1 minute ago, Cameroni said:

I sold a 4 bed house in St Albans. Boy, did I regret selling. It's doubled in price now to over half a million pounds. If only I'd rented it out instead.

 

You live and learn.

 

   How much rental income would you have received since selling it ?

Just now, Nick Carter icp said:

 

   How much rental income would you have received since selling it ?

 

Well now the average rent is 3750 GBP per month. But I sold the house when I went to the Cayman Islands, so 22 years ago. Rents were a bit lower then, but I'd have lost at least 500,000 in rental income, probably a lot more.

 

I made 140,000 pounds profit on the sale and I thought that was brilliant. But in hindsight, the worst decision I ever made.

22 minutes ago, Nick Carter icp said:

 

   Who is able to access that information ?

 

Right now, it could be any government agency, in the future it most definitely will be any government agency.

1 hour ago, scubascuba3 said:

You can give notice if you plan to move back in or plan to sell... Last I heard anyway

Yes, as I mentioned 2 posts above your reply.

However the concern from landlords is that they will have to go through a formal Section 8 court process which I understand is far more involved and costly than the current Section 21 and tends to have much longer delays.

28 minutes ago, topt said:

Yes, as I mentioned 2 posts above your reply.

However the concern from landlords is that they will have to go through a formal Section 8 court process which I understand is far more involved and costly than the current Section 21 and tends to have much longer delays.

Sell then, you're quite elderly anyway, could do with the money handy 

9 hours ago, scubascuba3 said:

Not linked to owning a property

Yes it is, if you do not have an address with your name on a council tax document in the UK you will find it very difficult to sign on with a doctor because you will have to declare that you are non resident and that’s a whole new ball game.

4 minutes ago, Jimjim1 said:

Yes it is, if you do not have an address with your name on a council tax document in the UK you will find it very difficult to sign on with a doctor because you will have to declare that you are non resident and that’s a whole new ball game.

That maybe true but being on a doctor’s list does not entitle you to NHS treatment if you don’t live in the UK.

 

The world is going digital.  The time is coming when they know where you live, your travel history and your entire visit history in the UK.

5 minutes ago, JBChiangRai said:

That maybe true but being on a doctor’s list does not entitle you to NHS treatment if you don’t live in the UK.

 

The world is going digital.  The time is coming when they know where you live, your travel history and your entire visit history in the UK.

 

You are entitled to treatment; you just might have to pay for it afterwards.  The NHS do not turn patients away.

26 minutes ago, scubascuba3 said:

Sell then, you're quite elderly anyway, could do with the money handy 

Really? 

Distinct lack of empathy in your reply plus a soupcon of ignorance to boot..........

5 minutes ago, brewsterbudgen said:

 

You are entitled to treatment; you just might have to pay for it afterwards.  The NHS do not turn patients away.

Apologies, I should have said free treatment.  The word free was implied, but not written .

9 hours ago, JamesPhuket10 said:

 

Extra info:

 

I just found out if I keep the flat I can come and stay in the UK for a month and  update my pension address to the the UK address, the  government pensions will then be restored to the then current UK annual pay rate, then I can go back to Thailand and the pay will stay the same.

 

So it might be worth doing that every five years or so taking into account  an annual pension rate rise of 3% every year. 

You need to live in UK 6 months to reset the pension.

A youtuber retired living the dream put a phone call with HMRC on his channel where HMRC confirmed this.

1 hour ago, Jimjim1 said:

Yes it is, if you do not have an address with your name on a council tax document in the UK you will find it very difficult to sign on with a doctor because you will have to declare that you are non resident and that’s a whole new ball game.

So renting is sufficient if indeed they do check, unlikely currently

3 hours ago, sidjameson said:

You need to live in UK 6 months to reset the pension.

A youtuber retired living the dream put a phone call with HMRC on his channel where HMRC confirmed this.

 

Oh no, not more incorrect info from an unqualified YouTuber, what qualifications does one need to make crap YouTube videos, erm none.

 

There is no official rule that says:“You must live in the UK for 6 months to restart State Pension increases.”

 

That statement is not supported by DWP or IPC guidance, and HMRC doesn’t even handle State Pension payments (that’s the DWP/International Pension Centre), so HMRC wouldn’t be the right authority anyway.

 

 

When you’ve been living in a frozen country (like Thailand, Canada, Australia, etc.) where pension uprating is not applied, and then you return to live in the UK, the uprating resumes, but:

• Only from the date you return (or the date you tell them you’ve returned)

• It doesn’t backdate to cover previous years

• You don’t have to “qualify” by living here for a set amount of time

• You just need to be “ordinarily resident” in the UK again

 What You Need to Do to Restart Pension Increases

1. Tell them you have returned to live in the UK

2. Tell the International Pension Centre (IPC) that you’re now back and give your UK address

3. That’s it. The uprating resumes from that point (or the next April increase, depending on timing)

There’s no six-month minimum in any official DWP documentation. Some agents might informally suggest 6 months to “prove” you’re back, but this is more about avoiding abuse, not an official rule.

