MelanieJS

Oh dear! Sounds all very confusing. I guess you and your partner just have to decide what you want out of life. There are always going to be pros and cons in both countries. Wishing you all the very best of luck ;0)

We arrived yesterday afternoon too. My Australian partner wanted to return to the UK (I, British born and bred, not so much) but have decided to come back and try and work out if we do want to live here or Australia. My partner is on a Spouse Visa and can work fine.

We have just used Jetpets to bring our two Shih Tzu dogs from Brisbane to London Heathrow and I cannot recommend them highly enough. Our agent, Melanie Rose, was helpful throughout the process and answered my many, many questions. Also, our dogs were due to fly out earlier but my partner was taken off the flight ill. I therefore had to call Jim at Jetpets (Brisbane) to take our dogs of their flight with only a couple of hours to go. He was very understanding and they were happy to reschedule for us at our convenience. Our dogs arrived yesterday afternoon and they were perfectly fine. They weren't stressed or affected by the journey at all. This morning, they have had a big chicken dinner and have been playing like mad (they have just put themselves back to bed). The only negative is that they are both feeling the cold (I think they may want to return to Australia). We used Airpets to originally take our dogs to Australia and they were also great. Would recommend both them and Jetpets.

Hendra! It is behind Doomben racecourse and quite a few of the neighbours had stables. There would be people walking their horses down our street.

Chicken66: We are closing our bank account here. We don't need it and as you have to do it in person, it has to be done before we go. Thanks, we are looking forward to it and the next adventure.

Well we fly out on Monday 14th March! If we just left, then we wouldn't be entitled to getting our bond back anyway would we? I think I'll offer the bond as a gesture to get it finalised otherwise it looks like we will just leave.

Does anyone know how we sign the bond over to the agent/owner? Is it straightforward?

The rental agreement is until June. Part of me thinks the agents are apathetic about the situation. I think 6 weeks is sufficient time to find another renter tbh!

Parleycross: the rental amount is typical of this area. It is one of the cheapest.

BREAK LEASE :: 4 Bed House in Hendra, Brisbane, QLD, 4011 $750 wk 28 Ure Street Hendra Go thorough Agent for viewing. Available from 14th March. Call Jessica Furlan at Living Here on 0736068300 This lovely family home is in immaculate condition and combined with the size, location & quality on offer this property represents awesome rental value. With ample amounts of living space balanced with the outdoor entertaining area and yard, this home will suit the modern family. Features include but aren't limited to: - Modern kitchen with gas cooking, stone bench tops & European appliances - Tiled, open plan lounge and dining flowing out onto greater entertainers deck -Downstairs powder room -Master bedroom with en-suite & private deck -3 additional generously sized bedrooms all with built-ins -Family bathroom with bathtub -Ample storage throughout -Remote access, double car garage -3000L water tank -Low maintenance, yet stylish grounds Available from 14th March http://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-qld-hendra-416911610

Thanks for your reply Pom Queen. We wouldn't come back and rent again anyway so that is no issue. I just don't want it to stop us from being able to come back for a holiday here. Would consumer affairs be due to the issues with the rental property and the hardship way due to not being able to afford $3000 per month?

I'm moving back to UK Monday week and the estate agents haven't found anyone to take over our lease - we gave them 6 weeks notice of our intention to leave. We've had loads of viewings but no takings. We know we are meant to continue to pay the rent until they find someone but we can't really afford, plus we have to close our bank accounts in person so has to be done before we go. We are thinking of just going and letting them have the $3000 bond. I know it isn't very moral but on the flip side, they aren't very good at agents anyway. We've had loads of problems with the rental - we have a problem with the front door - my partner can't even open it. The agents can't open it either. I'm the only one who can so they think that is okay to leave it and said it is just stiff. I think it is a health & safety issue. If we were to just leave without continuing to pay the rent, what are the realistic implications? We will return to Australia for holidays only as my partner is Australian. Would this be an issue? Please advise.......(HELP!)

We are taking our two Shih Tzus back from Brisbane to London on 14th March. We are using Jetpets and our agent was Melanie Rose who has been helpful throughout the whole process. Our cost is $4330 and we are supplying our own crates.

We are going on March 14th - Brisbane to London. So excited!

I am just going through this process. I moved into our rental on the north side of Brisbane but I have to go back to the UK as my mother is really ill. I've given the Agents approximately 6-7 weeks notice. I've already had to pay $750 (week's rent) and $100 advertising fee plus if they don't find anyone to move in when we leave on 14th March, we are liable for all rent until they do find anyone. When I moved into the property (two days later than planned), it was filthy, the floors were dirty, there were alive/dead insects all over the floor. Where works had been done in the bathroom, the works had left dirty floors and put some of their waste down the toilet which won't flush etc., the carpets hadn't been cleaned). When I complained and said I wanted it professionally cleaned, the Agents said the owner doesn't think it is in such a state to have professionally cleaned and basically get on with it. Took me a whole day to clean the property. On leaving this property, they want me to have the carpets cleaned, I'm arguing this as they weren't cleaned before I arrived and the Agreement says they should have been cleaned on arrival. I am in two minds whether to just get on the plane and leave it all. I want our bond back though. I'm just hoping they find a new tenant. Fingers crossed. I didn't realise I could advertise the property myself though so will do that today.

