddy stops.
But when the sun shines, it's God's Own Country.
Me? ....Cornwall my home.
I can't ever imagine moving back up the line. To me after more than 40 years in Cornwall, Kent now seems like a foreign country, even though I still have family there.
Algarve made the very best suggestion - rent first and see how it works for you. It's great advice!
Whatever, you will be welcome to drop me a DM.
Good luck!
Natives who sell to second home owners are should be despised, buying up selling houses that would otherwise be homes for young families.
The buying of selling to second homes [owners] is killing villages ....the plethora of these houses empty for most of the year, are causing the village shop to close down, then the pub and school.
We hear the same moans here, nobody is forcing grandma to flog her cottage at top dollar to a posh couple from the city and move to the Costa Brava (in a wonderful turn of irony). But it is always the purchaser who is the baddy, not the seller.
It takes two to tango.
Right, off me soap box, back to the plot...
Houses get sold for a variety of reasons,: job moves up country; to pay for care home costs, repossessions because of job losses, landlords having to sell.......not too many grannies here moving to the Costa Brava.
Typically more often, granny passes away and the house is left to her 3 adult middle aged children - and as usual in that situation, the house has to be sold to share out the inheritance accordingly. It needs to be sold at market price, local families can't match that on local wages - so Mr & Mrs Starry-eyed from London buy it.
Now that's not so much a problem if they are actually going to live in the village, contribute to the local economy and become part of the local community. That still keeps the village alive.
It's the second home owners who don't live there, keep the house empty except for an occasional holiday - the building is just their investment vehicle to augment their pensions in years to come.
If there were only a couple of second homes or holiday houses in a village, it wouldn't be such a problem - it's the sheer high proportion of them in villages, that's destroying communities and amenities.
There was a time not so many years ago, that locals had to move away to search for work and depopulation of Cornwall meant there were once plenty of houses available - and prices were low enough that they could afford to buy or rent.
Since those days, it's always been an issue - but now the trickle has turned into a tidal wave.
Lots more situations in addition, of course ....and that's before we consider the dead hand of AirBnB
I've got things I must do now, so no more time to deal with some of the other issues.
But it's a huge problem in Cornwall
How many of us have sold a house and asked for a written agreement as to what the house will be used for? A few people I know who have second homes down that way have inherited and kept rather than sell.
The Cornwall council and many others are beginning to rely on it as they receive double council tax for non main residences. It raises around £28m a year for them.
There's ways to combat the housing crisis, hoping people sell to local people is unlikely to be one of the successful one's.
Those that have inherited and kept it as a holiday home - sons and daughters? Mostly still Cornish aren't they? And, haven't they made a choice to do that rather than sell to a villager?
I am not saying that the purchasers are innocent little waifs in these transactions. They have to take some of the blame, but the locals always seem to put 100% of the responsibility on the incomers, and that does not seem to be the case in most scenarios.
Cornwall council cashing in on it just underlines my point. Local people benfitting from selling to townies.You actually gave me the answer I hoped you would, the blame lies with the sellers which will have been predominantly local people, or family of local people. They want maximum buck, don't blame the buyers.1 -
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Holiday lets generate much more for a local economy than a rarely used second home, and should always be treated as such. The government offer 50% off business rates in recognition of this, and some rural authorities offer the other 50% in an effort to encourage small businesses.Rob7Lee said:
I don't think they do, a house is up for sale, they've made an offer, seller agees to sell to them. Th council tax is just another tax and a way to make money, I doubt someone buying a £500k holiday home is going to not do it because the council tax is a bit dearer. Doesn't even apply to holiday lets.Algarveaddick said:
When it is the home of a deceased person being sold I would imagine that 95% of the time trustees are selling for the children of the owner, in this case, Cornish children. Those children can decide who they sell to, I can't imagine they are going to sue the trustee or executor if they sell to the people the children tell them to? I would also imagine that 95% of the time the vendors know exactly who is buying and why - they can pretty much work it out when Tarquin and Jocasta turn up in the Porsche...Rob7Lee said:
Trustees have a legal duty to sell a property for the best market price and can face legal action from beneficiaries if they sell it cheaply, ditto repossessions, friendly societies, charities etc. So not quite true that nobody ever......... I doubt selling cheap is top of 99.9% of people selling priority who aren't one of the above!Algarveaddick said:
Sorry old bean, but as I said a hill I would die on, nobody ever has to sell a house for the going rate, there is no gun to anyone's head. They choose to do so, whether their job is moving, they are a landlord that sells, or kids inheritance. The only one I will give you which I admit I hadn't thought of is care home costs, as I know there are rules preventing deprivation of assets. I am not convinced that takes up a huge chunk of available real estate.Oggy Red said:
That may be how it appears on the surface, Algarve - but look a bit deeper and it's not as simplistic as that.Algarveaddick said:
Swerving off topic, so apologies, but this IS a hill I would die on.Oggy Red said:Hi Forever,
As you know, I've lived down here in Cornwall for quite a long time now.
