Is the UK still affordable as emigration destination for South Africans?

Before you emigrate to the United Kingdom (a place I’ve moved to twice from South Africa) let me heed some warnings before you make your mind up. After that, you can decide for yourself if moving from South Africa is an affordable option that you won’t regret further down the line.

Why the Brits themselves aren’t happy here…

Yes, you heard right. Not even the locals are entirely happy in Blighty. According to Get Properties’ The Great UK Outflow white paper there are several reasons why Brits are seeking to invest or reside abroad – particularly to southern parts of Europe. The survey found that 38% are feeling discomfort with social and political unrest in the UK.

These respondents could be forgiven for feeling this way. We have after all in the space of a few short months lost two prime ministers (Boris Johnson and Liz Truss) and had to replace a finance minister as well. So, while we may say that South Africa has had its fair share of political scandals – Nkandla and the Guptas spring to mind – we can’t deny that the UK hasn’t had its own fair share of political drama, some of which caused the increase in rates we’re currently experiencing.

Cost of living crisis

The cost of goods and services in South Africa are on the increase but that’s what’s happening in the UK too. Get Properties’ white paper found that 27% of people are unhappy with the cost of living in the UK and have used this as a reason for moving abroad.

A simple Google of ‘cost of living crisis UK’ shows that people are having to make tough choices between work and motherhood, renting and owning property and in the most extreme cases between ‘heating and eating’. Having to choose between ‘heating and eating’ effectively means that people are having to choose between buying food and paying the bills for heating their homes.

While the government in the UK has introduced an energy bills support scheme this is due to end in April next year with only the most vulnerable homes getting further help. Many households have already cut their energy bills usage, but there are still many cases of energy companies overcharging people on their direct debits despite “huge efforts” to cut their usage.

Energy bills aren’t the only costs that have gone up. Many homeowners are paying more on their mortgages as the Bank of England has hiked rates and many mortgage rates have jumped well over 6% – a level last seen in 2008. These expensive mortgage rates have deterred many first-time buyers. So, if you’re keen to get on the property ladder soon after you land in the UK, expect to experience some difficulty getting a loan unless you’ve already got a good credit history and a handsome deposit.

Renters are having a hard time of it too as landlords pass on the higher mortgage costs onto their tenants. According to a report in The Guardian, average London rentals hit £553 a week in September this year. That’s R11,354.46 to stay in the capital!

NHS close to collapse?

Quality of medical care is another big concern. People who live in the UK have the benefit of the National Health Service (NHS) which is paid for by the taxpayer. It means most people turn to the NHS for care instead of private health. But the service has deteriorated in recent years, and many are now looking at the alternatives.

According to cosmetic dentistry provider Longevita, searches for ‘private GP near me’, private healthcare near me’ and ‘private dentist near me’ exploded by 278%, 261% and 213% above the average volume this October. ‘Amid fears of a winter NHS squeeze, characterised by difficulty getting a doctor’s appointment and long ambulance wait times, we are seeing an increase in people searching for private medical care online. For those that can afford private medical care, it can be a lifeline to those in need of a quick appointment,’ a spokesperson for Longevita explains.

Should you move to the UK?

It’s a good question! But it’s one that only you can decide for yourself. I’ve outlined above the key costs and concerns we have in the UK – political instability, increasing costs for services and the absence of quality care. These are all current problems – and granted they are all not entirely the result of problems locally. We do, after all, have a war between Ukraine and Russia on our doorstop and Brexit has done a lot of damage too.

There are benefits to moving to the UK. The schooling system, for instance is ranked 11^th in the world while the South African education system is ranked as one of the worst in the world. But the pros and cons of the entire move must be weighed up and the costs added up as well. Any miscalculation in the overall financial impact could end in disaster.