For those that live in Dubai and own in the UK, | ExpatWoman.com
 

For those that live in Dubai and own in the UK,

594
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EW GURU
Latest post on 20 August 2011 - 22:05

Do you leave your property vacant the rest of the year around?

DH and I thinking of buying a property to have just for the summer/easter/Christmas break, and leaving it empty the rest of year round.

Normally we stay with rellies, but with our family getting bigger and bigger its getting difficult to be accomodated.

Its in a very nice area, with both families very close by. But still worried about security etc.

Any opinions welcomed. (Apologies if I dont get back immediately to responses but having a tough time getting on and off the computer with the kids and no DH around to give me a break!)

594
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EW GURU
Latest post on 21 August 2011 - 22:26
Ok, thanks for all those insights! There wouldnt be anything to steal in ours either, but its the inconvenience of it being broken into and how it makes you feel when you return. R.e. the tax, yes I believe you cannot be back for more than 90 days as a non-resident, I suppose that is how you prove you arent a UK resident? It may be worth considering using it as rental too. Many options to consider. Thank you so much :-)
2362
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 21 August 2011 - 13:38
90 days, i believe?
3901
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EW MASTER
Latest post on 21 August 2011 - 13:38
oh - and we got burgled last summer before we even moved !! Unfortunately before we installed the alarm and cameras..
3901
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EW MASTER
Latest post on 21 August 2011 - 13:37
Isn't there also a tax issue to be considered? In other European countries, I know that a property in your home country which is not let out can be considered as home base in that country, meaning the tax authorities could argue that you technically still live in that country, meaning you could be tax liable. Heard about a few colleagues who faced that argument from the tax authorities and had to prove their status as non-tax liable non-residents... I believe there is a limit to how long you can spend in your home country - x weeks but if you have a job elsewhere it's longer than any leave entitlement you have...
156
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 21 August 2011 - 12:40
Isn't there also a tax issue to be considered? In other European countries, I know that a property in your home country which is not let out can be considered as home base in that country, meaning the tax authorities could argue that you technically still live in that country, meaning you could be tax liable. Heard about a few colleagues who faced that argument from the tax authorities and had to prove their status as non-tax liable non-residents...
167
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 21 August 2011 - 08:53
We did that until the house got burgled. Nice quiet village in Norfolk. Small estate. We had a gardener and a cleaner who kept an eye on it. Still got done. Luckily, there was nothing worth stealing - just furniture and a huge, old tv that they obviously didn't like the look of. 5 houses were done on the same day - a Saturday afternoon and in broad daylight. We've let it out now. You could buy a house that can be rented out as a holiday let and managed by a rental company. We've considered this. You just block book it for the weeks you need to use it.
232
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 21 August 2011 - 06:48
Our UK house is let out on a long term basis - same family in there for the last 3.5 years. We couldn't afford to have a 'holiday' home and we don't go back nearly often enough or long enough to even consider it. If I had a holiday home it wouldn't be in the UK!
4329
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EW MASTER
Latest post on 21 August 2011 - 06:38
You can get insurance. Google Intasure.
3901
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EW MASTER
Latest post on 21 August 2011 - 02:13
we have an alarm plus CCTV from 4 cameras that we view over the internet plus a friend who lives nearby checks the property once a week.... we also have a gardener who makes sure the property (especially the front)never gets untidy..
594
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EW GURU
Latest post on 20 August 2011 - 22:21
Thanks emlsnre. I hadn't considered the insurance aspect. Both sets of parents are very close by (both my parent and brother and SIL are in 2/5 min walking distance and MIL/FIL 10 min by car), and our neighbour is a family friend. However I still keep doubting the security aspect which is putting me off! We just cant stay at families' homes anymore, its chaos! (Sat with my bottle of wine:-)! )
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 20 August 2011 - 22:14
We thought about leaving ours vacant, but having considered the security aspect and also that some insurances wont cover if left vacant for certain periods of time we let it out. If we had a house on an estate where there were lots of others coming and going we may have gone the other way.
 
 

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