[Hilarysmum]

Hi Kevin wasnt particularly referring to you posting(s) just generally -   living here watching perfectly good houses left empty and falling into ruin, eventually becoming worthless, when they could be offered for social housing. 

Sorry if my comment appeared to be a aimed at you, it wasnt meant.  HM

[kevkev57]

Hi ' Hilarysmum ' absolutely no problems !  I didnt take it in a bad way. The more comments the better.

  It is true that houses left empty do tend to fall into a poor state eventually, bit like cars really.

Kevin

[doganjo]

It's rarer down here in Central Scotland but in Aberdeenshire there were loads of little cottage just lying there dying because no-one had attended to the basic need of keeping the roof in good repair.  That was how we manage to buy the little plot at the bottom of our garden that I built my last house on - the old guy who we bought our croft from one year just uplifted the slates one day and used them on a friends barn (and got paid for them although they weren't his!)

I just feel I want to find out who owns them, buy them, and rebuild them with some TLC.  Now if the lottery ever comes my way that IS what I'll do, and let them out cheaply to people who want to live out of town and can't afford to buy or pay high rents.

[Tullywood Farm]

It was like that in Ireland 15 years ago when I first came - loads of lovely old cottages in really scenic areas empty for years.

When I enquired about them I got several responses but the most common ones were:-


That family do not need the money - so will never sell

Cannot trace the children it was left to - gone to America long ago

The farmer wants 50,000 punt for it - at the time it was worth 8,000 punt

We do not know who owns it

The German that owned it dissapeared without any contact info.

When the Celtic Tiger started, suddenly extensive enquiries were made, people returned from America and a lot of these houses were knocked down and new "boxes" put in their place.

It is a shame, all the character of the old country places is being wiped out, instead of being restored, but like our 200 yr old place, the foundations are non existant and there damp and cold places to live, and very expensive to rebuild and keep it looking original.

Like you I wish they were lived in, affordable housing for people who will work the land and bring it back to its former glory - and have fun in the process.
Julie

[doganjo]

Like you I wish they were lived in, affordable housing for people who will work the land and bring it back to its former glory - and have fun in the process.

If things go the way Russ and Ree think, that may not be very far away.

[Tullywood Farm]

Kev

Been thinking carefully about this move of yours.

You should consider Ireland - its even called island.

Not only that, we are in euro's, so you would not have to change your money for six months of the year.

There are islands off ireland.   - Very nice ones too!

Mad people already live here (me and Joe) so if the locals ingnore you at least you would know someone you could phone for information and education on things Irish.

There is no Council Tax, no Rates on country properties, and very few if any neighbours in the West of Ireland.

With only 4 million population we are well spread our peoples and very underpopulated shoud things go T*ts up, as Russ put it! 

If you needed to get back in a hurry, there's Ryanair with their cheap flights for 10 euro return.

Now theres a few things to consider - plus we could start a wicker man thing so as not to upset Russ, and there are loads of old mines and caves and places in the middle of nowhere to explore.

On the West Coast the Air is totally Pure and free from pollution.

Let me know if you want names of local estate agents and auctioneers

Julie

[Lizmar]

Wow thank you Julie, now I know why I moved here!!! Of course I would say the South East is better - you can be remote and close enough to life to survive - near the sea and mountains.
You are right about the council tax, but what no one told me before I came is that you have to pay for refuse collection or in my case as I am in the middle of no where get rid yourself - I now can claim to recycle everything!!  Also you need a good car as the roads are crap.   
Neighbours, well some are OK, others still remember you are descended from Oliver Cromwell!!  I am known locally as the odd Londoner who lives on the hill, in fact that could be my address.
Still wouldn't live anywhere else

[sandy]

We thought about ireland but the extra effort for my fail to visit via ferry etc was a step too much, as for any of the Islands around.

[gavo]

Now if we are going to talk alternative locations lets put the best forward[ha ha]. What about Northern Ireland ? Every bit as beautiful and unspoilt only lightly populated and as joe keeps saying far cheaper ! The people are friendly but not on top of you ,and there is a wide choice of property some incredibly remote if that's your thing.]] As for the taxes they are not bad at all[although i am comparing to what we used to pay in good old London town] Seriously though the cost of living is not at all bad here.

[Tullywood Farm]

You would lose the big benefit of still being in EURO though, not having to change money all the time is a big advantage - you don't lose money to the greedy banks for changing it over.

The North has different notes - money that they won't even take in England, on the ferries or in the shops - so another currency to deal with as well as English pound for the tolls to ferries to france.

There are equally nice places though, Gavin lives in a lovely spot, and between his house and ours, going through to Manorhamilton via Rossinver, the scenery is wonderful and it is remote, but has acces to both sides of Ireland.

Good Luck
Julie

[Pigtails]

My friend has her house on the market at the moment,
http://www.isleofcoll-cottage.com/ISLE-OF-COLL-COTTAGE-FOR-SALE-ARINAGOUR-VILLAGE

I know, you'd have neighbours but it could be an option for you, otherwise good luck in your search!

[gavo]

Yes you would have to change currencies but the cost of living in the south is such that many from Eire come to the North for shopping as they just can't afford the prices in Eire. So i think the high costs outweigh the currency changes.As for the currency of N I not being taken in England or on the ferry i have not found this to be the case and i go back and forth regularly.

[Tullywood Farm]

I on the other hand have found that they will NOT take Northern Ireland notes at all they sometimes don't like the Scottish £10 notes either!.
It is because they are not used to them and can't tell the good ones from the bad.
Last year when I travelled over to Leeds to the British Saddle Back AGM I met up with Vaughan Byrne and Stefan Smith (Two of the oldest Founder Members of Rare Breeds in Northern Ireland) and they had brought Northen Sterling with them and were not able to use it.
Tommorrow Julie is going to England and the Bank of Ireland asked me when I got Sterling out did I want it for the North or the UK as they won't take Northern Notes in the UK.
But then again you seem to have No problem at all using them so all I can say is LUCKY you. 
Kind regards to all especially Gavo
Joe 

[CarraghsBorderCollies]

islands off ireland are now tax free as an incentive for people to move there and they are very beautiful!
also things have been heating up a little in the north with a handful of extremeists so i would thoroughly research any area before you consider moving over (if you lived just inside the border of the republic you would get the best of both!) the west of ireland is also nice!!!

[kevkev57]

N.I ? Hmm , I value my white knobby knee caps.

I swore back in the 70's that I would never set foot there however beutiful it is.

Kevin