It's a very different mentality from London and Kent, you'll need to adapt and muck in with the locals - sense of community is still strong in Cornwall.
Second home owners are despised, buying up houses that would otherwise be homes for young families.
The buying of second homes is killing villages ....the plethora of these houses empty for most of the year, are causing the village shop to close down, then the pub and school.
Cost of living can be quite high and wages low, you'll see a lot of people struggling to make ends meet - especially in towns like Bodmin, St Austell, Redruth and Camborne.
Maybe take a look around Saltash or Liskeard, 30 minutes to Plymouth (city of 250,000) many more work opportunities, facilities, shops, etc.
Truro is the capital city of Cornwall, population 20,000.
Treliske hospital in Truro is the only A & E for much of Cornwall;
Derriford hospital in Plymouth covers E and SE Cornwall.
First responder local service is good, ambulance and air ambulance helicopter covers the rest.
Doctors and dentists in Cornwall, much deteriorated since COVID. Be lucky.
Don't underestimate the distance, Cornwall is a long way from London, no motorways and the main roads are of variable quality, gridlocked on summer Saturdays.
Only one main railway line, Plymouth to Penzance, though including direct through services from Paddington, Cardiff, north of England, etc ...west of Exeter, the journey quite slow and time consuming.
Be aware that Cornwall can feel very different from England.
People here are very proud to be Cornish, proud of their heritage and culture, language even.... it's definitely not the Home Counties.
And it can rain a lot - when it starts, it never bleddy stops.
But when the sun shines, it's God's Own Country.
Me? ....Cornwall my home.
I can't ever imagine moving back up the line. To me after more than 40 years in Cornwall, Kent now seems like a foreign country, even though I still have family there.
Algarve made the very best suggestion - rent first and see how it works for you. It's great advice!
Whatever, you will be welcome to drop me a DM.
Good luck!
Natives who sell to second home owners are should be despised, buying up selling houses that would otherwise be homes for young families.
The buying of selling to second homes [owners] is killing villages ....the plethora of these houses empty for most of the year, are causing the village shop to close down, then the pub and school.
We hear the same moans here, nobody is forcing grandma to flog her cottage at top dollar to a posh couple from the city and move to the Costa Brava (in a wonderful turn of irony). But it is always the purchaser who is the baddy, not the seller.
It takes two to tango.
Right, off me soap box, back to the plot...
Houses get sold for a variety of reasons,: job moves up country; to pay for care home costs, repossessions because of job losses, landlords having to sell.......not too many grannies here moving to the Costa Brava.
Typically more often, granny passes away and the house is left to her 3 adult middle aged children - and as usual in that situation, the house has to be sold to share out the inheritance accordingly. It needs to be sold at market price, local families can't match that on local wages - so Mr & Mrs Starry-eyed from London buy it.
Now that's not so much a problem if they are actually going to live in the village, contribute to the local economy and become part of the local community. That still keeps the village alive.
It's the second home owners who don't live there, keep the house empty except for an occasional holiday - the building is just their investment vehicle to augment their pensions in years to come.
If there were only a couple of second homes or holiday houses in a village, it wouldn't be such a problem - it's the sheer high proportion of them in villages, that's destroying communities and amenities.
