Planning a Move to Edinburgh & Questions Thread

Sean_ius · 21-02-2017 12:50pm #1

Hi guys,

I've browsed a good few posts on this topic but I thought I'd post one for some feedback!

I've been to Edinburgh four times in the past two years and I seem to fall in love with the place a bit more each time. I'm currently living at home in Waterford which is grand, but with my current job finishing up before the summer, I'm thinking a move would be good. So Edinburgh is the first place I've had in mind for a while.

The plan is to move over with my boyfriend. We'd hopefully have some work lined up before hand but if not we'll have some savings to keep us afloat. I've been looking at 1 bedroom places around Dalry and Gorgie since a friend suggested that's a decent area. Rent prices seem affordable but I've heard Council Tax can be quite expensive? All the listings I've seen are Band B. I'm not really sure how to figure out how much that might be so any help would be appreciated.

I'm free to move from the end of June but my boyfriend won't be free until early August. I know Fringe is on and that probably makes looking for places very difficult (plus students looking for college). Would it make more sense for me to go by myself first or wait until after summer?

If anyone has any more advice or feedback based on this, please shout. I'm very keen on this idea but don't want to jump into it without researching it all properly. Thanks guys

razorblunt · 21-02-2017 2:29pm

Council Tax is changing in April this year.
Band B is £1271 for the year, you generally break that down in 10 or 11 monthly payments I think.

Regarding the time to move, I found a place in August (not all landlords will be looking for Festival lets, some will avoid it) when I moved 8 years ago. If you could get over yourself in June and flatshare for a few months that would allow you to scope out a few areas. I've lived in Dalry, it's grand, never had any hassle, few dodgy streets but that's the same as everywhere. Not a huge fan of Gorgie (which is right next to Dalry) but that's just because I always find it dark and dull weirdly.

Sean_ius · 21-02-2017 7:00pm

Ah that makes sense, thanks! So that isn't too bad between two people really. That sounds like a good idea, I might look into that. Thanks for your advice!

Fysh · 21-02-2017 9:49pm

I'd say wait until after August - it seems to be quite common for rents to be nudged up in the July-August period because of the relative scarcity of available properties.

I haven't lived in Gorgie or Dalry but head over to Fountainpark regularly to hit the cineworld and hit a meetup that usually picks a venue round there. It seems a decent enough spot

jimmii · 21-02-2017 11:54pm

Council tax isn't so bad ours works out at £173/month. Just getting round can be a bit of a nightmare in August and it's the 70th anniversary festival this year so there's an extra push behind it so will probably even busier than last year. There's not as many 11 month lets as there used to be but some landlords still do it just because you can get a month's rent for a week but there's lots of nice places so you should be able to find something suitable no matter when you go looking.

Bebo stunnah · 22-02-2017 10:01pm

I moved over in the last year and, to be honest, I found it ridiculous trying to find a place. I came over in August thinking it wouldn't be as difficult as it was to find a flat. I only managed to get one in December!

I was staying in a place out near Restalrig I found on Spareroom for 3 months!

I've heard from different sources that this year people were finding it particularly difficult to find a place to rent, which I can personally agree with.

One thing to consider is the whole rental thing is somewhat different to what I was used to back home. You have to call the letting agent to organise a viewing (which can change at short notice- a pain in the ass if you're not staying here), then you have to apply to rent it (usually with several other applicants, usually with a holding fee), then the landlord gets to pick who they want.

It's illegeal for letting agents to charge fees to tennants or prospective tennants. The holding fee is just to make sure your application is genuine and is refunded if you're not successful and usually paid against a deposit if you are. But it makes applying for multiple flats at the same time impossible as it seems that if you're the one that pulls out of the agreement you loose it.

Another thing is if you don't have a UK guarantor you'll more than likely have to cough up the 6 months rent and deposit in one go (Which I had to) they normally do a credit check for UK residents, but can't (or don't bother) if you're not. Something to do with you being legally contracted to leasing the flat for 6 months.

