An Expat Talks about Moving to Stockport, UK

What is the name of the city or town that you are reporting on?

Stockport

Name three things that you wish you had brought and three you wish you had left at home.

1- My cats
2- Photography equipment
3- Books (in french)

I did not bring much so there is nothing I wish I had left home.

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Traveling Mailbox

Traveling Mailbox serves thousands of travelers, expats, digital nomads, businesses, individuals and others in over 47 Countries by scanning their postal mail so they can view it online anywhere in the world. They provide customer service 7 days a week so if you need assistance, it is just a phone call away. Traveling Mailbox works with Evernote, Bill.com and Dropbox. And, there are Traveling Mailbox apps available for iOS and Android devices.
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Click connect to have our partner contact you via e-mail and/or phone.

What advice would you give someone preparing to move to your area about the actual move, choosing a neighborhood and finding a home?

Research the area and look at the crime rate. Find a place near work or with easy access by bus/train.

What type of housing do you live in? Is this typical for most expats in your area?

We now live in a semi-detached house with 3 bedrooms (small). Not many expats around where I live so I don't know if it is typical. Easy acces to Manchester city center (where I work) by bus, train.

How did you choose your neighborhood and find your home or apartment?

My husband is from Stockport so this is where we decided to live. First we rented an apartment in Reddish (Stockport) but it was not a really good place to live in because of all the crimes and noises (drunk people !!). It was 300/month in 2000-2001 + $70/month council taxes + 50/month heating + 25/month water We have now our house in Heaviley (Stockport) which is a quiet area.

Are your housing costs higher or lower than they were in your home country? What is the average cost of housing there?

The cost of housing are higher than they were in Montreal. I paid 83000 for my house a year ago (now the same house sell at 90000-95000). Terraced house are less expensive and the price depends on the area where you live (good or bad area). The same house can be sold at different price depending of the area. Ex: My house in a bad area (Stockport) = +-70000 in a good area (Stockport)= +-120000 !! Bills: 80/month council taxes + 200/year water + 30/year TV license + 45 gaz & electricity + 45 phone&Internet + 38 cable (TV) + 450/month mortage + 25/month house insurance