There was a time not so many years ago, that locals had to move away to search for work and depopulation of Cornwall meant there were once plenty of houses available - and prices were low enough that they could afford to buy or rent.
Since those days, it's always been an issue - but now the trickle has turned into a tidal wave.
Lots more situations in addition, of course ....and that's before we consider the dead hand of AirBnB
I've got things I must do now, so no more time to deal with some of the other issues.
But it's a huge problem in Cornwall
How many of us have sold a house and asked for a written agreement as to what the house will be used for? A few people I know who have second homes down that way have inherited and kept rather than sell.
The Cornwall council and many others are beginning to rely on it as they receive double council tax for non main residences. It raises around £28m a year for them.
There's ways to combat the housing crisis, hoping people sell to local people is unlikely to be one of the successful one's.
Those that have inherited and kept it as a holiday home - sons and daughters? Mostly still Cornish aren't they? And, haven't they made a choice to do that rather than sell to a villager?
I am not saying that the purchasers are innocent little waifs in these transactions. They have to take some of the blame, but the locals always seem to put 100% of the responsibility on the incomers, and that does not seem to be the case in most scenarios.
Cornwall council cashing in on it just underlines my point. Local people benfitting from selling to townies.You actually gave me the answer I hoped you would, the blame lies with the sellers which will have been predominantly local people, or family of local people. They want maximum buck, don't blame the buyers.
A high percentage of predominantly empty homes is dreadful for a local community, and bad for the country as a whole that has failed to address the supply of housing and increase in population. Much of Cornwall, and some parts of Devon suffer from this problem, but what is a practical solution?
The problem is that much of the west country has beautiful countryside, low crime and an absolute joy to live in, ride motorbikes and bring up kids compared to inner city, or a sprawling suburb. Its no wonder that us blow ins what to spend time here.0 -
Not really sure what the answer is in these areas short of banning second homes, not sure that’s even possible?TellyTubby said:
Holiday lets generate much more for a local economy than a rarely used second home, and should always be treated as such. The government offer 50% off business rates in recognition of this, and some rural authorities offer the other 50% in an effort to encourage small businesses.Rob7Lee said:
I don't think they do, a house is up for sale, they've made an offer, seller agees to sell to them. Th council tax is just another tax and a way to make money, I doubt someone buying a £500k holiday home is going to not do it because the council tax is a bit dearer. Doesn't even apply to holiday lets.Algarveaddick said:
When it is the home of a deceased person being sold I would imagine that 95% of the time trustees are selling for the children of the owner, in this case, Cornish children. Those children can decide who they sell to, I can't imagine they are going to sue the trustee or executor if they sell to the people the children tell them to? I would also imagine that 95% of the time the vendors know exactly who is buying and why - they can pretty much work it out when Tarquin and Jocasta turn up in the Porsche...Rob7Lee said:
Trustees have a legal duty to sell a property for the best market price and can face legal action from beneficiaries if they sell it cheaply, ditto repossessions, friendly societies, charities etc. So not quite true that nobody ever......... I doubt selling cheap is top of 99.9% of people selling priority who aren't one of the above!Algarveaddick said:
Sorry old bean, but as I said a hill I would die on, nobody ever has to sell a house for the going rate, there is no gun to anyone's head. They choose to do so, whether their job is moving, they are a landlord that sells, or kids inheritance. The only one I will give you which I admit I hadn't thought of is care home costs, as I know there are rules preventing deprivation of assets. I am not convinced that takes up a huge chunk of available real estate.Oggy Red said:
That may be how it appears on the surface, Algarve - but look a bit deeper and it's not as simplistic as that.Algarveaddick said:
Swerving off topic, so apologies, but this IS a hill I would die on.Oggy Red said:Hi Forever,
As you know, I've lived down here in Cornwall for quite a long time now.
It's a very different mentality from London and Kent, you'll need to adapt and muck in with the locals - sense of community is still strong in Cornwall.
Second home owners are despised, buying up houses that would otherwise be homes for young families.
The buying of second homes is killing villages ....the plethora of these houses empty for most of the year, are causing the village shop to close down, then the pub and school.