 

Why the “6 Months” Myth Exists

• Some YouTubers and bloggers misinterpret what agents say

• Others confuse UK tax residency rules (which do use 183 days = 6 months)

• There’s confusion between residency for tax purposes and residency for State Pension purposes

So we can come back, state we are now here to the DWP, if at a later stage we tell them we are going off again then the pension will be frozen again but we will still be paid the current rate.

 

19 minutes ago, JamesPhuket10 said:

 

 

Oh no, not more incorrect info from an unqualified YouTuber, what qualifications does one need to make crap YouTube videos, erm none.

 

There is no official rule that says:“You must live in the UK for 6 months to restart State Pension increases.”

 

That statement is not supported by DWP or IPC guidance, and HMRC doesn’t even handle State Pension payments (that’s the DWP/International Pension Centre), so HMRC wouldn’t be the right authority anyway.

 

 

When you’ve been living in a frozen country (like Thailand, Canada, Australia, etc.) where pension uprating is not applied, and then you return to live in the UK, the uprating resumes, but:

• Only from the date you return (or the date you tell them you’ve returned)

• It doesn’t backdate to cover previous years

• You don’t have to “qualify” by living here for a set amount of time

• You just need to be “ordinarily resident” in the UK again

 What You Need to Do to Restart Pension Increases

1. Tell them you have returned to live in the UK

2. Tell the International Pension Centre (IPC) that you’re now back and give your UK address

3. That’s it. The uprating resumes from that point (or the next April increase, depending on timing)

There’s no six-month minimum in any official DWP documentation. Some agents might informally suggest 6 months to “prove” you’re back, but this is more about avoiding abuse, not an official rule.

 

Why the “6 Months” Myth Exists

• Some YouTubers and bloggers misinterpret what agents say

• Others confuse UK tax residency rules (which do use 183 days = 6 months)

• There’s confusion between residency for tax purposes and residency for State Pension purposes

So we can come back, state we are now here to the DWP, if at a later stage we tell them we are going off again then the pension will be frozen again but we will still be paid the current rate.

 

 

 

Good info and I gave that a "+1" ....

 

BUT, I just want to clarify your last sentence. ... in the case of going back to the UK, and then returning to Thailand, the pension will be frozen at the PREVIOUS frozen rate, not the uplifted amount - UNLESS the DWP determines that you have stayed long enough in the UK to warrant freezing at the CURRENT rate.  My comment is wishy-washy because I have not been able to find out a definitive time period to achieve that. As far as I know that is not published anywhere. 

 

If anyone has any personal knowledge of this I would be pleased to hear it.

4 hours ago, sidjameson said:

You need to live in UK 6 months to reset the pension.

A youtuber retired living the dream put a phone call with HMRC on his channel where HMRC confirmed this.

 

No you don't. @JamesPhuket10 explains it fully but I know several people who have returned to the UK and received the uplift from day 1.

 

That You Tube blog was full of waffle 

1 hour ago, JamesPhuket10 said:

 

 

Oh no, not more incorrect info from an unqualified YouTuber, what qualifications does one need to make crap YouTube videos, erm none.

 

There is no official rule that says:“You must live in the UK for 6 months to restart State Pension increases.”

 

That statement is not supported by DWP or IPC guidance, and HMRC doesn’t even handle State Pension payments (that’s the DWP/International Pension Centre), so HMRC wouldn’t be the right authority anyway.

 

 

When you’ve been living in a frozen country (like Thailand, Canada, Australia, etc.) where pension uprating is not applied, and then you return to live in the UK, the uprating resumes, but:

• Only from the date you return (or the date you tell them you’ve returned)

• It doesn’t backdate to cover previous years

• You don’t have to “qualify” by living here for a set amount of time

• You just need to be “ordinarily resident” in the UK again

 What You Need to Do to Restart Pension Increases

1. Tell them you have returned to live in the UK

2. Tell the International Pension Centre (IPC) that you’re now back and give your UK address

3. That’s it. The uprating resumes from that point (or the next April increase, depending on timing)

There’s no six-month minimum in any official DWP documentation. Some agents might informally suggest 6 months to “prove” you’re back, but this is more about avoiding abuse, not an official rule.

