Northern Ireland and Brexit

It is rather unfair to dismiss all of those with second homes as being wealthy and somehow not worthy of sympathy, it is not their fault that the housing market in parts of the UK is so out of control that young adults cannot buy their own home. We have our own, modest, home in the Home Counties, and had been considering, half seriously, selling up, buying a smaller place here and using the rest to buy a home in France or Spain, and then split our time between the two, alongwith our dog ( and her passport). Since the catastrophic result 2 years ago we have completely shelved our plans. Now, I know this is not earth shattering in the great plan, nor is the fact that my niece will no longer be able to visit her family in the UK for long trips, but all over the UK ( and Europe) there are people like us, ordinary people, whose life plans have been changed, or who have been massively inconvenienced because a small part of the electorate decided to use the Eu to give the government a kicking. And for what?

In this case, I was thinking OAP care, rather than health.
Ah, I see, yes.

If we did go into OAP home, we would have to pay for it 100%, then have to sell home when finance run out - State leaves you with about 20.000 each for your children to inherit, and takes all the rest.

Posts crossed grandad- so the answer is no- basic healthcare and OAP care is available to all- you can pay extra to get a private room (mind you, for my 2 knees, and OPs both operation, I was in single room, and OH in 2 men room- so why pay extra?).

An interesting question Jalima, thank you.

Difficult always to compare apples and oranges.

In this case, I was thinking OAP care, rather than health.

If the UK decides that the NHS needs to be privatised - then, yes, the Swiss system could well be one to copy. Those on very low income get subsidies to pay for insurance- or if totally reliant on social care, it is paid for them.

OAP homes in our area are amazing- and cheaper than in UK. But we have NO intention of ever going into one- we can get help at home- much cheaper. Perhaps even in exchange for use of part of our home- for a family. The thought of living with only OAPs fills me with dread- would love younsters around, and of course my cats and dog. But this is another story altogehter....

Then - EXIT - one of the many reasons we want to stay here and have end of life choice.

In regard to healthcare insurance, what happens to those on low incomes, low pensions or disabled etc who cannot afford to pay for such cover.

Do the abovr rely on charity hospitals as in the United States???

The healthcare in France is much better than the U.K. also and yes I do think partial paying is the way to go. The poorest people or those with serious life threatening illnesses do not pay.
The waiting time is much less and the number of medical staff in any facility is very high.

We can get much better care here, than in the UK, much better.
That's interesting - as you have said you have to partially pay through private insurance for your care, but think it is better than in the UK, do you think that would be the way to go for the health services here?

'returning to UK makes sense, you probably would have returned in a few years in any case. '

why and how do you come to that conclusion? That was NEVER ever on our plans when we moved here. We can get much better care here, than in the UK, much better.

If we do get a hard Brexit, which is by no means certain what you do will depend on your circumstances.
If you can support yourself and have good health there will be no reason to return to the UK in a hurry, you may well need a visa and maybe restrictions with pets.
If you are reliant on UK investment income, getting older and health not so certain, returning to UK makes sense, you probably would have returned in a few years in any case.
If you are working there won't be a problem but don't expect to get free health care or benefits, even an overseas nurse working for the NHS has to pay for health care today.

Lots of "ifs" there

The Germans, Dutch and Swiss are picking up some amazing bargains for sure.
Please could you give us some details please jura - where, how much?
Some of us have European friends and relatives. We could tip them off!

People with second homes do not go on 'holiday' for 1 week or 2, - they go to their second home, which happens to be across the border rather than in Devon or the Lakes ... and they go for many weeks at a time, even months- as they have chosen homes in the country where their pets are welcome


Leaving their 'first homes' in the UK empty for months at a time then, when there are so many homeless. Who amongst them, then, would dare criticise those rich foreigners who own homes in London but only visit for a few weeks at a time, when so many are homeless?