Cost of living can be quite high and wages low, you'll see a lot of people struggling to make ends meet - especially in towns like Bodmin, St Austell, Redruth and Camborne.
Maybe take a look around Saltash or Liskeard, 30 minutes to Plymouth (city of 250,000) many more work opportunities, facilities, shops, etc.
Truro is the capital city of Cornwall, population 20,000.
Treliske hospital in Truro is the only A & E for much of Cornwall;
Derriford hospital in Plymouth covers E and SE Cornwall.
First responder local service is good, ambulance and air ambulance helicopter covers the rest.
Doctors and dentists in Cornwall, much deteriorated since COVID. Be lucky.
Don't underestimate the distance, Cornwall is a long way from London, no motorways and the main roads are of variable quality, gridlocked on summer Saturdays.
Only one main railway line, Plymouth to Penzance, though including direct through services from Paddington, Cardiff, north of England, etc ...west of Exeter, the journey quite slow and time consuming.
Be aware that Cornwall can feel very different from England.
People here are very proud to be Cornish, proud of their heritage and culture, language even.... it's definitely not the Home Counties.
And it can rain a lot - when it starts, it never bleddy stops.
But when the sun shines, it's God's Own Country.
Me? ....Cornwall my home.
I can't ever imagine moving back up the line. To me after more than 40 years in Cornwall, Kent now seems like a foreign country, even though I still have family there.
Algarve made the very best suggestion - rent first and see how it works for you. It's great advice!
Whatever, you will be welcome to drop me a DM.
Good luck!
Natives who sell to second home owners are should be despised, buying up selling houses that would otherwise be homes for young families.
The buying of selling to second homes [owners] is killing villages ....the plethora of these houses empty for most of the year, are causing the village shop to close down, then the pub and school.
We hear the same moans here, nobody is forcing grandma to flog her cottage at top dollar to a posh couple from the city and move to the Costa Brava (in a wonderful turn of irony). But it is always the purchaser who is the baddy, not the seller.
It takes two to tango.
Right, off me soap box, back to the plot...
Houses get sold for a variety of reasons,: job moves up country; to pay for care home costs, repossessions because of job losses, landlords having to sell.......not too many grannies here moving to the Costa Brava.
Typically more often, granny passes away and the house is left to her 3 adult middle aged children - and as usual in that situation, the house has to be sold to share out the inheritance accordingly. It needs to be sold at market price, local families can't match that on local wages - so Mr & Mrs Starry-eyed from London buy it.
Now that's not so much a problem if they are actually going to live in the village, contribute to the local economy and become part of the local community. That still keeps the village alive.
It's the second home owners who don't live there, keep the house empty except for an occasional holiday - the building is just their investment vehicle to augment their pensions in years to come.
If there were only a couple of second homes or holiday houses in a village, it wouldn't be such a problem - it's the sheer high proportion of them in villages, that's destroying communities and amenities.
There was a time not so many years ago, that locals had to move away to search for work and depopulation of Cornwall meant there were once plenty of houses available - and prices were low enough that they could afford to buy or rent.
Since those days, it's always been an issue - but now the trickle has turned into a tidal wave.
Lots more situations in addition, of course ....and that's before we consider the dead hand of AirBnB
I've got things I must do now, so no more time to deal with some of the other issues.
But it's a huge problem in Cornwall
How many of us have sold a house and asked for a written agreement as to what the house will be used for? A few people I know who have second homes down that way have inherited and kept rather than sell.
The Cornwall council and many others are beginning to rely on it as they receive double council tax for non main residences. It raises around £28m a year for them.
There's ways to combat the housing crisis, hoping people sell to local people is unlikely to be one of the successful one's.
Those that have inherited and kept it as a holiday home - sons and daughters? Mostly still Cornish aren't they? And, haven't they made a choice to do that rather than sell to a villager?
I am not saying that the purchasers are innocent little waifs in these transactions. They have to take some of the blame, but the locals always seem to put 100% of the responsibility on the incomers, and that does not seem to be the case in most scenarios.
