Chortlepuss

I transferred mine to My Expat SIPP. There’re not stellar performers, but at least you can withdraw part payment

We have come to the UK for 6 months and rented out our house in Brisbane to a lovely family via Sabbatical Homes - people on this site need short stays as they are only temporarily in the country. We did appoint a managing agent and change insurance, smoke alarms, other regs. We now have the same problem with our UK house. We came back to sell it but it hasn’t sold so need to rent for 9 months or so. Rentals in our area are like rocking horse poo. The UK govt are making it very hard to evict problem tenants. I feel tempted to use a house sitter and just write off the potential income.

We are back in our UK house with a view to selling it and returning to Australia. Been here just over a week - furnished it from charity shops & Facebook! My dream was always to have a UK bolt hole and my house here is perfect - we have fitted in like we’ve never been away. But the realities of keeping two houses going are not practical unless you are very rich. My daughter is having a baby in July in Oz and our grownup son in Brisbane has MH issues and needs us. So we will return after selling and use the money to travel. You have had a lot of great advice here & I won’t repeat it, but head down & crack on if it’s what you want. If I was staying here, I’d do what friends do and have a couple of months in Jan/Feb in India or somewhere warm. I’m amazed at the energy I feel and how well I feel, despite the cold! We’re sleeping well under the cosy duvet - and walking is a joy when you’re not slayed by the heat! I love the fact that it’s dark at night, quiet and that Spring is about to unleash beautiful flowers and long days… It’s expensive here for people on low- average incomes, and I wouldn’t want to be renting - grim in the South. Power bills ridiculous. And I’m hoping I don’t get sick when I’m here - friends have largely given up with access to Drs. But for all that, if I was free to move I’d probably return and embrace the beautiful countryside, benign climate and cultural and travel opportunities here.

There are many people moving temporarily who don’t want to fight for a rental and go to the trouble of furnishing it. We are in Brisbane in a very ordinary lowset house in a not particularly flash area. We also have a cat that needs care. Advertised our property as a furnished all inclusive rental for 5 months next year whilst we are in the UK and got a lot of interest from lovely prospective tenants. The alternative (Airbnb, service accommodation) is formidably expensive. I’d imagine you would have no problems - but get a good property manager.

Check out sabbatical homes. You don’t have to be an academic to register. We are renting our place in Brisbane for 5 months next year via this site.

Thanks! He will defer until post April 6th when we will be resident in UK in order to get 10% uplift!

What Im confused about is when the pension is frozen. He will be eligible in January. I understand that If still in Aus and claims, the pension is frozen as at Jan. When we move to UK in Feb and reside in UK, he is entitled to any increases whilst in the UK. But if he defers starting his pension till post April 10% rise (when we will reside in the UK) will the pension be frozen at the post April rate even if we subsequently move back to Aus? Or will it revert to value as at January when he first became eligible to claim?

Anyone understand state pension and residency? We are returning to the UK for a period of time to live in our UK house. We will be there long enough to be considered tax resident but as we retain Aus property will also be considered resident of Aus for tax purposes. My hubby becomes eligible to claim his state pension in Jan, we are leaving in Feb. If he defers taking his pension until we are resident in the UK (after April) will he get it at UK rates or ‘frozen’ rates? Thanks!

Years back the buyer of our house in the UK threatened to pull out the day before settlement unless we dropped the price significantly (some minor issue about being confused about parking outside the house), Our house had taken a year to sell, but we had to be brave and tell him to get stuffed. He bought it anyway. - it's every person for himself, especially in the (IMO) poorer house buying system in the UK. I'm now hooked into this thread - Please keep us updated Nanna!

You’re certainly not an idiot for not understanding tax rules - HRMC Guidance is as clear as mud and as you said, it’s rare to get consistent advice even when you’re lucky enough to get on the phone. No tax is payable on your items. As rammygirl says, if you have newly purchased items from Australia with the receipt you may wish to claim for a tax refund on exit if you can be bothered.

Since moving to Brisbane 15 years ago I’ve spent about 2.5 years on and off in the UK. Some of this was working for an old employer in the UK when I was broken by the bullying culture in Brisbane, some moving back to sort out UK property - and the most valued and treasured time spent with my mum before she succumbed to dementia. I’m so glad I have all these happy memories of spending time at home including travelling to some wonderful European destinations and enjoying time with friends and family. Even if your practical ‘head’ says stay in Australia (sadly mine does due to family obligations), then embrace your heart and make some memories- don’t burn any bridges. Your wife’s profession is highly sought after. For me, the fondest memories I have are of being at ‘home’ and now that travel is a lot easier, I intend to get back there when I can and experience life whilst I’m still young and fit enough. Good luck with whatever you decide but I’m pretty sure you won’t regret giving it a go. Despite tales of woe from the UK, it still offers so many happy experiences.