I want to send a TV back to the UK (and about 2 boxes of stuff) - what would be the best way to do it? I did think of Move Cube but not sure if the smallest cube will still be too big. Any suggestions?

What I don't understand is why your husband is quite happy for you to be miserable here. My partner is Australian and hates living here, so we are going home to the UK next month. You are in a partnership so you are both entitled to be happy. If you aren't happy here, then I think your husband should take that on board and between you find a way where you can both be happy. I don't think him saying, if you go back to the UK it would be without your children, is very supportive.

I brought my two Shih Tzu's over from UK to Australia and used Airpets and had no issues with them at all and they both arrived safe and sound. One of my dogs is quite nervous and hates loud noises etc. and she was fine. By the way, I would still use Jetpets as it is probably a one off. I couldn't have left my dogs in the UK

I'm moving back to the UK and I don't have much stuff (55" Smart TV and a few other items that would probably fill 2 or 3 large boxes). Is it worth using a company like Crown or is there a better option?

I'm bringing my two Shih Tzu dogs back to the UK from Brisbane. We used Pet Air to bring them to Australia originally and had not issues with them. Can I use Pet Air to take them back to the UK or do I need to use an Australian pet shipper. If I have to use an Australian pet shipper, who are the best rated?

https://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/30706421/dog-dead-another-injured-covered-in-blood-during-terrifying-jetpet-animal-flight/ I am in the process of using Jetpets to send my two dogs from Brisbane to UK - now I'm not so sure after reading this - those poor dogs. Not sure who else to use though. Used Dogtainers to bring my dogs from Melbourne to Brisbane and didn't really rate them.

I think it is all down to the individual and very personal choice. We haven't long arrived in Brisbane (where my partner is from) and I remember at Heathrow neither of us were excited and if we could have pulled out, we would have. We have been in Brisbane almost a couple of months now and my partner is struggling to settle and feels like UK is now home. I think Australia is a great country if you have children or family here but not if you don't. Maybe Australia isn't 'us' in this stage of our lives. Perhaps later on down the road we will change our minds and return. We love Australia but it seems just mainly as a holiday destination and to catch up with family and friends. Lots of people say you have to give it time but sometimes you just know in your gut. We are now planning to move back to the UK and come to Oz for annual holidays.

Can anyone provide reputable dog carriers (Brisbane-UK)? Also any info if they have used them? Thanks

After 3 nights in the emergency vets and a bill over $2000, Mabel is now back with us. She is back to her normal self thanks to the intervention of the vets that she went to. We were told that if it had been left any longer, she would have likely died (we took her straight from picking her up from the airport after quarantine). The vet thinks it was more than likely a bug that she caught from quarantine rather than stress (this is considering our other dog is more likely to stress than Mabel and our other dog was perfectly fine). We will be getting a report from the vets to give to quarantine. We pay a lot of money to take our pets so they should be given the care that we paid for, otherwise what is the point of putting them through it all.

We flew our two dogs from the UK to Melbourne, then on to Brisbane after the 10 quarantine period. We were so excited to see them at Brisbane airport but that soon changed. One of our pets was in a pretty good condition, albeit a bit under weight which is to be expected. Our other dog was in an horrendous state. The smell from the crate was terrible. The fur around her bum area (and tail) was caked in what we thought was faeces (even thought it didn't smell like it). We took her home and gave her a bath to clean her up and then she just started to bleed from her bum. Basically she was caked in dried blood and faeces!! We rushed her to the vet and they told us she had Hemorrhagic Gastroenteritis, which apparently can be caused by stress. She has been in the emergency vets for 3 nights now and at one point it was touch and go as to whether she would survive! It is also costing us over£1000 (which isn't the issue as I would pay anything for her to be well again). What I don't understand is that I was told that they would be checked over by a vet at the Quarantine centre and also they have staff going into their kennels to feed them etc. Also, her behind looked like it had been wiped down and also it was caked in so it obviously wasn't new. We also called the quarantine centre in Melbourne and they emailed to say they were fine and that "no news is good news"!!!! Obviously not in this case. I just don't understand why she wasn't looked after and seen to by the vet if she was bleeding from behind. Surely they have a duty of care and they must know that stress/anxiety in dogs can cause this. We are absolutely devastated by all this and it has definitely put a dampener on our arrival here. We also feel really guilty for having put her through such an ordeal. However, we are absolutely fuming with the Australian Quarantine Centre for not looking after our pet's wellbeing, especially when we pay so much for their stay. I am disgusted by their lack of care and we are considering making a formal complaint. I hope this doesn't happen to any of your pets on their journey over here. I would just say for you all to call the quarantine centre to get updates.