Cornwall council cashing in on it just underlines my point. Local people benfitting from selling to townies.You actually gave me the answer I hoped you would, the blame lies with the sellers which will have been predominantly local people, or family of local people. They want maximum buck, don't blame the buyers.
A high percentage of predominantly empty homes is dreadful for a local community, and bad for the country as a whole that has failed to address the supply of housing and increase in population. Much of Cornwall, and some parts of Devon suffer from this problem, but what is a practical solution?
The problem is that much of the west country has beautiful countryside, low crime and an absolute joy to live in, ride motorbikes and bring up kids compared to inner city, or a sprawling suburb. It’s no wonder that us blow ins what to spend time here.
You already have the additional stamp duty whether a holiday let or second home, double council tax in many areas, what else?
guy at my work has a flat in the Isle of Wight he used as a holiday home and let at times too. Been for sale for 15 months now, no sign of a local buying it or anyone else so he’s just locked it up and sits empty most of the year. So in that particular case it’s probably just too expensive for a ‘local’ based on local wages and he thinks the £7k council tax puts off a lot of people for a holiday home. He could cut the price I guess, but doesn’t seem bothered 🤷♂️0 -
You have really confused me now, I was the one who started by saying the sellers are as much to blame as the buyers, if not more so. But I accept that without a city dweller to buy, there's no transaction, hence the "some of the blame" comment. I'm not quite sure what point you are trying to make?Rob7Lee said:
I don't think they do, a house is up for sale, they've made an offer, seller agees to sell to them. Th council tax is just another tax and a way to make money, I doubt someone buying a £500k holiday home is going to not do it because the council tax is a bit dearer. Doesn't even apply to holiday lets.Algarveaddick said:
When it is the home of a deceased person being sold I would imagine that 95% of the time trustees are selling for the children of the owner, in this case, Cornish children. Those children can decide who they sell to, I can't imagine they are going to sue the trustee or executor if they sell to the people the children tell them to? I would also imagine that 95% of the time the vendors know exactly who is buying and why - they can pretty much work it out when Tarquin and Jocasta turn up in the Porsche...Rob7Lee said:
Trustees have a legal duty to sell a property for the best market price and can face legal action from beneficiaries if they sell it cheaply, ditto repossessions, friendly societies, charities etc. So not quite true that nobody ever......... I doubt selling cheap is top of 99.9% of people selling priority who aren't one of the above!Algarveaddick said:
Sorry old bean, but as I said a hill I would die on, nobody ever has to sell a house for the going rate, there is no gun to anyone's head. They choose to do so, whether their job is moving, they are a landlord that sells, or kids inheritance. The only one I will give you which I admit I hadn't thought of is care home costs, as I know there are rules preventing deprivation of assets. I am not convinced that takes up a huge chunk of available real estate.Oggy Red said:
That may be how it appears on the surface, Algarve - but look a bit deeper and it's not as simplistic as that.Algarveaddick said:
Swerving off topic, so apologies, but this IS a hill I would die on.Oggy Red said:Hi Forever,
As you know, I've lived down here in Cornwall for quite a long time now.
It's a very different mentality from London and Kent, you'll need to adapt and muck in with the locals - sense of community is still strong in Cornwall.
Second home owners are despised, buying up houses that would otherwise be homes for young families.
The buying of second homes is killing villages ....the plethora of these houses empty for most of the year, are causing the village shop to close down, then the pub and school.
Cost of living can be quite high and wages low, you'll see a lot of people struggling to make ends meet - especially in towns like Bodmin, St Austell, Redruth and Camborne.
Maybe take a look around Saltash or Liskeard, 30 minutes to Plymouth (city of 250,000) many more work opportunities, facilities, shops, etc.
Truro is the capital city of Cornwall, population 20,000.
Treliske hospital in Truro is the only A & E for much of Cornwall;
Derriford hospital in Plymouth covers E and SE Cornwall.
First responder local service is good, ambulance and air ambulance helicopter covers the rest.
Doctors and dentists in Cornwall, much deteriorated since COVID. Be lucky.
