United Kingdom

Accommodation: outside London • Heart of London • Rent agreement

Your options depend on where you are being relocated. You have more choices in London and in the surrounding areas than in many other cities in the UK. If you are going to work in the London, you have to decide whether you want to live in the heart of London or in smaller suburban towns around London or in the countryside.

Accommodation - Outside London

Just outside London, you will find many attractive community towns, set within pretty countryside. Larger houses and gardens are more readily available at a cheaper cost than in Central London.

Your options include:

• Detached houses (surrounded by a garden)
• Semidetached houses (joined to another house on one side)
• Townhouses (terraced houses)

Accommodation - Heart of London

In the heart of London, you can opt for houses or apartments:-

Houses

• Terraced, and can be several floors high
• Mews, converted carriage houses, with character but little space

Flats

• Purpose built blocks
• Mansion blocks, older buildings with spacious accommodation
• Conversions, houses which have been renovated and divided into flats

The average weekly rent is £278 for a two bedroom flat. There is no specific tenancy act; most agents or companies have their own. However, all agreements are built around the same pattern.

Accommodation - Rent agreement

Rent: Paid quarterly or monthly in advance.
Deposit: usually 6 weeks rent
Term: period agreement, normally one year less one day
Release clause: the minimum rental period for both parties, and the period after which each side can give notice.
Inventory: Gives a detailed description of the property, list of all contents and its condition, number of keys given to the tenant. This document is approved and signed by both parties, each one receives a copy. A representative of the Landlord and of the Tenant checks the inventory.
Maintenance: Landlord must keep all the property such as central heating system and appliances in good working conditions.
Insurance: Landlord and tenant must insure all their belongings
Restrictions: Landlord imposes restrictions on the tenant that must be followed by the tenant.
The tenancy agreement can take 10 - 14 days to process. The Landlord will request business, personal and/or bank references. The deposit and the first month's (quarter's) rent will be paid before the start of the tenancy, by electronic transfer or Banker's draft. Until all references have been accepted and both parties have signed the tenancy agreement, the Landlord has the right to rent the property to somebody else

Transportation: underground • bus • taxis

Transportation - Underground

The London Underground or Tube is the main transport system in London. Tubes run from approximately 5:30am to 11:30pm. There is a reduced system on Sundays and bank holidays. You can purchase your ticket at the ticket window in any Tube station, or from a ticket machine. The Underground system is divided in 6 travel zones, and fares are based on the distance travelled. As long as you don't leave a station, you can use the same ticket. Single or Return tickets are available. After 9:30am, you can purchase a travel card, which gives you unlimited use of the tube and bus system. Underground maps are available free from most tube ticket windows.

Each line has a name and is colour coded. North, South, East or West indicates directions. There are distinctive symbols for interchange stations and connections with National Railways.

Transportation - Bus

Buses are slightly cheaper than undergrounds, but often slower. Tickets can be bought on the bus. Most buses depart from Victoria coach station.

Transportation - Taxis

Regulated meter taxis operate in London. If in case taxis do not have metres, negotiate the price before you hire the taxi.
For a complete guide to transport fares visit London transport (http://www.londontransport.co.uk/ftt_local_bus.shtml)
Before you begin to drive in Britain, you have to be familiar with the driving regulations, read The Highway Code. Parking is limited to car parks and meters. In some areas, parking is possible only if you are a resident and hold a resident's permit. You can apply for it at your local Council. You must pay the Council Tax and provide proof of identity, residence and show your car documents.
If you are importing your car to Great Britain, ensure that its registered and licensed as soon as possible. If it's a brand new car it must be:

• Be registered within 14 days of collection or first use abroad
• Only have reasonable delivery mileage
• Not have been previously "permanently" registered

To register your car, you need to produce the following documents to the VRO:

• Completed application form V55/5
• A £25 registration fee (if applicable)
• The required fee for the licence
• A current British certificate of insurance
• Foreign registration documents
• Evidence showing the date the vehicle was collected (normally the invoice from the supplier)
• Evidence of type approval (European certificate of conformity)
• Appropriate Customs & Excise form (if applicable)
• A current British MOT certificate (for car more than 3 years old)
• A declaration of newness (if applicable)

If all the documents are present, the process takes a minimum of five working days.

Utilities:

Telephone

The national telephone service is called British Telecom (BT). However, in many areas you can have your telephone through a cable company. Before moving in, check for telephone lines.

Old house or apartment (not the first residents) a telephone line will almost certainly already be installed. You will just need to have it put in your name. However, if the line hasn't been in use for some time, BT might have to send a technician to have it checked, and you'll need to make an appointment for that.

Moving into a house or apartment without a phone line, you must apply to BT or the Cable Company for a line to be installed.

Property doesn't come with a phone, you can either rent or purchase one from BT. Telephone bills are sent out quarterly. If you are a first time BT customer, you will be given a call level of approximately £100. Once this level has been reached, BT will inform you.

Mobile phones-There are many providers to choose from with possibilities of national use, GSM or worldwide use.

Service numbers: 150 BT enquiries, 151 BT fault repair service, 142 London directory enquiries, 153 International directories.
Alternative telecommunication operators offering low rates for national and international calls are widely available. There is no charge to join and it can be combined with your main telephone provider.

Domestic help:
Almost 2.5 million households in the UK regularly employ domestic help. If you get a "self employed" cleaner, he will have his own liability insurance. You can pay your cleaner in cash. Just remember a self-employed person is responsible for his own tax and national insurance. Minimal wage regulations include a 20-day paid leave per annum, including part time workers. Minimum wage rate for workers over the age of 22 is 3.70 pounds. For workers between the ages of 18-21, wage amounts to 3.20 pounds. For further information on hiring Nannies, au pairs, maternity nurses, mothers help, go to Nannies-Au-pairs

Education:
There are three main education systems in United Kingdom:
State Schools
Independent schools
International schools
Check out complete listing of schools in United Kingdom:
Goodschoolsguide
How to choose a school in UK