Resources - Move to the Cotswolds
"A year in the Cotswolds" sounds like a great idea, doesn't it? We have been thinking about doing this, so are following the house rental websites. Many real estate agencies offer long term rentals ("residential lettings") as well as houses for sale. Currently (February 2008) there is a shortage of rentals in the Cotswolds. There are still many houses for rent, but not as many as in earlier years.
Instead of spending a year or more, another option is to do a two or three month stay. We did this in January - March 2008 and stayed in a vacation rental. Because it was off season, we got a good rate (about 50% more than the monthly cost of a yearly rental) and we did not have to sign up for utilities or phone, or get a visa to stay. I found a vacation rental in the area that I wanted and worked it out directly with the owner.
What to Expect When Looking for a Long Term Rental
Leases: Most rentals have a yearly lease, but I have seen some with six month leases.
Credit Check/Deposit: Since you don't live in England they cannot do a credit check, so they need bank and character references and a larger deposit. Normally a one month's rent deposit is taken; for a foreigner they want two month's rent for a deposit.
Furnished Rentals: These are not common, but you will find some. Most people renting in the UK want unfurnished houses.
Pets: Some rentals will not accept pets. Cats are more likely to be accepted than dogs. (It is a somewhat complicated process to get pets ready to move to the UK and takes seven months to complete. Read more about the Pet Travel Scheme on the DEFRA website.)
Prices: Real Estate in the Cotswolds is very expensive. A row house in a popular village that sells for £300,000+, may rent for £1,000 per month. Some example prices: £750/month for an old stone row house (end unit), recently remodeled; £850/month for 3bed/1bath house with garden and countryside views; £1,000/month for a 3bed/1bath cottage on the grounds of a large estate in the countryside. (Examples from 2008.)
Extra Charges: Tenants pay utilities plus the yearly Council Tax (can be from £1000 to £1800 per year). In some cases tenants are expected to pay for yearly maintenance (e.g. chimney sweeping, electric testing, gas testing).
Time Needed to Find a Rental: Many properties give two months notice, but some give just one month notice. They try to find a tenant before the property is vacated.
Best Time to Find a Rental: I have been following the listings for a couple of years and do not see obvious times when there are more listings.
Maps
Ordnance Survey Get-a-Map: Online maps for all of the UK at 1:25,000 or 1:50,000 detail, so you can check out the exact locations of places.
Databases for all of the United Kingdom
There are several websites that have all listings for all parts of England and direct you to the local agency website for more information.
RightMove.co.uk: Search for sales and rentals by town and nearby area, or search by region (e.g. "Cotswolds").
Homes and Properties: Search for sales and rentals by town and nearby area. Nice option to check off which towns in an area you want to search.
LettingSearch: Search for rentals by town and nearby area. Flat-share listings are mixed in with rental listings which makes it a bit confusing.
Letting Agents for the Cotswolds
Stroud News & Journal: Local weekly paper with classifieds for real estate and rentals. Available in local shops or online.
Andrew Greenwood: Sales and rentals, office in Chipping Campden (northern Cotswolds).
Brian Smith Property Management: Rentals only, office in Stonehouse (near Stroud).
Butler Sherborn: Sales and rentals, offices in Tetbury, Burford, Stow-on-the-Wold.
Cotswolds Property Lettings: Rentals only, office in Broadway. Vacation rentals and long term rentals, mostly in northern Cotswolds.
Cotswold Residential Lettings Ltd.: Rentals only, office in Stroud (southern Cotswolds).
Hardcastles: Rentals only, office in Cirencester. Listings for Gloucestershire, Wiltshire, Oxfordshire and The Cotswolds.
Hayman-Joyce: Offices in the Cotswolds (Broadway, Morton in Marsh, Winchcombe, Mayfair).
Martin & Co Lettings: Rentals only, office in Cirencester with many Cotswold listings.
Parkers: Sales and rentals, offices in several Cotswold locations. Listings for Berkshire, Wiltshire and Gloucestershire.
Perry Bishop and Chambers: Sales and rentals, offices in several Cotswold locations.
Peter Joy: Sales and rentals, offices in Nailsworth and Stroud (southern Cotswolds).
Montgomery Lettings & Management: Rentals only, office in Stroud.
Letting Agents for Beyond the Cotswolds
Bath
Sometimes Bath is listed under Somerset, sometimes under Avon.
Andrews Online: Sales and rentals for Bath, Bristol and much of southern England.
Bath City Lets: Rentals in Bath and surrounding area.
Bath Property Shop: Rentals in Bath.
Cobb Farr: Sales and rentals in Bath, Bradford on Avon, Somerset, Wiltshire, South Gloucestershire. Offices in Bath and Bradford on Avon.
Chris Davies Premier Lettings: Rentals
Crisp Cowley: Sales and rentals.
David Richardson: Sales and rentals for Bath and surrounding villages.
Dotlets: Rentals in Bath and surrounding area.
Elliott Properties: Residential Lettings, office in Bath.
EPS Residential: Sales and Rentals for Bath, Bristol and the west.
Holden Heal: Sales and rentals, offices in Bath, Frome, Midsomer Norton.
Home Lets of Bath: Rentals in Bath.
Middleton Greenwood: Rentals in Bath, Bradford on Avon, and surrounding area.
Pullin Knight: Sales and rentals in Bath.
Stonier Hobbs: Sales and rentals in Bath.
West of England Residential: Rentals in Bath and the west.
Bradford on Avon (Wiltshire)
Geoffrey M. Saxty: Sales and rentals, office in Bradford on Avon.
Kingston-Saunders: Sales and rentals in west Wiltshire.
Cobb Farr:Sales and rentals in Bath, Bradford on Avon, Somerset, Wiltshire, South Gloucestershire.
Cheltenham
Belvoir Cheltenham: Apartments (flats) and houses for rent in Cheltenham, Bishops Cleeve, Tewkesbury and Gloucester.
Oxford
Weekly Home: Furnished apartments in Oxford from one week to five months.
The Legal Bits - Visas, Pets, Etc.
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: DEFRA has the regulations for bringing pets into the UK. Pets no longer need to be quarantined, but you have to get them chipped, vaccinated and have blood work done. Start this about six months before moving.
Home Office, Immigration & Nationality Directorate: Government website with information for British visas, citizenship, right to abode. You may qualify for the right to live in the UK if one of your parents was born there. See the site for more information.
British Embassy in the US: If you are an American wanting to apply for British citizenship, contact your local embassy.
Dual Citizenship FAQ: Dual Nationality and United States Law.
Irish Embassy: Information for Ireland.
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