 

Why the “6 Months” Myth Exists

• Some YouTubers and bloggers misinterpret what agents say

• Others confuse UK tax residency rules (which do use 183 days = 6 months)

• There’s confusion between residency for tax purposes and residency for State Pension purposes

So we can come back, state we are now here to the DWP, if at a later stage we tell them we are going off again then the pension will be frozen again but we will still be paid the current rate.

 

Oops. Sorry you're right.

What the person said is that you need to live in the UK 6 months before any reset that as you said occurs from day 1 is then not reversed if you then leave the UK again to live in Thailand.

1 hour ago, hotandsticky said:

 

 

Good info and I gave that a "+1" ....

 

BUT, I just want to clarify your last sentence. ... in the case of going back to the UK, and then returning to Thailand, the pension will be frozen at the PREVIOUS frozen rate, not the uplifted amount - UNLESS the DWP determines that you have stayed long enough in the UK to warrant freezing at the CURRENT rate.  My comment is wishy-washy because I have not been able to find out a definitive time period to achieve that. As far as I know that is not published anywhere. 

 

If anyone has any personal knowledge of this I would be pleased to hear it.

 

You arrive in the UK, you tell the DWP you have moved back and you intend to stay here. You will then receive the new pension at the new current rate from that day.

 

Stay a month or so living in the UK as that is where you live.

 

You may then decide to go travelling again abroad, if so you have to inform the DWP by their overseas branch three months after you have returned to Thailand. Your pension will then be frozen at the new current rate. 

 

This is also true of the NHS free treatment, you are entitled to use once you state you have now move back to the UK, some people confuse this with the 180 day tax status, they are not connected at all. When I say 'state', that is what you say if asked which is unlikely. 

 

You use your NHS number which is never cancelled and they will not even bother asking you about being abroad, why should they?

 

We can then decide to move abroad again at any time.

 

2 hours ago, hotandsticky said:

 

No you don't. @JamesPhuket10 explains it fully but I know several people who have returned to the UK and received the uplift from day 1.

 

That You Tube blog was full of waffle 

 

Further info.

 

The qualification for an increase in the next years rise is decided on our status in September each year, so if we arrive in July for example and become resident for pension status, we stay one month and then three months later in October we state we have been out of the country for three months we will have also qualify for the pension increases in the following April.

Keep, you're gonna be back soon.

8 hours ago, scubascuba3 said:

So renting is sufficient if indeed they do check, unlikely currently

Renting is sufficient to confirm that the person does live in the UK as long as a council tax bill is provided with the application to register BUT the person will still have to wait at least 6 months before registering with a GP surgery so if the poster needs urgent treatment he / she will not get it without paying for it.

1 hour ago, Jimjim1 said:

Renting is sufficient to confirm that the person does live in the UK as long as a council tax bill is provided with the application to register BUT the person will still have to wait at least 6 months before registering with a GP surgery so if the poster needs urgent treatment he / she will not get it without paying for it.

 

Not at all true in any respect of what you have said.

 

I made it clear above how it happens.

On 7/23/2025 at 2:34 AM, hotandsticky said:

 

 

Nor should you be liable for CGT as it was your 'main residence'.

Rules chaged after 2020 for residents in UK...main residence can attract CGT if rented as BTL.

4 hours ago, freedomnow said:

Rules changed after 2020 for residents in UK...main residence can attract CGT if rented as BTL.

 

 

Thank you.

 

Do you know if you can avoid CGT by moving back into your house (for a specified period) - and then selling?

On 7/23/2025 at 8:51 AM, JBChiangRai said:

If you haven't been paying tax, make sure HMRC have that address as your home and sell it now and hope for the best.

 

And there is also the taxation position here in Thailand to be borne in mind, I think. My understanding is that as a result of Articles 7 & 14 of the UK/Thailand Double Taxation Agreement* rental income and capital gains derived from the sale of UK properties should be declared as assessable income in returns filed with the TRD, with offsetting tax credits being sought from HMRC where necessary.

 

* https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5a80bddc40f0b623026953eb/uk-thailand-dtc180281_-_in_force.pdf

 

2 hours ago, hotandsticky said:

 

 

Thank you.

 

Do you know if you can avoid CGT by moving back into your house (for a specified period) - and then selling?

 

No specified period in the UK, but most tax advisers suggest at least 6–12 months with evidence to strengthen your position.

 

You'll need council tax, water bills, electricity bills......

On 7/24/2025 at 12:07 AM, falangUK said:

Did you have to go back to the UK to sign anything for the sale? I guess if you’ve got a good selling agent, it all runs fairly smoothly.

 

 

I guess you can do it all remotely. When I put  my house up for sale last September as the tenants left I chose to go back, get the keys from the agents (who I didn't want to employ for the sale), then dealing with estate agents and solicitors face to face was very easy. After that, everything was no problem to deal with online.

