ROSEMARY GALLAGHER
THERE are now at least 30,000 Polish immigrants living in Scotland but law group Caesar and Howie believes there is a distinct lack of information available to assist them in settling in to their new country.
It said much confusion surrounds important lifestyle issues which Scottish people take for granted, in particular the process of buying a property
There are many myths circulating in the Polish community about this process, and many people are not even sure if they are allowed to buy a house here.
To tackle this issue, Caesar and Howie has launched a service dedicated to assisting Polish people with the home buying process in the UK.
It also employs several full-time Polish staff and has a number of paralegals currently learning the language.
David Borrowman, managing partner of Caesar and Howie, said: “A recent survey has shown that most of the Polish people who have come to the UK in the last two years intend to stay. Caesar and Howie believe that this means many will end up purchasing property.
“We were very keen to let the Polish community know that, providing they have the correct documents and appropriate finances, they can purchase a property in Scotland.
“Some Polish people may be worried that attempting to buy a house in a country where they do not fully speak the language will be stressful. Our new service addresses this concern, with guidance notes available in Polish, and help in understanding the process provided by our Polish home buying adviser, Jakub Maleszyk, in Polish or English as required.”
Maleszyk, a graduate of the University of Nicolaus Copernicus, bought his own house in Scotland in August 2006. He explained: “Many Poles are unclear as to what is required when buying a house in Scotland. However, many will find that it is actually much easier than buying a house in Poland.
“It is essential that you are in full-time continuous employment, and are able to provide a P60, three months’ salary slips, your employers details, your national insurance number, and a salary reference. You will also need to provide details of all loans that you have, as these may affect the amount you are offered.
“In terms of required documentation, you must be able to provide a three-year residential address history, which can include your overseas address. You should also be able to provide proof of identity and address, such as a passport.”
1 response so far ↓
Annette Strauch // August 28, 2007 at 10:53 am
How can people from Poland afford the high priced houses here I wonder? If they have the money though, I think they should be able to buy a house in Scotland straight away…!
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