Settling into Bristol took longer than expected. There are things about renting in the UK that we had to get used to. Not that it is more difficult, but our experience through every city has been different and we have been careful to do our research. The good thing is you can have a pretty comprehensive understanding of the rental market through
Right Move, which is where we found our apartment.
Big double glazed windows means ample light.
Then there are considerations such as budget and expected expenses. I have to admit we were spoiled in Munich because our apartment back in Munich had double glazing and floor heating. We even had a beautiful view of the Alps from our balcony. The building was also very well managed. Our utility bills were included in the rent. However, in the UK, we came to realise that the rents here generally excludes utilities AND council tax. Council tax is calculated by the value of the property, therefore the more expensive the property, the higher the tax. When we added everything up, we were quite shocked that our expenses in the UK are actually higher than that of Munich's. And Munich is supposed to be one of the most expensive cities in Europe.
Anyway, so we started to draw up a checklist of what we wanted in our property. It had to be located centrally, near to work, places for grocery shopping. We wanted an apartment that would be energy efficient, so double glazed windows were on the list, alongside with the building type. It should also be in a quiet location. Our temporary
serviced apartment* was on Park Street, right above
Jamie's Italian. It was oh-so-centrally located in the hub of Bristol, but come evening and late night, the noise continued!
Something new to get used to: our storage heater.
It almost sounds so fussy and rather difficult, but we did manage to find one such property! It is cosy, but not too small, easy to keep and maintain, and is part of a big building block, which means the property does not lose heat easily. We face the central courtyard, and while we could spy on going-ons of our neighbours, it is wonderfully QUIET and PEACEFUL. The only thing was, the tenants did not move out until a week ago, so we spent five more weeks languishing in the noise of our Park Street apartment.
So here we are ready to make ourselves comfortable. And because there won't be internet in the new apartment, I have been free riding on Wifi from the
Subway chain nearby. You may ask me how I survived on Subway five times a week! The perk is: A 6-inch sandwich and a drink is only three quids. Brilliant!
I do love my neighbourhood, and I will show you more of it in the coming weeks, there is just so much great stuff here.
Our new hearth.
*In spite of the noise factor of the apartment which threw us off, I would still recommend
Berkeley Apartments because of its wonderful location and competitive rates. There are two apartments to choose from but we had to choose the lower apartment because we wanted direct access to the router. Having an online business means it is very important. My tip would be to choose the upper apartment as it has double glazing and would be quieter.
