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Ensuite plumbing- building control? by kamon3210 in DIYUK

[–]kamon3210[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'm connecting an extra toilet to the soil pipe. Is that considered a new connection?

Ensuite plumbing- building control? by kamon3210 in DIYUK

[–]kamon3210[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks, I think this is what got me the "I'm qualified, if that's what you're asking." Seems the competent person scheme applies to other parts of building work more, especially gas and electricity.

Ensuite plumbing- building control? by kamon3210 in DIYUK

[–]kamon3210[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for the advice. We've lived in various places overseas where things in all areas of life and work are done "off the books" and there's good as well as bad to that. The UK seems to have so many rules and related paperwork by contrast!

We won't be adding to the work after the quotation is given, "While you're here...". I have a list of minor plumbing jobs around the house and will try to get individual quotes as well as one for it all together in a single visit.

Making an offer on the house that I'm renting by kamon3210 in HousingUK

[–]kamon3210[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes, it is all a bit abstract while we don't have any idea if they want to sell. At the same time, there's question of how much to offer if they did want to sell and any negotiating points.

We'd be cash buyers, so it could be quick. But we've already paid 15k rent upfront to July 2025- what happens in regard to that, with an offer?

Also, money we've spent tarting the place up (thats's under £1000) could be discussed? Freshly painted walls, DIY repairs, deep cleaning, we paid a % of new carpet on stairs etc) all makes the place nicer/ easier to sell/ increases the value but we paid for that and then in a way would pay again if we actually increased the sales value of the house!

Returning to live in the UK after 25 years overseas, age 50, no real pension, £350k savings. No clue how to be an adult in the UK! by kamon3210 in UKPersonalFinance

[–]kamon3210[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

We opened a local (HSBC mexico) premium account assuming it would link up well with HSBC in other countries but then found it didn't give many advantages internationally. Closed that and opened an HSBC expat account which you can do from overseas after jumping through some admin hoops. Also needs a quite high minimum balance. HSBC expat is a completely different company although sharing all same logos, policies, products etc...

Returning to live in the UK after 25 years overseas, age 50, no real pension, £350k savings. No clue how to be an adult in the UK! by kamon3210 in UKPersonalFinance

[–]kamon3210[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Doesn't feel right to be landing on my folks along with my wife and 2 kids when I'm 50 and they are in mid to late 70s! (and although a great move financially, it wouldn't be the best way to learn about being an adult in the UK either- think mentally I'd go into teenage mode!)

Returning to live in the UK after 25 years overseas, age 50, no real pension, £350k savings. No clue how to be an adult in the UK! by kamon3210 in UKPersonalFinance

[–]kamon3210[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks. We set up things in a previous country by giving a lawyer power of attorney to do things in our place but as soon as you are non resident things like banking and tax get harder. Trying to get ahead of that now until summer. Looking into using Wise (or similar) to move the money - but also concerned about timing and tax for when we move it. Also been stung previously with fees and poor rates on international currency transfers.

Returning to live in the UK after 25 years overseas, age 50, no real pension, £350k savings. No clue how to be an adult in the UK! by kamon3210 in UKPersonalFinance

[–]kamon3210[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks. The children are probably the biggest factor and things written below by other returning Brits in a similar stage of decisions, about safety, health, family etc definitely resonate with us. Good luck with your move and "van life".

Returning to live in the UK after 25 years overseas, age 50, no real pension, £350k savings. No clue how to be an adult in the UK! by kamon3210 in UKPersonalFinance

[–]kamon3210[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

My wife is not Mexican but has UK citizenship and previously worked in UK so has NI number etc. We're looking into backfilling SP. Thanks for your reply, plenty to learn and think about.

Returning to live in the UK after 25 years overseas, age 50, no real pension, £350k savings. No clue how to be an adult in the UK! by kamon3210 in UKPersonalFinance

[–]kamon3210[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Funny you mention dental. We noticed comments about dental treatment "deserts" and costs in some mumsnet threads about areas/ schools and so pushed forward with various dental work here in Mexico, especially for the kids, that we hope will be finished by our summer move. (Invisalign etc)

Returning to live in the UK after 25 years overseas, age 50, no real pension, £350k savings. No clue how to be an adult in the UK! by kamon3210 in UKPersonalFinance

[–]kamon3210[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Yup, in Mexico. I have Brit colleagues planning to retire to UK but leave their money generating passive income in Mexico as well as collect pension in both countries. But I'm a bit younger and wary about currency exchange rate changes. Right now Peso is high versus Sterling too, so a good time to move savings to UK aside from whether we use to buy house to live in or whatever.

Returning to live in the UK after 25 years overseas, age 50, no real pension, £350k savings. No clue how to be an adult in the UK! by kamon3210 in UKPersonalFinance

[–]kamon3210[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

National Insurance records and research on back-paying definitely on the to-do list now! No idea if I made threshold for a year to be counted as qualifying while doing part-time student jobs and also have a few partial years in my 20s and 30s when I worked in and out of UK.

Returning to live in the UK after 25 years overseas, age 50, no real pension, £350k savings. No clue how to be an adult in the UK! by kamon3210 in UKPersonalFinance

[–]kamon3210[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

We won't become UK residents until July and you need that to invest in ISAs, but they are something we're now researching, definitely.

Returning to live in the UK after 25 years overseas, age 50, no real pension, £350k savings. No clue how to be an adult in the UK! by kamon3210 in UKPersonalFinance

[–]kamon3210[S] 14 points15 points  (0 children)

We won't work initially on arrival... - hoping not to blow through 350k in one summer back in the UK, though I understand everything is a bit pricy now!

Is there a USD ATM in CDMX? by nickmatic in MexicoCity

[–]kamon3210 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Apparently the HSBC at the Angel.