Many expats want freedom of choice when they move back to the UK
With the Brexit deadline looming many retirees are considering moving back to the UK from homes they may have occupied for years overseas.
The costs of buying a bolthole in the UK may come as a shock and be out of reach for many which is why renting a retirement property can be the answer.
Barry and Pauline Jenkins have been renting an apartment in Homecliffe House in Highcliffe-on-Sea in Dorset through Girlings Retirement Rentals since June 2019.
Before moving the couple had lived in Spain for 22 years.
They spent their first five years renovating a house in the mountains before moving to the coast near Malaga.
They were very happy in Spain until Barry began to suffer from ill health last year.
The couple’s family became worried about them being so far away and asked them to consider moving back to the UK.
Barry and Pauline decided they’d had a good 22 years and enjoyed every moment of it, and it was time to close one chapter and start a new one.
The couple sold their house in Spain and looked for a property to rent in the UK.
Barry explains, “We wanted to rent rather than buy because renting gives us the option of upping sticks and moving in about a month if we decide to whereas you never know how long it’s going to take to sell a property. Renting gives us that freedom of choice.”
Barry and Pauline decided to move to Dorset where they have family.
They researched rental properties on the internet, however it wasn’t just themselves they had to consider – they had to find a landlord prepared to take their two dogs, Sophie and Chica too.
They found an ideal one-bedroom apartment in Homecliffe House through Girlings and were relieved to discover the dogs could come too.
Barry says, “Finding Girlings was a piece of luck, the apartment was the first one we saw that ticked all the boxes and since moving in we’ve been very happy. Highcliffe-on-Sea is a small town so we have everything we need close by and we’re only five minutes from the sea.
“We really enjoy the social side of living here too. We didn’t know anyone in the town apart from our family and living in a retirement development has been a great way to meet people. There are regular social events like bingo, fish and chip suppers, charity nights and weekly coffee mornings which we enjoy going to – we’re both outgoing people and have made lots of good friends.”
Pauline and Barry also appreciate the other aspects of living in a retirement development, such as the onsite manager and the guest suite for visiting relatives.
They find it reassuring to have the emergency call system in the apartment too, particularly as Barry walks with crutches and sometimes worries about tripping over one of the dogs and falling.
Barry says, “We took the flat on a six month contract to start with but are both so happy here that we don’t want to move again so we’ll change to an assured tenancy when it comes up for renewal.
Homecliffe House is a wonderful place to live with a great atmosphere – and the social life is a real bonus!”
- Girlings Retirement Rentals is part of Places for People, a leading placemaker in the UK.
- Girlings deals exclusively with renting private retirement property to the 55+ market throughout the UK.
- Girlings has over 2,500 properties in 600 developments across the UK
- Girlings lets the majority of its units on life long (assured) tenancy agreements, which allow tenants to stay in properties for as long as they wish, providing security of tenure.
- The services of the development and property maintenance are included in the monthly payments.
- Girlings properties are predominantly one bedroom apartments. Two bedroom apartments, studios, and a small number of bungalows and cottages are also available, all within purpose built retirement developments.
- Girlings is a member of the Association of Retirement Housing Managers (ARHM), the Association of Residential Lettings Agents (ARLA)).
- For more information visit girlings.co.uk