I'm currently living around the spot where Dalry and Gorgie overlap, and find it a really nice spot. There's 6 bus routes right next to me and 2 night buses (something I didn't realise would be so important to me :pac: )

Someone did this great write-up of the whole ordeal procedure on Reddit

Best bit of advice is to take your time and get somewhere you like, because there are a serious amount of sh1te flats here. I had a little ledger of all the flats I applied to; 53 viewings organised; 26 viewed; only 3 that I found "up to my standard" (applied to 10, only one accepted)

Fysh · 22-02-2017 11:39pm

Another thing that seems to be more common around festival time is landlords/agents seeking a 12 month contract with no break clause, rather than the more common 6 month contract or 12-month-with-6-month-break-clause option that's generally used in England.

On a different note, if you're moving with a pet I've found that usually an extra week's rent on the deposit seems to satisfy concerns about potential damage. Odds are good you'll need to have any carpets or fixed furnishings cleaned when you move out if you have a cat or dog - check with the agent, some will be ok with you doing this yourself but others will request proof that it has been done professionally.

On the topic of inventories and so on - I've had agents try to claim that we would be responsible for cleaning the outside of first and second floor windows (with the implication being that we were expected to pay to have it done, since they were clearly inaccessible from within the flat). I managed to talk them round by politely explaining the situation and having the flat otherwise as expected (including moving the couch back from one side of the room to the other, because they were picky about it...). As per that reddit guide, it's vital to photographically document the state of the flat when you move in *and get the agent or landlord to agree that your photos are a true and accurate reflection of the property at that time*. This will save you time and hassle when you move out.

Bebo stunnah · 23-02-2017 8:53am

Fysh wrote: »

On a different note, if you're moving with a pet I've found that usually an extra week's rent on the deposit seems to satisfy concerns about potential damage. Odds are good you'll need to have any carpets or fixed furnishings cleaned when you move out if you have a cat or dog - check with the agent, some will be ok with you doing this yourself but others will request proof that it has been done professionally.

I couldn't find a single place that would accept pets, my current flat included. I even suggested that I would provide payment for it to be professionally cleaned.

razorblunt · 23-02-2017 1:40pm

Is it now 6 months without a guarantor? Bloody hell, it was 3 for me

-=al=- · 23-02-2017 1:55pm

Moved to Scotland last August to take advantage of the free education and saw some awful apartments! I saw some places via letting agents and wasn't dealing with the fuss so ended up finding a lovely 1 bed place on gumtree and it worked out perfect.

So do look around and check everywhere.

I Airbnb'd for just over a week and set up lots of viewings for that week but i was looking well in advance for places and scoping out the areas

No council tax since I'm a student but I think it's £120 a month or something. I'll have to pay in summer when college is out so they keep on top of it. Add that into the cost of rent + lots of places I saw was pay as you go gas/elec which I was sceptical at first but is fine. Landlord pays for the wifi and it's a little cheaper to live than Dublin - for me at least

Happy enough here too :pac:

NoCrackHaving · 23-02-2017 2:20pm

Bebo stunnah wrote: »

I moved over in the last year and, to be honest, I found it ridiculous trying to find a place. I came over in August thinking it wouldn't be as difficult as it was to find a flat. I only managed to get one in December!

I was staying in a place out near Restalrig I found on Spareroom for 3 months!

I've heard from different sources that this year people were finding it particularly difficult to find a place to rent, which I can personally agree with.

One thing to consider is the whole rental thing is somewhat different to what I was used to back home. You have to call the letting agent to organise a viewing (which can change at short notice- a pain in the ass if you're not staying here), then you have to apply to rent it (usually with several other applicants, usually with a holding fee), then the landlord gets to pick who they want.

It's illegeal for letting agents to charge fees to tennants or prospective tennants. The holding fee is just to make sure your application is genuine and is refunded if you're not successful and usually paid against a deposit if you are. But it makes applying for multiple flats at the same time impossible as it seems that if you're the one that pulls out of the agreement you loose it.

