Moving to Perth from the UK
If you’re thinking of moving to Australia from the UK, but the thought of feeling homesick has you worried, then Perth could be your ideal choice of destination.
According to the latest census, there are over 160,000 residents living in Perth, Australia that are British-born so you probably won’t struggle to make new friends who have something in common.
Not that you should expect a vast difference between British and Australian culture anyway – Perth is the cultural centre of Western Australia and there’s no shortage of opportunities for those who enjoy music, theatre, and sports including football and of course, cricket.
One of the main benefits of making the move to Western Australia is being able to enjoy a warmer climate with many more hours of sunshine than the UK. Not only that but the property market is much more affordable for both buying and renting. The ratio of property value compared to income in Perth is around half of what you would pay in London.
However, the perks of living in Perth do come at a price. The cost of living in Western Australia is more expensive than the UK, particularly when it comes to food, clothing and other household goods. Perth is a fairly remote city in Western Australia, so access to consumer goods comes at a higher price.
But if you balance everything out, the disadvantages are probably a price worth paying if you no longer have to suffer the miserable weather of a typical British Winter.
Improve Your Quality of Life
When it comes to quality of life, Perth comes out on top for all sorts of reasons. As previously mentioned you’ll get more for your money when it comes to property, you’ll live in safer neighbourhoods; have better access to healthcare and a cleaner, greener environment. The only downside appears to be the higher price you pay for consumer goods – which on average is around a 30% increase on their UK equivalents.
When it comes to outdoor spaces, you can’t really beat King’s Park. It is the largest inner city park in the world, and although London may have a vast number of parks and green spaces, how can you compete with one where you can also reach the beach in a matter of minutes!
The average temperature in Perth is suitably balmy compared to the UK – it rarely drops below 10°C however you may experience extreme heat in the Summer, the extent of which ex-pats may never have experienced. In the summer months of January and February (don’t forget that Australian Summers & Winters are opposite to that of the UK) temperatures can soar as high as the mid-forties. The winter months do make up for the dry, arid Summers with plenty of rain, contributing to an annual rainfall that is actually higher than Lo
Finding accommodation in Perth
Although the housing market in Australia has been pretty stagnant for a while, house prices in Perth have been outperforming the rest of the country by far.
You’ll find a range of property prices in Perth ranging from the affluent areas such as Peppermint Grove where the average house price is A$4.2m (£1.94m) to the more affordable suburbs such as Koongamia where the average property price is A$375k (£173k).
Getting a mortgage in Western Australia shouldn’t be any more difficult than in the UK, as long as you have new Permanent Resident status. If you are buying a property worth under A$750k and haven’t bought a property in the country previously, you could even be eligible for a First Time Buyers grant of A$7000.
Like in the UK you’ll need to pay Stamp Duty on your property – this can range from 1.9% to 5.15% of the property value, depending on the price you pay for your home.
Perth could definitely prove to be the ideal city for your new life in Western Australia.
To help your migration go as smoothly as possible why not take a look at our top tips for UK residents moving to Australia or email us at Hello@immigracious.com.au
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