One of the key differences when you relocate to the country is that you’ll become closer to the workings of your property, whether you like it or not. There are, of course, degrees of rural living, just as there are degrees of involvement in owning an urban property. If you are currently a flat owner, you may be hit by an annual maintenance charge but not get too involved in the ins and outs of how your plumbing works or whether the roof leaks. It’s less than likely that you will be too concerned with what happens to your sewage, unless you happen to get a blockage within your own property. Otherwise, you lift the phone and gain the benefits of paying your charges, as well as water and sewerage rates.

In winter, if the pavements are icy, you expect the council to do something about it.This chapter will review some of the details of being a rural property owner and highlight some of the key considerations of which you must be clearly aware.

Getting In Touch With The Finer Detail

Your planned relocation might be from town to village, in which case much of this infrastructure will still be in place, albeit in a more minimalist way. If you’re moving from flat to detached house, you will be almost bound to become more involved in maintaining the fabric of the property. You’ll get into the way of looking at the roof periodically, for example, to check there are no slipped or fallen tiles or slates.

As one-time owners of what was billed “the largest thatched manor house in Wiltshire”, we would voice caution if your dream is to take on an old thatched property, especially if downshifting will limit your ongoing income. A thatched roof is picturesque but creates a regular drain on resources, due to the need for annual maintenance or a total re-thatch every 20 years or so.

If your relocation is to a single, isolated property, there are added points to note. Where we live at the moment, our nearest neighbours are almost a mile away. We like this, but some people would be fazed by the isolation. Guests to our self-catering cottages tend to love the silence, although some acknowledge that it would be too much for permanent living. Most, like us, see it as a real benefit. This is also true regarding the level of darkness. Street lighting in small villages, especially if positioned away from trunk roads, is very restricted. With isolated properties, lighting is present only if you provide it.

A wide range of automatic floodlights with ‘magic eye’ PIR sensors is available, allowing lighting which is activated by movement. Once again, you will have to service them when the lamps fail or the sensor does not respond correctly. Progressively, if you move into more isolated living, there are fewer ‘theys’ to respond to your problems (as in ‘what are they going to do about it?’). In many situations, you are the sole ‘they’.

Doing Your Research

It bears repeating that, now you’re thinking seriously about relocating – and have probably shortlisted a few possible areas and degrees of isolation – you should go and stay a night in these areas at different times of the year. Consider aspects such as isolation, darkness, reduced services, journey time to reach specialist shops, ability to park in the tourist season – you must be conscious of as many of the pros and cons as possible.

Keep an open mind and think objectively – you really are moving towards making a life-changing decision. For financial and other reasons, you probably won’t be able to turn back the clock if you regret your move in a year or two, so now’s the time to check that your preferred relocation plans stand up to scrutiny. Mind you, it’s not whether you relocate, it’s just making sure you choose the best location for you.