Another thing is if you don't have a UK guarantor you'll more than likely have to cough up the 6 months rent and deposit in one go (Which I had to) they normally do a credit check for UK residents, but can't (or don't bother) if you're not. Something to do with you being legally contracted to leasing the flat for 6 months.

I'm currently living around the spot where Dalry and Gorgie overlap, and find it a really nice spot. There's 6 bus routes right next to me and 2 night buses (something I didn't realise would be so important to me :pac: )

Someone did this great write-up of the whole ordeal procedure on Reddit

Best bit of advice is to take your time and get somewhere you like, because there are a serious amount of sh1te flats here. I had a little ledger of all the flats I applied to; 53 viewings organised; 26 viewed; only 3 that I found "up to my standard" (applied to 10, only one accepted)

The main thing I'd disagree with on that Reddit thread is not going to a flat without pictures. Where I'm currently living had no photos and turned out to be great!

razorblunt · 23-02-2017 3:34pm

Bebo stunnah wrote: »

I'm currently living around the spot where Dalry and Gorgie overlap, and find it a really nice spot. There's 6 bus routes right next to me and 2 night buses (something I didn't realise would be so important to me :pac: )

Someone did this great write-up of the whole ordeal procedure on Reddit

Just to add, this was also where I lived and I loved it. Ardmillan Place to be exact, seems to have flats to rent a few times a year. The only thing I complained about was the lack of a local (that wasn't a Hearts pub), the day we moved out we walked around the corner and saw The Caley Sample Rooms. We'd never gone that way before!

EDIT from the Reddit page - this is a gem of a reference guide.
http://vis.oobrien.com/booth/?zoom=12&lat=55.94&lon=-3.21&layers=B000FFTT

jimmii · 23-02-2017 8:35pm

razorblunt wrote: »

Is it now 6 months without a guarantor? Bloody hell, it was 3 for me

Was 6 months for us 5 or 6 years ago was some pain wasn't expecting it! That was back when the agents fees were getting crazy too I remember seeing once place where it was £200 f that!

jimmii · 23-02-2017 8:38pm

NoCrackHaving wrote: »

The main thing I'd disagree with on that Reddit thread is not going to a flat without pictures. Where I'm currently living had no photos and turned out to be great!

While not every place without pictures is going to be a dive most of the time there is a reason. We went to see a couple with no pictures they were shocking bad never bothered doing it again. If someone can't be bothered to post a few pictures for their place I'm not going to be bothered to have to actually go there to decide if I want to pay them to live there.

NoCrackHaving · 28-03-2017 4:16pm

Anyone reckon this thread should be bookmarked on the forum? The moving to Edinburgh question comes up a lot (more so than Glasgow, sorry my west coast friends...).

jimmii · 28-03-2017 5:37pm

NoCrackHaving wrote: »

Anyone reckon this thread should be bookmarked on the forum? The moving to Edinburgh question comes up a lot (more so than Glasgow, sorry my west coast friends...).

Definitely. Or even if there was just a general Edinburgh chat thread so that all random Edinburgh questions go there. We couldn't get a forum by dammit we can get a general thread going!

razorblunt · 29-03-2017 2:15pm

Good points, we definitely need something alright. I can only give factually dubious info so many times!

Fysh · 29-03-2017 6:15pm

Point taken folks, I'll sticky this when I get on non-mobile access. A chat thread would be a fine idea as well

jimmii · 29-03-2017 6:42pm

Fysh wrote: »

Point taken folks, I'll sticky this when I get on non-mobile access. A chat thread would be a fine idea as well

Do we just start a thread called Edinburgh chat or does it need to get set ups by a mod?

Fysh · 29-03-2017 9:09pm

jimmii wrote: »

Do we just start a thread called Edinburgh chat or does it need to get set ups by a mod?

Just start one, that'll probably give it a better chance of catching on

Sean_ius · 15-07-2017 4:44pm

Hey guys,

Sorry for not replying for so long. I'd like to thank everyone who helped, the replies have been great. That Reddit thread is especially helpful. We're still planning on moving over but life got in the way the past few months so we're only getting around to properly looking at stuff now. Not ideal but sure.

