Opinion | After 28 years mostly renting in Hong Kong, this Englishman wanted his ‘castle’, but buying a village home in the UK wasn’t easy

After renting in Hong Kong, buying a house in rural England seemed appealing. But property isn’t cheap there, and patience and persistence were required

Agents suggesting you ‘put your stamp’ on a house means repairs are needed, and with a home comes responsibility. But getting a place in a village feels good

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An idyllic scene in Westgate, Canterbury, Kent. Buying a house in rural Britain appealed to the writer after 28 years mostly in rented apartments in densely populated Hong Kong. Photo: Shutterstock

Cliff Buddle

Published: 2:15pm, 25 Feb 2023

An Englishman’s home is his castle, it is said. I can’t afford a castle, but a home of my own would be nice.

Most of my time in Hong Kong was spent in rental accommodation. My last landlady was very nice and even bought us cakes when we left. But most places started to fall apart after a year and the only way to get one in decent shape was to move. I lived in 12 flats in 28 years.

The prospect of buying a home on returning to Britain was, therefore, appealing. Property here is not cheap, but it is generally less expensive than in Hong Kong.

I arrived last August, when British house prices were at a record high. There had been a boom in rural Kent, where I live. During the pandemic, people left London and moved to the countryside. It was known as “the race for more space”, as working from home took hold.

Bodiam Castle, a 14th-century medieval fortress with a moat and towers in East Sussex, England. An Englishman’s home is his castle, it is said. Photo: Shutterstock

In the early days, as Covid-19 spread rapidly in the city, rural areas offered greater safety. One property agent told me buyers would offer £25,000 above the asking price “before they had even seen upstairs”.

My wife and I viewed about 40 properties in the £800k-£850k (US$970,000-US$1 million) price range. There was something wrong with all of them. They were either on a busy road or needed lots of work.