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Moving to the UK - What you Need to Know A guide for newcomers to the UK Ed Phelan

Moving to the UK - What You Need to Know

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Moving to the UK - What you Need to KnowA guide for newcomers to the UK

Ed Phelan

Introduction• Moving to a foreign land is always a daunting task but don’t

let it overwhelm you• Break down the tasks you need to do so as to make it

manageable• Hopefully this guide will get you on your way to smoothing

the process of making Britain your new home!

Finding Somewhere to Live• You’ve no doubt got an idea of WHERE you want to live but

what can you expect to pay?• In London and across the south east property is incredibly

expensive and consequently so are rental rates• If you’re planning on living somewhere in southern England,

often a house share is the best way to make it affordable

Finding Somewhere to Live (2)• If you need housemates try looking online using

sites such as gumtree.com, spareroom.co.uk or easyroommate.com

• Most rented accommodation is let out through a letting agency, who will require references from you to prove you have the money to afford the rent. This will incur fees to check up so make sure you’re aware of the fees beforehand. Many letting agencies will charge a lot of money to essentially just double check your documents. Shop around to find agencies with more manageable fees

Understanding your living costs

• Once you’ve paid your agency fees and deposit (usually an extra 1-2 months rent in advance) you’ll need to be aware of your other commitments

• All UK properties are subject to council tax, which can be paid annually or monthly. The amount payable depends on the size of the property and you can check the amount due on your property at https://www.gov.uk/council-tax-bands

Understanding your living costs (2)

• Other standard rates you’ll be liable to pay include water, electricity & gas

• If you use a television, or even watch TV through a computer or portable device, you will also need to buy a TV licence. One licence covers an entire property, so if you’re sharing, the cost can be split. Buy online http://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/

Protect yourself• Whilst essential maintenance and repairs

will be the responsibility of your landlord or letting agent, it is still wise to insure your home contents against damage or theft

• You can research online the best deals using comparison sites like http://www.uswitch.com/home-insurance/building-and-contents-insurance/

• If you have a UK bank account check with your bank as they may offer home contents insurance that you’ll get at a preferential rate for already being a customer

INSURANCE

100

100

Making your house a homeRental properties in the UK are usually let either furnished or unfurnished. If you’ve chosen an unfurnished property then you’ll want to ensure you’ve got the essential gear you need such as a bed, desk, chair, wardrobe and chest of drawers for your bedroom. You’ll also need to ensure you’ve got the kitchen basics also, including pots, pans, cutlery and crockery

Furnish your home• The UK are as keen as the rest of the

world when it comes to flatpack furniture and you’ll find the Brits love spending money in IKEA, the popular Swedish furniture chain that offers competitively priced furnishing options suitable for all modern homes

• For an even easier furniture fix many companies now offer furniture hire so you can pick a whole package of furniture essentials and pay on a monthly basis for as long as you need it all

• These companies will often sell off their ex hire furniture on the cheap, if you’re looking for discounted furniture

Other home essentials

• Unless you’re moving to the UK from under the sea, you’re going to be expecting internet…

• Whilst some areas of the country offer internet via a cable service, in the majority of cases you will need to pay a monthly fee for a phone line to be fitted, and then pay to have broadband provided on top. Take a look at http://www.broadbandchoices.co.uk/ to compare the best deals. You’ll need to know the postcode of your property to find out what services are available in your areaphotopin

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Getting Around

• Public transport in the UK is very expensive so be prepared to pay a lot of money to travel. Wherever possible walking is advised

• For longer distances coaches will usually be cheaper than trains

• If you are travelling by train, try to book your tickets at least 2 weeks in advance from the relevant railway company, to get a discounted rate - http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/

Getting Around (2)• Whilst public transport is very expensive in the UK, car ownership is

even more so! It is recommended that you only use a car if it’s completely necessary. If you do need a car, consider the following:

• Every vehicle in the UK is required by law to pay road tax, which can be bought for a year or 6 months. The amount due depends on the vehicle so check rates at https://www.gov.uk/calculate-vehicle-tax-rates

• All drivers are also required to have valid motor insurance. Third party insurance is the legal minimum cover, insuring you against damage caused to others. This will usually be the cheapest cover, but if your car is damaged or stolen, you won’t be able to claim

• Finally, any vehicle over 3 years old will be required to have a valid MOT certificate, proving the car’s safety. Most local garage mechanics will be able to test your vehicle to ensure it meets legal safety requirements, for a fee. Be aware that if your car does not pass the test, you will need to carry out the required repair work before you can drive the vehicle

HALLO

hej

byeHi!

ADIÓS

HOLA

SALUT

Other essentials

• Unlike most of continental Europe, the majority of the population of Britain speak no other languages than the native English

• In order to get by you’ll need to ensure you have a good level of English

• Plenty of language schools provide the opportunity to learn English in England so if you need to brush up, now would be the time!

Enjoy!Although a very expensive place to live, the UK is popular for a reason and there are few places on Earth that can match its cultural output. If you’ve got the money to enjoy Britain then it’s an experience not to be missed!

For more information about the subjects I write on follow me on SlideShare or tweet me on Twitter

@phelanedward2

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