Just a quick question. I've seen the whole thing with needing a guarantor. I'm sure we'll need one if we don't have jobs sorted when looking for a place (hopefully won't be the case but still). And I'm assuming they won't take an Irish credit score into account. So is it still 6 months and a deposit up front from most letting agencies do you think?

Again, thanks for all the help and apologies for not replying!

jimmii · 15-07-2017 7:19pm

Yeh 6 is standard but lately there has been a move to curb tennant upfront costs from the government so not sure how widespread it still is.

NoCrackHaving · 17-07-2017 9:48am

Sean_ius wrote: »

Hey guys,

Sorry for not replying for so long. I'd like to thank everyone who helped, the replies have been great. That Reddit thread is especially helpful. We're still planning on moving over but life got in the way the past few months so we're only getting around to properly looking at stuff now. Not ideal but sure.

Just a quick question. I've seen the whole thing with needing a guarantor. I'm sure we'll need one if we don't have jobs sorted when looking for a place (hopefully won't be the case but still). And I'm assuming they won't take an Irish credit score into account. So is it still 6 months and a deposit up front from most letting agencies do you think?

Again, thanks for all the help and apologies for not replying!

Yeah to the best of my knowledge credit scores outside of Scotland won't count. It may be useful to consider renting a room as part of a wider houseshare for the first year or so to allow you to build up a credit score. Obviously this may not be ideal.

Divelment · 05-09-2017 11:12pm

Hope it's ok to ressurect this thread as I searched for "moving to Edinburgh" and this thread is the most recent thread on moving there!

Finally had enough of Ireland (Irish born & bred), the unimaginable clusterfúck that is the Irish housing crisis, the lack of ability of this country to get its basic sh*t together for its citizens in terms of governance, feel like I have lost 10 years of my life to this country and its almost unfathomable inability to sort out the most basic of human needs such as housing, healthcare, etc.

Sat down and had a think about what I might do next and Edinburgh is where my head is at. I'm a single professional, no kids, 39, adaptable and just dying to try living somewhere else now because this country right now appears to be completely fúcked in terms of the housing & rent crisis.

Just wonder has anyone else left Ireland and gone to Edinburgh for this reason (lack of housing), and did they find having a basic thing like a roof over your head, somehow achievable in terms of the move?

jimmii · 06-09-2017 8:43am

I love Edinburgh it's such a great city. Buying in the UK is way way easier but Edinburgh is still one of the most competitive markets over here so it's certainly not cheap.

Michael D Not Higgins · 06-09-2017 10:40am

jimmii wrote: »

I love Edinburgh it's such a great city. Buying in the UK is way way easier but Edinburgh is still one of the most competitive markets over here so it's certainly not cheap.

I've been looking at buying and I've been renting the last 5 years in Edinburgh. You're right about the prices, they're only marginally behind Dublin and supply is about the same, just as restricted.

I haven't been too serious about looking yet, but I'm seeing things like a property for sale advertised end of last week, closing date for applications tomorrow. I think property at the lower to medium end is shifting fast.

Edit: does anyone know how much property generally goes for above the 'offers over' price?

jimmii · 06-09-2017 11:03am

Michael D Not Higgins wrote: »

I've been looking at buying and I've been renting the last 5 years in Edinburgh. You're right about the prices, they're only marginally behind Dublin and supply is about the same, just as restricted.

I haven't been too serious about looking yet, but I'm seeing things like a property for sale advertised end of last week, closing date for applications tomorrow. I think property at the lower to medium end is shifting fast.

Edit: does anyone know how much property generally goes for above the 'offers over' price?

The biggest difference I found was how quickly things are dealt with here! We went from viewing to offer accepted in think it was 3 emails over around an hour or so! I also like how in Scotland when you have a move date there is no messing around if the previous owner wants to stay past that they have to pay you!

Seen a few stats in The Times not so long ago. Average selling time in Edinburgh is a ridiculous 15 days and the average completion price was ~10% more than the offers over figure but it really depends on what the OO number is relative to the home report as obviously most lenders will only give you up to that figure.

