The UK is almost (bar perhaps Singapore) a worst case scenario: huge land holdings by a small number of established parties, all jobs in essentially one area, and a culture of huge numbers of people living in cramped housing which reduces the demand for proper living space. I lived there for a year and have visited a few other times myself, plus I have a friend from there with a strong interest in alternative construction techniques who is presently searching for a solution to this issue himself. According to him, getting permits to build pretty much anything is really expensive and difficult, which represents an even greater hurdle than the cost of land. On the plus side, a subset of the out-of-town transit links are quite OK if your work in some parts of London or remote.
If I were you I would look about 40min or 1hr commute out by train for special situations (long term land minding, basic groundskeeping on estates for free accomodation, etc.) and/or try to ingratiate yourself with someone with significant landholdings who wouldn't mind carving off a portion to a friend at an agreeable price. Honestly though, why not just leave the UK? It's not really that exciting. France is far cheaper, you get brilliant food, and the people are less football thug slash coke-snortin' bankerish. If you really want to go to London, you can live in Brittany and get a ferry back now and then for not that much money.
Yes. This is what I am up against at the moment.
You are right though. I should consider moving abroad. My worry with somewhere like France is - being Muslim - I don't know how I would be treated and to what extent the problems shown on TV are representative of what it's actually like on the ground.
That said. I do know someone with some land in France . Maybe I could have a chat with him!
My partner's Muslim. There's plenty of Muslims in France. Everyone in London told me French and Parisians in particular were rude and horrible, but I found them far nicer than the English and have never had a bad experience! I'd say they're more likely to get snooty if you fail to drink with them, which, if you're a little on the conservative side of Islam, might be the case. I have a theory, though, that what most of them are really after is animated conversationalists and philosophical arguments! If true, drink is optional.
You've inspired me. Is there a place you know of in South France that is economical to live in where i could rent for a while. I've started my freelance career not so long ago so surviving on savings till i can build it up - but if there's a place that's quite affordable then i'd jump at the chance of moving out for some nicer weather and nicer people.
If I were you I would look about 40min or 1hr commute out by train for special situations (long term land minding, basic groundskeeping on estates for free accomodation, etc.) and/or try to ingratiate yourself with someone with significant landholdings who wouldn't mind carving off a portion to a friend at an agreeable price. Honestly though, why not just leave the UK? It's not really that exciting. France is far cheaper, you get brilliant food, and the people are less football thug slash coke-snortin' bankerish. If you really want to go to London, you can live in Brittany and get a ferry back now and then for not that much money.