Moving to England! (Garage Insulation questions..)

[jazznpool]

So, moving on from Germany, where the language barrier has been a major issue for both my wife, and to a lesser extent, myself.. Will be living in Northamptonshire region.

We got picked to rent an absolutely amazing property, well within our housing allowance. (The UK rental market is extremely competive. We were competing against like 5 other viewings that gave positive feedback.) The Diamond will need to go in the garage, but I made my intention to put it there clear in the precommunications to the estate agent/owner, so the intention is to either DIY the door insulation/airgapping seals myself, or get a kit.

Average temperatures in dead of winter are 35 degrees Fahrenheit.. I have no idea whether there is a radiator of any sort in the garage, but if it is, it will be gas-fed.

Any tips on what we can expect of temperatures once I get the doors insulated, or more economical ways to make the area playable in winter? Electric heating is provably not gonna be a big option, as electricity prices are pretty gnarly in UK. The summer temperature does not get much above 75 degrees, and I am expecting with doors being insulated, and a tempature-controlled venting fan, we can expect to easily keep the temperature down in summer without an A/C. But, IF needed, we do have a mobile A/C we can vent out into the gardener's storage room that is off to the side of the garage. We also have a portable dehumidifier.

If anyone is interested, this is the property. (This link will likely only be available for a short time after the house gets pulled from rightmove..

Check out this 4 bedroom detached house for rent on Rightmove

4 bedroom detached house for rent in Church Street, Woodford, Kettering, Northamptonshire, NN14 for £2,250 pcm. Marketed by Michael Graham, Northampton

www.rightmove.co.uk

I took the train from London St.Pancras to Kettering a month ago for shoe/boot fittings with Gaziano & Girling and Catella Shoemakers who are located there. I walked through the entire town and thought it was quite pleasant and livable (in contrast to Northampton). The people I encountered were friendly. The whole area historically was where the British shoe and boot industry was centered. Only a fraction of that remains in the area today but the world's finest shoes are still manufactured there. Your property looks great. I think you'll enjoy Kettering. You're within hailing distance of many other cities and places to explore. The Lake District is not to be missed. Best of luck.

 

[Flakeandrun]

England is a bit of a cartoon-esque dumpster fire. You should try one of the finer Celtic nations; Ireland, Cornwall, Wales, Scotland
I'd say, get a table in your house, because besides the countryside and outdoor spaces, you'll mostly find tiny tables and cretins in bars (and some toothless bar maids). There are lots of small village snooker clubs, if you don't mind membership fees, a little driving and green baize.

 

[ShortBusRuss]

I took the train from London St.Pancras to Kettering a month ago for shoe/boot fittings with Gaziano & Girling and Catella Shoemakers who are located there. I walked through the entire town and thought it was quite pleasant and livable (in contrast to Northampton). The people I encountered were friendly. The whole area historically was where the British shoe and boot industry was centered. Only a fraction of that remains in the area today but the world's finest shoes are still manufactured there. Your property looks great. I think you'll enjoy Kettering. You're within hailing distance of many other cities and places to explore. The Lake District is not to be missed. Best of luck.

Well, there's an update...

The landlord was up to total shadiness, and after running by the military housing office to check things out, after explaining the deal with the property, they advised us to absolutely not take deal as-is, and we followed their advice. So back to square one, and we are still looking.

The owner was planning on fencing off a small mother-in-law (granny) suite, and split the council tax/utilities on a 3/4 for us, 1/4 for him split, as we would be occupying the main house. This "sounded" reasonable to us, but when the housing office heard that, and we told them we would be expected to take meter readings every month for the owner to do calculations and charge us "our portion" of the utilities.. They told us the landlord seemed to be looking for a way to live cheap, and have us pay most of his bills.

First, we as Americans are exempt from council taxes altogether, and the exemption is applied to the entire property, and it is not separable. So the owner would either get a free ride off our exemption (possibly illegal), or we would need to pay our "portion" anyways, and we'd end up overpaying for the property, as compared to what we would pay if we were fully exempt. They advised us at minimum, the owner would need to have separate meters put in to properly segregate the utilities, or would need to move to other accommodations off the property. Owner was not willing to do either, so we informed the estate agent it was a no for now, unless things change on that front.

So, the search goes on. We have two more viewings today.

 

[Flakeandrun]

Well, there's an update...

The landlord was up to total shadiness, and after running by the military housing office to check things out, after explaining the deal with the property, they advised us to absolutely not take deal as-is, and we followed their advice. So back to square one, and we are still looking.

The owner was planning on fencing off a small mother-in-law (granny) suite, and split the council tax/utilities on a 3/4 for us, 1/4 for him split, as we would be occupying the main house. This "sounded" reasonable to us, but when the housing office heard that, and we told them we would be expected to take meter readings every month for the owner to do calculations and charge us "our portion" of the utilities.. They told us the landlord seemed to be looking for a way to live cheap, and have us pay most of his bills.

First, we as Americans are exempt from council taxes altogether, and the exemption is applied to the entire property, and it is not separable. So the owner would either get a free ride off our exemption (possibly illegal), or we would need to pay our "portion" anyways, and we'd end up overpaying for the property, as compared to what we would pay if we were fully exempt. They advised us at minimum, the owner would need to have separate meters put in to properly segregate the utilities, or would need to move to other accommodations off the property. Owner was not willing to do either, so we informed the estate agent it was a no for now, unless things change on that front.

So, the search goes on. We have two more viewings today.

Oh you will have some fun with landlords whichever property you choose. That's a certainty.