Michael D Not Higgins · 06-09-2017 11:19am

jimmii wrote: »

The biggest difference I found was how quickly things are dealt with here! We went from viewing to offer accepted in think it was 3 emails over around an hour or so! I also like how in Scotland when you have a move date there is no messing around if the previous owner wants to stay past that they have to pay you!

Seen a few stats in The Times not so long ago. Average selling time in Edinburgh is a ridiculous 15 days and the average completion price was ~10% more than the offers over figure but it really depends on what the OO number is relative to the home report as obviously most lenders will only give you up to that figure.

I have a fairly large deposit (about 40% of the price range I'm looking at) so I don't think the mortgage would be the issue. The one I mentioned before had offers over at ~5% below the home report value, so will probably go for at least 10% over that.

jimmii · 06-09-2017 11:44am

Michael D Not Higgins wrote: »

I have a fairly large deposit (about 40% of the price range I'm looking at) so I don't think the mortgage would be the issue. The one I mentioned before had offers over at ~5% below the home report value, so will probably go for at least 10% over that.

That seems to be about the norm for Edinburgh alright listed for a little under and goes for a little over. Prices here are flying up so quickly at the lower end of the market some places are getting mid teens increases in the last year. We live east of Edinburgh the amount of building going on the whole way down the train line is just ridiculous.

Battleflag · 07-09-2017 4:53pm

A friend of mine was advertising a room in his shared house (not flat!) for about a third of what I pay in rent & council tax. Forgot how cheap back home is in comparison to Edinburgh but the standard of living here makes up for it

Michael D Not Higgins · 08-09-2017 12:06pm

Battleflag wrote: »

A friend of mine was advertising a room in his shared house (not flat!) for about a third of what I pay in rent & council tax. Forgot how cheap back home is in comparison to Edinburgh but the standard of living here makes up for it

Where is your friend? Dublin certainly isn't cheaper than Edinburgh.

Battleflag · 08-09-2017 3:08pm

Michael D Not Higgins wrote: »

Where is your friend? Dublin certainly isn't cheaper than Edinburgh.

Yer right there but Dublin isn't the whole of Ireland either! Wesht of Ireland

Divelment · 08-09-2017 3:15pm

Battleflag wrote: »

Yer right there but Dublin isn't the whole of Ireland either! Wesht of Ireland

Dublin now is just impossible and is the reason why I'm moving. It is an overrated capital city that is so poorly managed in terms of basic requirements like transport and housing, that it has enabled greed to happen on an eye watering scale. You have zero security of tenure if you are sharing with an owner occupier and they will move you out if they think they can get another 200-300 Euro a month in rent off someone else, it has actually gone insane in Dublin now, the stories I am hearing are just so incredibly unfair and plain wrong, the way people seeking accommodation are being treated.

Michael D Not Higgins · 08-09-2017 3:16pm

Battleflag wrote: »

Yer right there but Dublin isn't the whole of Ireland either! Wesht of Ireland

Ah yeah, but you can't compare the wesht with Edinburgh! You might as well say you can get somewhere in Timbuktu cheaper than rural Ireland.

Michael D Not Higgins · 08-09-2017 3:20pm

Divelment wrote: »

Dublin now is just impossible and is the reason why I'm moving. It is an overrated capital city that is so poorly managed in terms of basic requirements like transport and housing, that it has enabled greed to happen on an eye watering scale. You have zero security of tenure if you are sharing with an owner occupier and they will move you out if they think they can get another 200-300 Euro a month in rent off someone else, it has actually gone insane in Dublin now, the stories I am hearing are just so incredibly unfair and plain wrong, the way people seeking accommodation are being treated.

No need to tell me, I'm a mod of Accommodation and Property!

Divelment · 08-09-2017 3:51pm

Michael D Not Higgins wrote: »

No need to tell me, I'm a mod of Accommodation and Property!