Well I still can't read of any good reason why you did vote for it lemon but as long as you are happy eh? Why should anyone else's inconvenience distract you from your dream.

oh yes, just be upbeat about it and wait ... as Dara says:

youtu.be/1e7FHIffc74

‘Those of you who voted Brexit have caused worry and distress to a hard working girl’ you say Gill
Yes, we did it on purpose just for that reason!
You are right in saying it is small potatoes with all the rest of the deals to be worked out, and I am right in saying wait and see.Not a popular outlook on GN I realise, as few like waiting to see, they would rather wade in with negatives now, but what’s the point?
We will know soon enough.

No need to make my mind up MawB- they both exist- those with second homes, a minority, and those residents in the EU, 10s of 1000s of them. Who, as Welshwife says- may well lose everything they have worked for, and have to return with nothing, no home, no money - because their home would become unsaleable. The market in some areas has already totally stopped, due to uncertainties about Brexit.

The Germans, Dutch and Swiss are picking up some amazing bargains for sure.

Most Brits resident in the EU are indeed not second home owners- but have sold everything they had, and used their lump sums, or proceeds from the UK home, to invest abroad, lock, stock and barrel- knowing that they were safe with EU arrangements, for residency, healthcare, pensions, taxes... AND their pets
Make up your mind Jura, it was you who went on about *second home*owners and their extended holidays in whichever country.
I don’t actually begrudge them it, but on the scale of priorities, economy, jobs, housing etc Fido and Moggy come rather farther down the list. .

lemongrove your constant advice that we should all just wait and see is short sighted and very irritating. By the time we 'wait and see" it will be too late to change what is happening. The snarky comments made by some on here about second home owners are ill informed and unsympathetic. And as to pets; my niece lives in Spain and has adopted two stray dogs. She comes home to visit her parents for several weeks at a time, bringing the dogs with her. Although I agree it is small potatoes as part of the general horrendous economic and social implications of Brexit, it is a huge a problem to her and the fact that those of you who voted Brexit have caused worry and distress to a lovely hard working girl then dismiss it as not worth worrying about, well......

The people living abroad may well figure greatly in the fall out from Brexit if the EU countries reciprocate what the U.K. intends to do and deport those with an income of less than £50K - what will the U.K. do to support them if they cannot sell property or get a job? It will be a bit of a drain on the benefits and housing systems.

Not at all, but Brexit has more important things to sort out in it , than worrying about pet passports.
Since you, I and everbody else doesn’t know how things will pan out just yet, how about we wait and see what comes of it.

Woo all the accusations which have been thrown at me about being envious and not liking rich people are suddenly forgotten. Apparently those with second homes abroad are at fault because they can afford one!

Most Brits resident in the EU are indeed not second home owners- but have sold everything they had, and used their lump sums, or proceeds from the UK home, to invest abroad, lock, stock and barrel- knowing that they were safe with EU arrangements, for residency, healthcare, pensions, taxes... AND their pets.

So on one hand people are going on about people on the left being 'green eyed' re those who have more, those like Rees Mogg, those who put kids through private education, avail themselves of private healthcare, etc ...

but then, turn coat totally when it suits.

my thoughts exactly Maw
Pets and second home owners come very far down on the list IMHO.

The second home issue if totally separate- it makes no difference if they are just across the Channel 100 km away, or up in the Lakes or Scotland, probably further. It could be an interesting discussion, but is totally irrelevant here.

Most British people who have purchased, or are renting, a second home in France, have done so with the plan to retire there at a later stage.

And yes, they have thought through their domestice feline or canine arrangements, and all the rest too- like rights of abode, reciprocal health care when retired via form S1, and so much more. They did so on the basis of being in the EU- and for the above, ensuring their pets are EU passported, chipped and vaccinated, at considerable cost.

People with second homes do not go on 'holiday' for 1 week or 2, - they go to their second home, which happens to be across the border rather than in Devon or the Lakes ... and they go for many weeks at a time, even months- as they have chosen homes in the country where their pets are welcome

When there are people in our own country without even one home to call their own, I hardly think the Brexit negotiations need to hinge on the inconvenience of owners of second homes abroad and Fido or Fluffy.
Some people are affluent enough to be able to afford second homes in the US or in countries inaccessible by car.
Presumably they have thought through their domestic feline or canine arrangements