Moving to Birmingham

Hi all, I am a dual national US/German hoping to move to Birmingham from the US this coming summer.  I am primarily interested in getting more information about flat/apartment costs in the area and what recommended areas are (my internet searches not going too well).  I've been to the West Midlands two years ago as relatives of relatives live not too far away  but unfortuantely did not spend much time there to really get to know the area... Also, about how much savings would you recommend for initial set up, etc (I may end of renting with two British friends that are thinking to move to Brum as well).... Any help appreciated.... Thanks, Rob

Hi Robb and welcome to UKY.  I don't have many suggestions for you as far as the Brom, but perhaps someone else might.  I would suggest doing a search of this site or perhaps posting your question in another section of the forum as well.

Best of luck!

Hi Rob - welcome here! I'm sure you'll find a wealth of information in the expat specific sections of UKY! Nosy that I am ... how come you have US/German citizenship? I'm German and had the opportunity to live/work for a few years in the US. I'm in London and don't know much about B'ham other than the airport  but there are a lot of UKY peeps from the Midlands who will be happy to give you advice 

I am very familiar with B'ham, having lived there as a child and I am a regular visitor to see friends and for work ... B'ham is a great place, but gets a very bad press in the UK.  Admittedly, it's not intially the most attractive of UK cities (especially when viewed coming in by train from London), but the centre does have some great Victorian architecture, exciting new architecture and attractive suburbs.  It has a good range of cultural and shopping faciliites and a lively student scene, with two big universities.  It's also a diverse city, with a large non-white population.  The local economy is good too.  Outside B'ham are some great towns and villages, set in beautiful countryside.  So, you have made a good choice!!!

As for places to live, there are lots of new apartmets in the city centre or try the more established south west suburbs of Edgbaston, Bourneville, Kings Norton, Kings Heath and Selly Oak (student area).  Less expensive areas are to the north of the city centre.  To get an idea of prices, maybe look at the local newspapers - the Birmigham Post and the Birmingham Evening Mail.

Good luck!

Nosy that I am ... how come you have US/German citizenship?

Um, yeah, I guess that I'm curious too. How can you be a binational when its illegal in the Republic to have dual citizenship? Do you mean that you're German ethnicity but born in the US. Sorry to ask, just curious.

when its illegal in the Republic to have dual citizenship?

What  do you mean??  to have dual  citizenship in the U.S.?  Some  of my family has  dual  citizenship  in the US.. DH actually wants  me to get dual  citizenship  as well... and eventually be an  English resident.. 


by the way I live in Erdington.. Ditto to what lightbuld  said.. there is  a  lot to  see and the city centre  is  full of stuff  to  do  and  buy.. it is easily accessible  as well.    welcome  to  B'Ham..  You will  like it! 

I think lightbulb meant Germany when referring to the (Federal) Republic (of Germany). I never had to look into dual citizenship as I can live in UK simply because I'm an EU citizen. She might be right though, I vaguely remember some big political discussions about allowing German born Turkish citizens to carry dual citizenship, dunno what happened to that. I've been away for too long.

Hi everyone, thanks for the information about Birmingham and encouragement... some of the expat Brits I'm friends with through travels have usually not been to keen on Birmingham with a few exceptions...  the multicultural/racial  aspect as most diverse city in UK after London is really driving me towards the area along with being cheaper than London .  Any more info would be greatly appreciated as well.  Has anyone made a recent move to there without job lined up to UK and mind sharing how much costs involved with set up flatshare, etc. I will basically bringing clothes and few other things?


Yeah, German citizenship use to be one of the hardest to acquire or retain in the world and basically still is... luckily I fit an exception to strict citizenship law there as I have a German mom and US ex army dad so I am German by legal  tradition of blood (mother is German only though permanent resident in US and I was born after 1975 and before 1999 (?) ) and US normal way by legal tradition land (born territory of US, as well as limited blood followed by US through dad which I am including for others benefit as applies children born outside US though they unlike Germans can't transmit US citizenship on if they never live in US for I believe a minimum  5 years at some time) sorry avoiding latin terms lawyer trained.  Any how this was the only way to have German dual citizenship up until 1999 and for the most part still is because naturalized foreigners (no German parent) and/or children longterm landed immigrants (dual until 21)  in Germany have to renounce other former citizenship and with a few exceptions after 1999 (?) and always before 1999 with exception German descendants in Eastern Europe(?) born Germans lose German citizenship when they become naturalized citizens of another country.

So luckily, I am able to pursue a long term goal of living in UK without all that immigration hassle oh and well, perhaps pursue closer thing with ldr

Stircrazy, try www.rightmove.co.uk for a price guide and photos of properties to rent in B'ham ...

ah, interesting. Also, yes, I meant Germany, as above, Bundesrepublik Deutschland.

Ah, I detect an educated person!  Here's a lil' update ... since the reunification of the Bundesrepublk D. and the Deutsche Demokratische Republik (German Democratic Republic) in ... uh, 1990 (?), it's only "Deutschland", though it still consists of 16 Federal States (Majorca not included)   

This may sound a little strange but I may be in a position to help here. I have the benefit of living in an rather oversize house and currently have 5 bedrooms empty and an empty flat.

Would be willing to offer accomdation to any civilised peeps who can make use of it, for a minimum of a couple of months and longer if we can all get on. At the very least the offer of accomodation offers an opportunity to make alternative arrangements - even finding a job. I run a business from my premises so there is quite a lot going on but for anyone not expecting a hotel the offer is a good one.

The only problem is that I am not located in birmingham - but about 25 mins NE by car in good traffic and 20 mins by train which can be caught at a station 15 mins walk from the house. Other than that we are well kitted out for computer nuts and Land Rover freaks - please do get in touch.

I just moved to the Dudley borough, just outside of Birmingham in January.  I can empathize with the teasing.  My British friends that are currently living in the States got a laugh out the fact I was moving to this area (more so the Black Country than actually Birmingham).  But I love it! The people are wonderful and I have settled in well.  I can't give many tips on Birmingham itself as I am still exploring myself but in terms of moving Rightmove is definitely a good website.  I found it difficult to communicate with Estate Agents until I got here though.  They are not very responsive if you email from those types of sites.  But no worries, I arrived on a Wednesday found the flat I wanted on a Thursday and put the application to hold it in by Friday.  It is much easier to coordinate the process and to know exactly where you are living once you get here.  I had never been to this area before and realized the exact area I was working (as a social worker) may not be the best area to live (go figure!) but discovered what was good and what wasn't very quickly.  Just find yourself a little pub when you get here with some friendly locals and they will tell you what's good and what's not!

My fiance and I have been looking at the Birmingham area, and have found the following sites to be extremely informational in learning about the city and finding places to live: 

Www.rightmove.co.uk
www.birmingham.org.uk
www.birmingham.gov.uk
and at yahoo.uk, go to property, and you can search out what kind of apartments/flats you'd like by preference. 

Hope that helps out.  Happy travels,
~Rich

Thanks everybody for the information, the websites have been very helpful. Counting the months down.