I suspect that the OP is trying to match like for like and hoping that you can sell a seafront property in the South of UK to purchase in Bondi or similar. Waterfront in Australia is astonishingly expensive - local to Brisbane the canal side properties go for $2-3 million and even less flash areas down the coast won’t get much change out of $2 million. And we’re one of the cheaper states! You have to decide whether the trade off is worth it…

You will definitely lose the RRV if you don’t come, then possibly spend ages agonising that you missed the boat. To get the chance of living here permanently you have to take this option while it is open to you - unless you want your remaining life to be ‘what if’ There is a risk that you will not materially have the same lifestyle as you had in the UK. Australia is an expensive place. Does this drop in living standards really matter? I had a beautiful house in SE UK which we sold. Can’t afford an equivalent house here but we survive and as we’re older, don’t need a large house. You own a premium house that will attract premium rent - or a premium sale value. If you rent it, you will be taxed on income and you will pay CGT on it if you sell. Alternatively you could take all that money tax free and either invest in a decent place in Aus, or rent (tricky I know) while you make up your mind where you want to live. Then go back to the UK if it doesn’t work out, knowing you’ve given it a go but it’s not for you… Your house sale will force you to make a decision but be grateful you have options and have money. A friend is 60+ and going through the parent visa process - it’s agonising- she would kill for your RRV! I’m sure you will always miss your lovely house if you sell but chances are, you’ve outgrown it now and time for different adventures!

I think you’ve got yourself into a right state by over thinking and analysing! I currently own a tiny townhouse in a quite dull village in the south of England - they rent for £1500 per month (not mine - I’m a softie and keep mine low ). Yours looks like a luxury house with a sea view. It will command a top dollar rental I’m sure! Keep your house if you’re not sure…it will be jolly hard to get somewhere that nice again. Keep your house until you’re sure you can settle in Australia. Come over, get your citizenship, stay with your kids until you can find a rental - then rent anything, 2 bed unit if necessary (it doesn’t matter if it’s a bit rubbish - you still own a lovely house). Try to settle here, join in, U3A etc, see if you make friends/can bear the lack of culture. Keep your options open until you are sure. Many of us are worried about being left alone & unsupported. You have lots of options & are pretty well off. I’d support a lot of criticism of Australia that you have heard - but are you willing to tolerate it to be nearer your sons? I would love to grow old in the UK (for many of the reasons you’ve mentioned) and if my son didn’t have MH problems and need us here I’d consider it. I’ve made a decision to sell UK property and then spend money on travelling back when I want to and treating myself. Good luck but don’t burn your bridges until you are SURE - otherwise you’ll spend a lot of time in this forum!

Agree with Marisa - don’t bother with private medical insurance. I have given up my hospital cover (we are 59,65). It was costing an arm & a leg for cover and when I did need it the ‘out of pocket’ expenses were really high. I looked at renewing after I got work again but so much that I might need (e.g cardio) was excluded from basic cover and gold cover is a fortune if you’re older. At $300 a month or so, it’s easier to set aside that amount and use it for healthcare if you need it. A friend is going through breast cancer in the public system - her treatment from diagnosis onwards was swift & efficient. Yes, her waiting times were a little longer but it was more or less free and the surgeon was the same whether private or public. If you are high priority (cancer, stroke etc..) you will be treated swiftly. You can see a bulk billed GP so pay nothing for your Drs visits - bulk bill GPS are easily found here. But even a charging GP is about $35 after your Medicare rebate - not much to pay to see a GP same day!

Remember if you retire here on a UK state pension it is frozen from when you first receive it and with inflation galloping along that is a worry. I am in a similar situation to you but already here in Australia. Approaching 60, will have a fair income (nothing like Quoll’s)! But will live quite a compromised life because the things I like to do (travel, eating out, theatre etc) and healthcare are extremely expensive. I have a house in the UK which is tenanted - I don’t want to give it up because then I would have nothing to return to. Nonsense really but psychologically tough. Your post worries me enormously. I have grandkids probably coming in the future, a MH son who needs us. I chose to come to Australia enthusiastically at first and my hubby loves is here. I now miss the UK every day particularly as I get older and yearn for the comfort of home. If it were possible I would be based in UK, come for long holidays to see loved ones. Health is an issue of course and we don’t feel we can justify business class which makes the journey wretched. It’s tough enough here for the 100% committed or the ‘stuck’. Can’t you buy yourself a bit of time? Could you use the proceeds of your sale to buy a smaller UK base and use the rest for long trips/business class? Australia is a high income high expense country - whereas I think of UK as low income low expense (changing now of course). Equivalent if you’re working here in a highly paid job but challenging to live on UK income here.