Don't underestimate the distance, Cornwall is a long way from London, no motorways and the main roads are of variable quality, gridlocked on summer Saturdays.
Only one main railway line, Plymouth to Penzance, though including direct through services from Paddington, Cardiff, north of England, etc ...west of Exeter, the journey quite slow and time consuming.
Be aware that Cornwall can feel very different from England.
People here are very proud to be Cornish, proud of their heritage and culture, language even.... it's definitely not the Home Counties.
And it can rain a lot - when it starts, it never bleddy stops.
But when the sun shines, it's God's Own Country.
Me? ....Cornwall my home.
I can't ever imagine moving back up the line. To me after more than 40 years in Cornwall, Kent now seems like a foreign country, even though I still have family there.
Algarve made the very best suggestion - rent first and see how it works for you. It's great advice!
Whatever, you will be welcome to drop me a DM.
Good luck!
Natives who sell to second home owners are should be despised, buying up selling houses that would otherwise be homes for young families.
The buying of selling to second homes [owners] is killing villages ....the plethora of these houses empty for most of the year, are causing the village shop to close down, then the pub and school.
We hear the same moans here, nobody is forcing grandma to flog her cottage at top dollar to a posh couple from the city and move to the Costa Brava (in a wonderful turn of irony). But it is always the purchaser who is the baddy, not the seller.
It takes two to tango.
Right, off me soap box, back to the plot...
Houses get sold for a variety of reasons,: job moves up country; to pay for care home costs, repossessions because of job losses, landlords having to sell.......not too many grannies here moving to the Costa Brava.
Typically more often, granny passes away and the house is left to her 3 adult middle aged children - and as usual in that situation, the house has to be sold to share out the inheritance accordingly. It needs to be sold at market price, local families can't match that on local wages - so Mr & Mrs Starry-eyed from London buy it.
Now that's not so much a problem if they are actually going to live in the village, contribute to the local economy and become part of the local community. That still keeps the village alive.
It's the second home owners who don't live there, keep the house empty except for an occasional holiday - the building is just their investment vehicle to augment their pensions in years to come.
If there were only a couple of second homes or holiday houses in a village, it wouldn't be such a problem - it's the sheer high proportion of them in villages, that's destroying communities and amenities.
There was a time not so many years ago, that locals had to move away to search for work and depopulation of Cornwall meant there were once plenty of houses available - and prices were low enough that they could afford to buy or rent.
Since those days, it's always been an issue - but now the trickle has turned into a tidal wave.
Lots more situations in addition, of course ....and that's before we consider the dead hand of AirBnB
I've got things I must do now, so no more time to deal with some of the other issues.
But it's a huge problem in Cornwall
How many of us have sold a house and asked for a written agreement as to what the house will be used for? A few people I know who have second homes down that way have inherited and kept rather than sell.
The Cornwall council and many others are beginning to rely on it as they receive double council tax for non main residences. It raises around £28m a year for them.
There's ways to combat the housing crisis, hoping people sell to local people is unlikely to be one of the successful one's.
Those that have inherited and kept it as a holiday home - sons and daughters? Mostly still Cornish aren't they? And, haven't they made a choice to do that rather than sell to a villager?
I am not saying that the purchasers are innocent little waifs in these transactions. They have to take some of the blame, but the locals always seem to put 100% of the responsibility on the incomers, and that does not seem to be the case in most scenarios.
Cornwall council cashing in on it just underlines my point. Local people benfitting from selling to townies.You actually gave me the answer I hoped you would, the blame lies with the sellers which will have been predominantly local people, or family of local people. They want maximum buck, don't blame the buyers.0 -
We bought a house in the solitude of the Swedish countryside 4 years ago. I neighbour within 1-2 miles. Nearest shop (only 1 in town) is 2 miles and the next 15 miles.
She has already said, "I now know categorically, that when I retire (we'll have moved back to a city by then), there is no ****ing way i'm moving to the countryside, ever again.
She's been a city girl all her life and cites that it was the biggest mistake of her life. She has a job she loves (1 hour commute, 5 days a week), other than that, she'd sell up tomorrow.
