[drew]

Hey Darren,
congratulations on your pending relocation to Canada.

You are sure to discover a keen and helpful group at this website.


Have you explored the Canada section of the forums yet?


Here are the answers to your questions:

a. True: Canada does not share the same electrical voltage system as the UK, so your existing electrical will not work here, as is.

The ideal solution is to sell what you have in the UK, and purchase new when you arrive here. Especially with heavy appliances, the cost of shipping them to Canada overseas, and then using some kind of voltage adapter for every item is not only very expensive (cost to ship is calculated by weight), but also impractical and perhaps even dangerous (I doubt they recommend to run large power consumers like appliances or electronics on an adapter for such permanent circumstances).


b. Rent or Buy?: This depends greatly on your particular circumstances, namely the intended length of your stay, your personal budget and the desires you bring with you.

Most people will rent initially, in order to first settle in and familiarize with their new city and communities. Often, it is best to get into your new workplace and socialize with your peers, in order to get a feel for where best to settle more permanently.

Finding a rental close to your workplace will cut down on the commute, and let you explore which areas provide you the right lifestyle. Depending on your budget and desires, you can rent with month-by-month terms, or other times a 1-year lease would be required to rent your initial home.

Hopefully the above information is helpful to you.

Just let me know if you have any other questions.

Best Regards,