 

[ShortBusRuss]

Update: We found a different house, and did manage to get a small rental price reduction. About $2,000 or so over our yearly housing allowance. Tolerable. It is a very high spec property (for UK....)

New house

Check out this 5 bedroom detached house for rent on Rightmove

5 bedroom detached house for rent in Polebrook, Nr Oundle, PE8 for £2,800 pcm. Marketed by Charles Orlebar Estate Agents, Rushden

www.rightmove.co.uk

The dining room is 18'3" x 13'1", but one side of the table has a small step one can hitch up on when necessary, to give more room when needed on that side of the table. Pool table indoors, and a few feet away from where we spend most of our time! No need to fiddle around with a garage now.. Not exactly optimal, but it is indoors, and workable for a few years until/if we decide to buy a home in UK. Given the location/proximity to living room, no need to set up a different TV for viewing pool matches when playing. I can also be in the same general room as wifey when she is watching TV..

This is attached to a living room with a log fireplace, which is basically our dream setup. Oil heating for the radiators, but the oil furnace is less than three years old. The oil tank is above ground and accessible for delivery without much effort. More expensive than gas heating, but we are accustomed to this, as we had oil heating in Germany.

We have been conditionally accepted by the landlord at the negotiated rental price, and now is just a matter of UK renter's checks. We have our right to rent code shares all lined up, and communicated to letting agent. We have a long day ahead of us today, driving to France and back via Eurotunnel, to activate wife's visa and get her completely legal to live in UK. There was a snagu with visa dates, and hers was offset by a week, so she has to exit and reenter the UK to get it all sorted.

The house was built by the two sons of the owner, so all carpentry/masonry work needing to be addressed, has dedicated craftsmen available on demand. The house is very well taken care of compared to other properties we have viewed in the UK.

We'll have to buy our own refrigerator/freezer, and dishwasher if we want it. We have a washer/dryer coming from Germany. So that part is not a huge issue.

There is a whole other larger room on the first floor available for our workout area. Upstairs has a decent master bath, and there is a bedroom with a built in computer desk, where all our computer stuff and home network will be set up. While the network is "currently" fiber to end of village, and copper end run, there is a fiber to premises available in the village, which would just mean a 30 foot trench to do the last run from the road, and the fiber is already pre-run and waiting.

My job when we get set up will be to install smart wifi light bulbs in bedroom/living room, and get them hooked up to Alexa.

The property is about 17 minutes from my work (8 minute reduction from Germany), and 25 minutes to the base with commissary/PX(same as Germany..)

There is a nice pub about 300 meters up the road from the property. A second about 1 1/2 miles up the road.

Exciting!

 

[j2pac]

"Honey, do you want me to play here on the nice warm, dry table where you can keep an eye on me, or should I drive over to Buckinghamshire (BASH-er) and play in the pub?"

Between petrol for the M1 and pints of Boddingtons, the pub is going to cost a lot more. Not to mention the bar maids.

... and the Attorney.

 

[j2pac]

Update: We found a different house, and did manage to get a small rental price reduction. About $2,000 or so over our yearly housing allowance. Tolerable. It is a very high spec property (for UK....)

New house

Check out this 5 bedroom detached house for rent on Rightmove

5 bedroom detached house for rent in Polebrook, Nr Oundle, PE8 for £2,800 pcm. Marketed by Charles Orlebar Estate Agents, Rushden

www.rightmove.co.uk

The dining room is 18'3" x 13'1", but one side of the table has a small step one can hitch up on when necessary, to give more room when needed on that side of the table. Pool table indoors, and a few feet away from where we spend most of our time! No need to fiddle around with a garage now.. Not exactly optimal, but it is indoors, and workable for a few years until/if we decide to buy a home in UK. Given the location/proximity to living room, no need to set up a different TV for viewing pool matches when playing. I can also be in the same general room as wifey when she is watching TV..

This is attached to a living room with a log fireplace, which is basically our dream setup. Oil heating for the radiators, but the oil furnace is less than three years old. The oil tank is above ground and accessible for delivery without much effort. More expensive than gas heating, but we are accustomed to this, as we had oil heating in Germany.

We have been conditionally accepted by the landlord at the negotiated rental price, and now is just a matter of UK renter's checks. We have our right to rent code shares all lined up, and communicated to letting agent. We have a long day ahead of us today, driving to France and back via Eurotunnel, to activate wife's visa and get her completely legal to live in UK. There was a snagu with visa dates, and hers was offset by a week, so she has to exit and reenter the UK to get it all sorted.

The house was built by the two sons of the owner, so all carpentry/masonry work needing to be addressed, has dedicated craftsmen available on demand. The house is very well taken care of compared to other properties we have viewed in the UK.

We'll have to buy our own refrigerator/freezer, and dishwasher if we want it. We have a washer/dryer coming from Germany. So that part is not a huge issue.

There is a whole other larger room on the first floor available for our workout area. Upstairs has a decent master bath, and there is a bedroom with a built in computer desk, where all our computer stuff and home network will be set up. While the network is "currently" fiber to end of village, and copper end run, there is a fiber to premises available in the village, which would just mean a 30 foot trench to do the last run from the road, and the fiber is already pre-run and waiting.

My job when we get set up will be to install smart wifi light bulbs in bedroom/living room, and get them hooked up to Alexa.

The property is about 17 minutes from my work (8 minute reduction from Germany), and 25 minutes to the base with commissary/PX(same as Germany..)

There is a nice pub about 300 meters up the road from the property. A second about 1 1/2 miles up the road.

Exciting!

Congrats on the new digs.