I’m glad it’s working with the psychologist. I must like you be brave and do the same. I never thought my worries worthy of discussion before and am cynical re: the worth counselling can provide - or maybe a bit frightened of letting cat out of the bag? I do empathise with the worry re: your kids but think you could see it another way. I grew up in Brighton, UK a brilliantly diverse and interesting place and so grateful to have been there at that time to enjoy it all. But my daughter as a nurse could never afford to live in Brighton - she has a lovely house here. My son suffers from MH issues and has fantastic support here. My friend’s son in the SE UK has similar issues and no support. I would have loved them to have the social and economic opportunities I had but they don’t really exist now at home. Brighton is a rich persons playground now and Australia is going that way with the cost of housing even in Brisbane. I’m actually glad my daughter stayed at home and has no uni debt. I think it’s wicked how young people in the UK are forced to take in punitive debt to study. In Brighton they build luxury accommodation for students with car parking and en-suites! They are just cash cows. I long for home almost every day but am aware of it being a longing for a long lost place - still beautiful and I’d still go home if I could, but I can see that young people can thrive here, despite the mind numbing blandness that people like you and I abhor.

I have found that if I can get back home it fills up the tank and I too can tolerate ‘prison island’. Not that I ever celebrate on the flight home. My husband loves it here, my kids are here. I’m stuck & sadly one of those ones contemplating a lonely funeral on Australian soil. I think I’ll put it into my will to have my ashes scattered on the South Downs!. I own a small house in SE UK which is tenanted. I will probably do some dubious number crunching to see if I can convert it to a pied a Terre now I’m approaching retirement. Perhaps I should see if homesick Brits want to rent it for a stay - it’s in a lovely spot

It I joined a Facebook group called People like us. We’re in the Western suburbs (Oxley) but probably moving to coast (Redlands) at some stage. If you’re in London I’d think you’ll get heaps of interest from swappers - everyone wants to go to London! I hadn’t thought about people doing recce’s but that may be a possibility too…

Now we’ve retired I have joined a house swap site with a view to finding people in the Uk who might want to come to Brisbane for a few weeks or longer - maybe to have somewhere to stay when they visit relatives over here. Not sure if I’ll get takers as my house is quite ordinary without a pool. Has anyone here had relatives/friends to stay but not really had enough room to host them? I’ll be really interested to see if there is any demand for this or whether people would prefer to stay somewhere posh….

Here in Brisbane the plot sizes get smaller and smaller but the McMansions built on them don’t! Huge 5 bed 2 bath houses inches from next door and with a tiny strip of yard at the back. We want to move to a smaller house with a bigger yard but these are snapped up by developers who concrete over every square inch. My dream is to plant a tropical garden but even with a reasonable budget, I’ve no chance!

What a lovely post. I do chuckle when I hear about ‘immigrants’ in the UK and also view strong anti-British sentiment with suspicion. I loved it too (In Brisbane) at first - I wonder if that was cos I was on a temp visa and determined to make the most of it? Then we drifted into citizenship and it all became a bit real. Anyhow my sisters are dotted around UK and apart from gripes about weather are all doing very well. There are so many gorgeous places to choose from and I’m sure you’ll have a great time exploring! Meanwhile you can tick Oz off the list knowing that not much will change (except hopefully the Govt) in your absence

Thanks Alan Im taking the advice of a tax lawyer - just wish more of this stuff was in the public domain. It impacts so many people, happens on a regular basis and if even the ATO help desk aren’t across the rules, there’s not much help for most of us!

Thanks Alan I’ve now found info I need after reading up on article 17. My understanding is that for anyone with a defined benefits scheme, a UK tax free lump sum is taxed in Australia on growth in lump sum since gaining Australian residence. Regular payments from the pension can be paid gross in UK if a nil tax code form is completed informing HRMC that they are not UK tax resident and resident in Australia for tax purposes. Tax will be deducted at source from UK pension unless this form is submitted to HRMC. If tax has already been deducted by HRMC it can be reclaimed on this form. If this is the case, it’ll certainly save me a lot of complex spreadsheet calculations!

Updated to say resident in Aus full time for tax purposes. Edit button not working for me!