Transaction costs are higher in Scotland stamp duty The tax-free threshold is £145,000 or £170,000 for first-time buyers, compared to £250,000 in the UK. This means someone buying a £500,000 property north of the border that is not their first home will pay stamp duty of £23,350, compared with £18,000 in Wales and £12,500 in England.

“That was eye-opening,” says Brookes. “But the good thing is, in Scotland you don’t get angry. “It’s ridiculous how easy it is to back out of a property deal in the UK at the last minute.”

Gazumping is the practice of purchasing a property in which another buyer accepts an offer by bidding higher. Although not illegal in Scotland, it is much rarer as properties are often taken off the market once offers have been accepted.

‘We can now send our children to private school’

In addition to being able to pay off his mortgages, Cameron was also able to improve his children’s education with this move. Average annual wages private day schools According to the Council for Independent Schools, wages in Scotland were £4,672 in 2023, 14 per cent lower than the national average and 30 per cent lower than London’s.

“We could never afford to send our children to a private school (in Ware). The wages were ridiculously high. But we can do it here,” he says. “My daughter plays netball and hockey; Now that he plays at school too, we don’t need to pay big club fees.

“ free university tuition It will definitely come in handy for our children in the future. And we have great universities on our doorstep, so there is no need to compromise on the quality of education.”

‘There are great privileges in Scotland’

Lily Rice, 37, moved to South Lanarkshire from Bristol with her husband Steve in 2021. They love their new home and believe it suits their two children better.

They discovered that there were huge advantages in Scotland.

“Children and young adults can travel free on buses up to the age of 22, which is great. They also receive free school meals until the end of primary school. “For children traveling with an adult, round-trip train journeys cost just a pound to anywhere in Scotland,” he says.

“If you’re a family or individual who enjoys outdoor activities, it’s much more accessible and you’ll save money that way. We bought the Historic Environment Scotland membership (similar to the National Trust) which is just £100 for the year and you can go to any venue you like. Kids clubs are also a little cheaper here, which is great.”

Cameron adds: “London and its surrounding areas were becoming more and more crowded. While this was beneficial, our city was really starting to fill up. “We wanted to take a step back for the kids’ sake and not feel that constant back-and-forth and pressure.”

‘There are a lot of young people here; ‘Scotland is improving’