We moved to a European country Brits flock to for £7k homes but got scammed, can't speak the language & winters hit -30C
BAD MOVE We moved to a European country Brits flock to for £7k homes but got scammed, can't speak the language & winters hit -30C
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A BRITISH family who moved to Bulgaria for a £7k abandoned home say not everyone 'has what it takes' , warning of visa scams, harsh -30C winters and the difficulty of learning the language.
Laura Phoenix, 35, and her husband, Anthony, 33, moved to Strazhitsa two years ago with daughters Cecelia, six, and Nova, three.
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Laura Phoenix and her husband, Anthony, moved to Bulgaria with their children
Credit: SWNS
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The family say their £7k home is 'not all it's cracked up to be'
Credit: SWNS
TikTok is currently flooded with families upping sticks for Bulgaria, sold on the rock-bottom house prices as well as the the huge homes and gardens you get for your money.
But Laura is warning it's not as easy as some make out.
The Phoenixes bought their three-bedroom property for just £7,000 after wanting an off-grid lifestyle and being unable to afford the £500k price tag of homes in the UK.
They sold their UK two-bed for £85k and moved almost 2,000 miles from Darlington, County Durham, in September 2023.
They've been renovating ever since, spending less than £5,000 so far.
But despite never being 'happier', they warn of dangers, including visa scams after being conned out of £7k themselves, surviving the freezing winters and having to learn Bulgarian to get by.
Laura, an online English teacher and writer, said: 'Visa scams are huge over here.
'We lost £6k or £7k through it.
'I had to spent six weeks in Bulgaria alone while it was sorted, while Anthony took the kids back to the UK.
'It was horrendous.
'It should always be through a lawyer.
I ditched the UK & bought a house for the same price as a summer holiday
'People have a misconception that this life is idyllic.
'It takes a tough person. Sometimes we are snowed in. The pipes sometimes freeze.
'Bulgarian is an exceptionally difficult language. If you don't learn it the locals won't respect you.
'I don't want everyone to think it is easy because it is not. I don't think everyone would have what it takes to come here but you can if you're tough and you want to escape.'
The couple estimate they are 60 per cent through renovations, with Anthony doing the work himself.
Laura said: 'It feels like a normal house now. It's not complete chaos. The kitchen didn't have a floor – it had a giant hole. Before it was a ruin.'
They now grow 40 tomato plants and fresh berries, but warn many Brits underestimate Bulgaria's winters.
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Bulgarian winters can hit -30C
Laura said: 'It got to minus 30 last winter.
'People come here in the summer and don't see it in the winter, when there is ice on every window.
'We love it. We love the challenge of it.'
On learning the language, she added: 'Old folk see it as a disrespect if you don't learn it. I've dedicated myself to learning the language.
'There is no work for people who only speak English.'
Despite the challenges, she said: 'I have never been happier in my life. It's perfect for me.'
How easy is it to move abroad?
Brexit means British citizens now have to apply for visas to move to countries within the EU. While some countries residency restrictions are easier than others, here's what you need to do at home before moving: Notify HMRC about your upcoming move.
Let your local authority know and provide a forwarding address.
Contact your mortgage and utility providers and bank before leaving.
If you have paid enough UK national insurance contributions, you can qualify for a state pension abroad - contact the International Pension Centre.
You can sign up to the Royal Mail's redirection service.
If you have outstanding student loans, contact the Student Loans Centre.
If you have children, give due notice to childcares and schools.
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The couple were after an off-grid life
Credit: SWNS
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They purchased their home in Bulgaria in 2023
Credit: SWNS
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They have spent less than £5,000 renovating their new home
Credit: SWNS
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