{Ask Mary} Rental Costs and Transportation

 

Teri asked:: "I want to rent, not buy. Doesn't have to be a huge place, 2 bedrooms/2 bath and welcomes a small dog. What does this cost?

The cost of a flat depends on where it is you want to live. East, West, North, South are all different. They also offer different accommodation. I'll tell you that you probably won't find a place with 2 bathroom's without it being a much bigger property. Most people only have 1 bathroom here. But you'll just have to look.

Bedroom's tend to be on the smaller side as well as every other room. Closet space is limited and you will have a washer in the kitchen. You may or may not have a tumble dryer. I tend to really like smaller spaces. Always have. So I don't have a problem with any of these things but I know that it can be an adjustment for some expats are they are used to much bigger homes and have a lot of things.

Pets aren't usually a problem here it is something you'll need to discuss with your landlord. Scotland is for dog lovers I'll say that. They run free off their leash  at the park and the beach. Some walk around town not leashed and we've never ever had a problem with them bothering us. They tend to be very well behaved.

Most places here in Scotland you can just do a search online and see what you're looking for, call about it and get it. But here in Aberdeen is oh so very different. The real estate market is so healthy and growing that there are not enough places to meet demand. You will need an estate agent. They will help you find a property.

 

You can search for accommodation and get more general idea of cost and what you'll get on these sites::

www.rightmove.co.uk

www.s1homes.com

www.lettingweb.com

Some terminology that will be helpful in your search::

PCM = Per Calendar Month {pcw=per calendar week}

Cloakroom = Hall Closet or sometimes a half bath. The cloakroom denotes a small room off of the main reception hall. Which can be used for anything. Some people just have it as a closet and it you're lucky it will be a half bathroom.

Double Glazing = Double Paned Windows

Fitted Kitchen = refers to the furniture that is in the kitchen. There are two ways of furnishing your kitchen with cupboards, tables, countertops, appliances. You can either have them standing on their own or you have them fitted or screwed to the wall, floor, etc. A fitted kitchen has everything fitting perfectly with the measurements of the kitchen. It is custom to the space and not independent.

Terri also asked:: "Can I live in the country as long as I can get public transportation into the city?"

You can live where ever you want. We have really good public transit here and you can get into town without too much trouble. One thing to be aware of though is that you might need to take more than one bus/train to get into the city from the country. That takes time. A 30 min drive might end up to be 2+ hours on the bus {one way}. In harsh weather buses are known to skip stops to make sure they are back at the bus depot on time. Those country stops get forgotten. Not to mention you don't have a bus coming every 15 min. You might only have 2 or 3 per day and if you miss it...well, you can't go out that day.

When searching for a property I would most definitely make sure that you are on a good bus line. Buy yourself a monthly pass. Which might require you to buy more than one monthly pass to cover the bus system in the village you live and the one in the city. Just be aware of what you're really getting. The rental costs will be cheaper but you'll make up that cost in bus fare, council tax and isolation.

____________________________________________________________

 

If you have any questions you'd like answered please don't hesitate to ask!

marydebastos {at} gmail {dot}

{Ask Mary} Housing in Scotland

 

Ellie asked, " I'd love to know more about typical housing in Scotland. Our friends in Ireland told us that most places are furnished. Sounds funny to this American, but it makes sense too."

Answer::

I've lived in Scotland for almost 6 years. I've lived in 3 cities. When we were looking for an apartment just before Sebastian was born we looked in about a dozen different areas surrounding Glasgow/Paisley/Greenock. We never once found a furnished apartment. There isn't a market for it.

Aberdeen is a whole different ball game. We couldn't find anything NOT furnished. I asked our estate agent why this was and she said that it all has to do with the oil and gas industry and Aberdeen University. Aberdeen is a very transient city. People move in for just a couple of years and then they move back out. Their job is done. Not to mention how expensive it is to live here! There is a huge market for serviced and furnished apartments. People are paying big money to have everything taken care of for them.

We live in the city centre so that is more of the reason why we found a furnished flat. It makes sense that people want to be close to their places of work/study and that they would be the ones to need such places. To find unfurnished places you'd need to go out of town. Even then the ratio is 5 furnished to 1 unfurnished. It is what it is.

Ask Mary:: Should I take the train from London to Scotland?

I get so many emails every week asking questions about moving to Scotland as well as generic questions as to what should they do on their visit here. I'm starting an Ask Mary feature where I'll share the questions and answers for all to see and chime in. 

If there is something you want to know about living in Scotland go ahead and ask in the comments section and I'll answer them right here on the blog. 

_________________________________________________

Amie asked::

How long is the train from London to Scotland? Where do I go for train information?

It takes around 7 hours to drive to London and 45 min to fly. But, to take the train it takes approximately 5 hrs.

The train is a great way to travel. You can sit back and relax while someone else does the driving. No need to stop for the bathroom or something to eat as everything you could need is right there. Grab yourself a seat by the window and don't forget a book. You can even choose to travel on a sleeper train. Travel while you sleep! Brilliant.

The downside to taking the train is that it can be quite pricey for long a journey. You'll be surprised to find that you can take a flight for much cheaper. But, it is always good to check all your options and be prepared. Booking early is the key to finding the right price, whatever you choose to do.

The links below will help you plan::

TRAIN

www.thetrainline.com

www.virgintrains.co.uk

www.nationalrail.co.uk

www.scotrail.co.uk

BUDGET AIRLINES

www.ryanair.com

www.easyjet.com

www.flybe.com

*make sure to check the terms and conditions. Budget travel is an art!

BUS

www.megabus.com

www.nationalexpress.com

____________________________________________________

Have any of you taken the train from London to Scotland? Let us know your tips and tricks in the comments section.

If you have any questions just ask below or send me an email!