Our nearest old friends live 2+ hours drive and in 4 years, most have never visited.
We have a 4 bed, 2 bathroom house, with a few acres and outdoor pool and sauna house, so with it just being us 2, space isn't an issue. Cost about £225k in 2022. Property locally is cheap, usually a lot cheaper (from £50k), but we wanted a really nice place that wasn't a fixer upper, that could accommodate her father with his own bedroom and bathroom downstairs.
Friends have outright stayed, "If you wanted anyone to visit, you shouldn't have moved so far away!"
A friend has just been on holiday to Scottish islands and has also fallen in love with the landscape and he and his wife (50's) have had talks about moving. I've don't all I can to persuade him otherwise. It's a 9 hour drive (each way) for his nearest friend or family member!
Country life takes a person / couple that is content to leave behind pretty much everything and everyone, and start a new life.
I met a lot of new friends at language school, whereas my wife hasn't, which probably makes a big difference for how she has integrated.
It's quite funny that she's a Swede and has found it hard to settle in, and I have lots for friend, although every one is a migrant like me!
Sadly I never found work, so I still work in England hence 30+ flights a year.
I love solitude, but not indefinitely!!4 -
Crikey! We’ve been in West Cork 12 years and still the world and his wife are visiting.
See more of our friends/famo than we did before we moved 😩🫣😂😂😂1 -
I'd suggest that people who have moved that have no friends that visit is probably down to the friends actually not liking them more than anything else 😁
We have friends, our best friends, who moved to Cyprus about 7 years ago and we have visited at least once every year since and them us. Couldn't imagine not seeing them for years on end.
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It's surprising how popular you become with family members especially in the school holidays when you live at the seasideLargeAddick said:I'd suggest that people who have moved that have no friends that visit is probably down to the friends actually not liking them more than anything else.
We have friends, our best friends, who moved to Cyprus about 7 years ago and we have visited at least once every year since and them us. Couldn't imagine not seeing them for years on end.
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LargeAddick said:I'd suggest that people who have moved that have no friends that visit is probably down to the friends actually not liking them more than anything else 😁
We have friends, our best friends, who moved to Cyprus about 7 years ago and we have visited at least once every year since and them us. Couldn't imagine not seeing them for years on end.It is good that they have friends like you.Many times people can be lazy and then there can be large gaps in seeing friends.0 -
Emmets1
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'kin 'ell commute from Sweden to England!The Prince-e-Paul said:We bought a house in the solitude of the Swedish countryside 4 years ago. I neighbour within 1-2 miles. Nearest shop (only 1 in town) is 2 miles and the next 15 miles.
She has already said, "I now know categorically, that when I retire (we'll have moved back to a city by then), there is no ****ing way i'm moving to the countryside, ever again.
She's been a city girl all her life and cites that it was the biggest mistake of her life. She has a job she loves (1 hour commute, 5 days a week), other than that, she'd sell up tomorrow.
Our nearest old friends live 2+ hours drive and in 4 years, most have never visited.
We have a 4 bed, 2 bathroom house, with a few acres and outdoor pool and sauna house, so with it just being us 2, space isn't an issue. Cost about £225k in 2022. Property locally is cheap, usually a lot cheaper (from £50k), but we wanted a really nice place that wasn't a fixer upper, that could accommodate her father with his own bedroom and bathroom downstairs.
Friends have outright stayed, "If you wanted anyone to visit, you shouldn't have moved so far away!"
A friend has just been on holiday to Scottish islands and has also fallen in love with the landscape and he and his wife (50's) have had talks about moving. I've don't all I can to persuade him otherwise. It's a 9 hour drive (each way) for his nearest friend or family member!
Country life takes a person / couple that is content to leave behind pretty much everything and everyone, and start a new life.
I met a lot of new friends at language school, whereas my wife hasn't, which probably makes a big difference for how she has integrated.
It's quite funny that she's a Swede and has found it hard to settle in, and I have lots for friend, although every one is a migrant like me!
Sadly I never found work, so I still work in England hence 30+ flights a year.
I love solitude, but not indefinitely!!
Bromley to Cannon Street used to piss me off.0