That's the only reason why I'm relocating to Edinburgh, am so unbelievably done with the headfúck that is now life in Dublin. We seem to be incapable of doing anything right in this country. I know every city has it's own particular challenges but Dublin is no longer worth the hassle. Yes Council Tax in Edinburgh is much higher but it just seems like a much "fairer" place to live at the moment I think.

mrblondecutsear · 30-08-2019 12:55pm

Hi all,

I'm moving from Dublin to Edinburgh in mid September for a job offer and was just looking for general info on moving.

My work will be based in Leith and have heard mixed things about the area. When looking for an apartment would anyone have suggestions of areas I should check out?

In relation to general setting up such as getting a bank account, a national insurance number and registering with the NHS is the process usually long to have get these things sorted or is the process rather painless?

Thanks!

Bebo stunnah · 02-09-2019 4:00pm

mrblondecutsear wrote: »

My work will be based in Leith and have heard mixed things about the area. When looking for an apartment would anyone have suggestions of areas I should check out?

Edinburgh is quite a small city, tiny compared to Dublin and the public transport (Lothian Buses) is on a different planet compared to Dublin. You can reach Leith within 80 minutes from almost anywhere else within the city bypass, so there's not much point in limiting yourself to that area alone. Leith is fine, there's a few dodgy spots, as with most cities, but on the whole it's alright.
If you're planning on driving it's a different story however; I've heard Leith is a nighmare in that regards.

The rental market is quite rapid, probably a bit similar to Dublin. Apartments get snatched up very quickly and as you're planning on moving in September I'd imagine you having quite a hard time as you'll be in competition with a lot of the students returning.
There's a few Facebook groups about flat/housing/shares etc. Give them a look,you might find them handy.

mrblondecutsear wrote: »

In relation to general setting up such as getting a bank account, a national insurance number and registering with the NHS is the process usually long to have get these things sorted or is the process rather painless?

Banks: it depends, normally you'll have to have a permanent address here before a bank will open an account for you, maybe your new emploer will help?
You may be up against it with all the new students looking to register accounts, they may be dealt with seperately.
In any case I'd highly recommend the likes of Revolut or Monzo, you'll be limited with the amount you can withdraw from ATMs but it was a massive help when I moved over.

As with the NHS you won't be able to register unless you have an address as it's done via a 'cactchment area', and there's usually a limit on the amount of people they can register per week. These used to be limited to one day per week and only on certain timeslots, but I don't think that's the case anymore.
You should be able to avail of an emergency GP if you need one, and you'll also be able to use the minor injuries or A&E units in the hospital (which will most likely be the Western General) if you need it in the meantime. NHS

And for National Insurance Number, all the details are https://www.gov.uk/apply-national-insurance-number

jimmii · 02-09-2019 7:15pm

mrblondecutsear wrote: »

Hi all,

I'm moving from Dublin to Edinburgh in mid September for a job offer and was just looking for general info on moving.

My work will be based in Leith and have heard mixed things about the area. When looking for an apartment would anyone have suggestions of areas I should check out?

In relation to general setting up such as getting a bank account, a national insurance number and registering with the NHS is the process usually long to have get these things sorted or is the process rather painless?

Thanks!

Leith has changed a lot in the last decade. Theres two Michelin star chefs with restaurants and that whole area is quite nice now property prices have jumped as a result too. You can see the changes creeping up Leith Walk everytime one of the old guard closes something new and fancy looking opens. As mentioned above getting to Leith is pretty straight forward. If you're planning on driving then worth looking east of the city. I'm in East Lothian and its rarely more than 30 minutes drive to Leith and when its quiet takes about 20 minutes by car. If you prefer not to live too close to work but still be able to get in handy enough then Portobello is a really nice spot. Compared to Dublin theres not many areas to be avoided to be honest. Where we live is meant to be "rough" but it's a long way from Dublin rough!

As mentioned above getting sorted for NHS etc isnt too tricky. I'm from the UK but it was all pretty straight forward for my wife to get set up and generally people are happy to help and you will have emergency care if needed anyway. I would register with a GP as soon as you're settled as it can be a bit of a pain to find an place lots dont take any new registrations I had to register a couple of towns over because they're all just too busy.

Planning a Move to Edinburgh & Questions Thread

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