What to do with your house

Hmong

Your house is probably the biggest thing you own, unless you rent (information for renters at the bottom of the page).

If you own your home, you have 4 options (click on each for more in-depth info):

  1. Rent it out
    This is useful if you're on a career break for 6 months to a year and is a really popular option for career breakers. It's essential that you check tax, insurance and legal details if you're renting out your house.
  2. Sell it
    Selling it has the advantages of freeing up some cash and it means one less thing to worry about. The downside is that you have nowhere to live when you return.
  3. Leave it unoccupied
    Again, a viable option for a short career break. You will need a good friend or neighbour to take care of the place for you.
  4. Use a housesitter
    Housesitters are very expensive. They can be a good option if your career break is very short, and/or you have a lot of pets.

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Renters

If you rent your house or flat, you will probably choose to give it up. Some things to remember:

  • Check your rental agreement carefully, as some now require 2 months' notice.
  • You'll either need to find somewhere to stay for a bit before you go away, (to give yourself time to tie up loose ends), or hand over your bits and pieces to a trusted friend or relative.
  • If you don't have access to a friend's or parents' garage to store your stuff, you'll need to look into professional storage.
  • The last thing you want is a protracted wrangle over your deposit after you've left. Take some photos of your place just in case. If you're leaving the country less than a month after you move out, appoint a trusted person to ensure your deposit is returned.

If you're not going away for very long, and you want to hold onto your place:

  • Let your insurance company know if your house is going to be empty for more than a month.
  • Tell the council tax people.
  • Have a neighbour come round to pick up the post, keep the garden tidy, check phone messages, etc. You don't want your place looking empty - it's a magnet for thieves.

It is unusual to move out of a rented place and then move back in after 6 months or a year, but if you're attached to your place, it's always worth discussing it with the landlord or agent. Subletting is usually forbidden by your contract.