I originally bought the house in 1999 and lived in it for 10 years until I retired to Thailand, then rented it out. I never had any problems with tenants, and the last ones left the place spic and span, bless them. The oppressive new legislation was certainly a factor in the decision to sell, but the main reason was that I am now 80 and wanted to save my son and daughter the bother of disposing of it when I die. The agents quickly found a buyer at an acceptable price (a bit below alleged market value) and the sale went through ok. CGT paid on the gain since 2015, I had a valuation done at the time. I already had an account in Guernsey and the interest on the proceeds isn't so much less than the net rental income after paying the fees to the agents and their maintenance contractors whose charges had become quite rapacious in recent years. The interest rates have come down a bit but I wouldn't be surprised to see them rising again before long as the government has lost control of its borrowing requirement.

On 7/24/2025 at 12:07 AM, falangUK said:

Did you have to go back to the UK to sign anything for the sale? I guess if you’ve got a good selling agent, it all runs fairly smoothly.

 

When I first moved to Thailand, I kept my flat empty for the first two years — back then there was no council tax on empty properties, not the case anymore. Totally agree with you about letting agents and tenants — such a pain to deal with, especially from abroad.

 

How did you manage your money after the sale? I’m still not sure where to invest. One big worry is that my Thai girlfriend might burn through the money from the sale on pointless stuff, so I’m really trying to stay two or three steps ahead.

 

Sticking my oar in here......limited (or local) power of attorney is dead easy.....you can draft a statement yourself, sign and get it witnessed....all done....no need to register or have solicitors involved.

 

I have one for my son so he can deal with all my financial affairs.

2 hours ago, Will B Good said:

 

No specified period in the UK, but most tax advisers suggest at least 6–12 months with evidence to strengthen your position.

 

You'll need council tax, water bills, electricity bills......

 

 

Thank you.

17 hours ago, JamesPhuket10 said:

 

 

Oh no, not more incorrect info from an unqualified YouTuber, what qualifications does one need to make crap YouTube videos, erm none.

 

There is no official rule that says:“You must live in the UK for 6 months to restart State Pension increases.”

 

That statement is not supported by DWP or IPC guidance, and HMRC doesn’t even handle State Pension payments (that’s the DWP/International Pension Centre), so HMRC wouldn’t be the right authority anyway.

 

 

When you’ve been living in a frozen country (like Thailand, Canada, Australia, etc.) where pension uprating is not applied, and then you return to live in the UK, the uprating resumes, but:

• Only from the date you return (or the date you tell them you’ve returned)

• It doesn’t backdate to cover previous years

• You don’t have to “qualify” by living here for a set amount of time

• You just need to be “ordinarily resident” in the UK again

 What You Need to Do to Restart Pension Increases

1. Tell them you have returned to live in the UK

2. Tell the International Pension Centre (IPC) that you’re now back and give your UK address

3. That’s it. The uprating resumes from that point (or the next April increase, depending on timing)

There’s no six-month minimum in any official DWP documentation. Some agents might informally suggest 6 months to “prove” you’re back, but this is more about avoiding abuse, not an official rule.

 

Why the “6 Months” Myth Exists

• Some YouTubers and bloggers misinterpret what agents say

• Others confuse UK tax residency rules (which do use 183 days = 6 months)

• There’s confusion between residency for tax purposes and residency for State Pension purposes

So we can come back, state we are now here to the DWP, if at a later stage we tell them we are going off again then the pension will be frozen again but we will still be paid the current rate.

 

I would say tell them nothing,the 6 month ruling is a load of rubbish.   Only means tested benefits are under the spotlight, get a ghost address if necessary,good enough with a minimal postal requirement cheap.     As for NHS nobody asks especially white skin ,local accent,even then not interested,fact is generally you will be advised to return wherever,,,me day 1 in UK,issues PR1  1500 quid  then 45 quid tax free  weekly  plus another 50 quid   taxed if I want, was on full OAP while living in Thailand  plus govt pension    there are no bogey men awaiting,just pure crap pouring forth regarding frozen pensions....   Got one,oh dear, your fault,   get your ISA allowances too

5 hours ago, OJAS said:

 

And there is also the taxation position here in Thailand to be borne in mind, I think. My understanding is that as a result of Articles 7 & 14 of the UK/Thailand Double Taxation Agreement* rental income and capital gains derived from the sale of UK properties should be declared as assessable income in returns filed with the TRD, with offsetting tax credits being sought from HMRC where necessary.

 

* https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5a80bddc40f0b623026953eb/uk-thailand-dtc180281_-_in_force.pdf

 

Just to be clear under current rules that is only if you remit it to Thailand.