Relocating to London: Mentor Talent Guide

London is a major city in the United Kingdom and is the capital city of England. London is a leading global city in the arts, commerce, education, tech, entertainment and finance.

If you are reading this, we assume that you are thinking of or have received an offer of employment in London. First of all, congratulations. This guide is intended to give you a run-down of all you need to know about relocating to London.

Getting Started:

Before relocating to London, there are a number of things that you will want to consider:

1.    Accommodation

2.    Bank Account

3.    Tax Number

4.    Salary and Taxation Guide for the area

5.    Cost of Living

6.    Visas

7.    Other – Overview of the city, healthcare, transport, weather and useful websites.

Accommodation

Finding accommodation in London is competitive, so be prepared and start searching as soon as possible.

The rental market in London is one of the most competitive in the world so it is worth noting that the further away from the city you go, the cheaper the rent becomes, so it is always worth checking prices outside of the city centre.

An option for those unsure of searching for property on their own, or want to streamline the experience can visit www.spotahome.com and they will provide you with the help you need looking for a new place to call home. Just visit the website and input your search, you can then take one of their virtual tours and see what the place is like and check out the landlord policies.

When you make a reservation on a property, that property stays blocked until the landlord responds to your request (up to 24 hours). Once the landlord accepts, your payment method will automatically be charged. This is where you pay the first payment of the property as well as a small fee for the websites expenses.

They will then put you in direct contact with your landlord via email, so you can arrange a time to collect keys, move in time, and transfer any documents that have been requested by the landlord.

For more information visit their website.

Useful Links:

http://www.movingtolondon.net/how-to-find-an-apartment-in-london/

www.spotahome.com/Accommodation/London

https://www.spareroom.co.uk/

Rental Prices:

As of 2018 please see the rental prices of an apartment in London.

Average cost of 1 Bed apartment in London city centre – £1,619

Average cost of 3 Bed apartment in London city centre – £3,044

Rooms for rent around London can vary – £433-£1,083

Sources: https://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/in/London

https://www.spotahome.com/london/for-rent:rooms

Supporting Documents:

It is likely that upon looking for accommodation to rent you will be asked for the following documents, so be sure to have them available when you begin your search to avoid any delays. When you are looking for accommodation, it is recommended that you have the following:

·      Copies of Photo ID, Permits and Visas

·      A bank statement

·      Proof of employment – Usually your contract

·      A letter of reference from your previous landlord

Fees, Keys and Deposits

The typical amount you would expect to pay for a rented accommodation in London is the equivalent of 1 months’ rent. Any more than this should raise suspicions. It is also recommended to have a written tenancy agreement to avoid any future disagreements with your landlord. Once the fees and deposits have been paid, you should then arrange a suitable time and place with your landlord to pick up the keys.

Utilities:

Make sure you are clear which (if any) utilities are included in the property. The landlord should be able to give you a good indication of how much you should expect to pay in utilities. 

Bank Account

One of the most important things to do upon arriving in London is setting up a bank account. This is essential for such things as receiving your salary, keeping money safe, and for setting up automatic payments; for mobile phones, monthly    

          utility bills etc.

Most popular banks in England:

·      HSBC

·      Royal Bank of Scotland

·      Lloyds Banking Group

·      Barclays

·      NatWest

Tax Number

While living in the UK you must have a tax number or what is known in the UK as the National Insurance Number (NINO). It is used by the Government to properly record your National Insurance contributions and to tax your pay.

Upon arrival in the UK you will need to apply for a National Insurance Number immediately. You can do this by phone by calling the National Insurance Number application line (0088-141-2075)

Cost of Living

Please see below for the cost of living in London, as of July 2018.

Source: https://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/in/London

Visas

Citizens of the EU/EEA:

The United Kingdom is currently a member of the EU, this means that citizens of other EU countries are free to live and work in the UK without needing a visa.

Citizens of all other states:

Citizens of most other states will require a visa to live and work in the United Kingdom. An application for a visa can be filled out at a UK visa application centre in your home country before moving to the UK. This application should be sent before your departure to the United Kingdom.

For more information

https://www.expatica.com/uk/visas-and-permits/UK-visa-for-coming-to-the-United-Kingdom_104348.html

Note:

*Please note the visa requirements for the United Kingdom may be subject to change upon the UK leaving the European Union in 2019 following Brexit.*

Other

 Overview of London –

Quick Facts:

·      London is the most populous city in England and the UK, with a population of 8.3 million.

·      The Palace of Westminster has eight bars, six restaurants, 1,000 rooms, 100 staircases, 11 courtyards, a hair-salon, and a rifle shooting range!

·      Big Ben is actually the bell, not the clock tower.

·      Great Ormond Street Hospital owns the copyright to Peter Pan – It was gifted to the hospital by author J.M Barrie, who had no children of his own and made sure all royalties from all associated works and performances went to the hospital.

·      The Christmas tree in Trafalgar Square is presented to England from the city of Oslo, Norway. It is proudly put on display in Trafalgar Square every year!

·      There are around 20 subterranean rivers flowing beneath London’s surface.

·      London is home to three of the top ten museums and galleries in the world. There are around 860 art galleries in total in London.

Cities Equality Ranking:

London is one of the top ranking cities in Europe when it comes to equality. It is currently ranked the 32nd best city in Europe for equality based on research carried out on a number of factors such as; male/female labour force participation, income inequality, accessibility and a number of other factors.

For more information –

https://www.spotahome.com/equality-europe-city-ranking

Healthcare

The National Health Service (NHS) is the national healthcare provider in the United Kingdom. NHS treatment is free for residents of the UK, This includes expats moving from abroad to the United Kingdom. However, there will be a few more steps involved before you receive free non-emergency medical treatment. The first thing you will need is an NHS number, in order to apply for a number you must make an appointment with a local GP, have an interview and fill out the paperwork. You will then receive your NHS number in the post in a couple of weeks. You can then register with a GP. It is worth noting that all GP’s have a catchment area, so it is important to register with one close to your home address.

Private hospitals are plentiful and located throughout the country. Private healthcare and dental care in the UK can be expensive but do guarantee preferential treatment and, crucially, freedom from long waiting lists. Many health insurance providers also offer international coverage for when expats travel back home or for travel overseas in general. With a big range of private health products on offer, it is highly recommended to shop around for the best plan for you.

Transport

Transport for London operates three different railway systems across London. The London Underground colloquially known as ‘The Tube’, was the first rapid transit system in the world, having begun operation in 1863. More than three million passengers travel on one of the Underground’s 11 lines every day. These lines connect most of the suburbs in London to the city centre. The Underground services mostly North London more than South London which is primarily served by surface railways. Carrying nearly 50% of commuters, the Underground is the most heavily used form of public transport in London.

London is the focal point of the British railway network, with 18 major stations providing a combination of suburban, intercity, airport and international services; 14 of these stations are termini, 4 are through stations and two more are both. Most areas of the city not serviced by the Underground or DLR are served by suburban heavy rail into one of these stations.

For more information:

https://www.visitlondon.com/traveller-information/getting-around-london/london-transport

Useful Websites

Finally we would like to leave you with some links to some websites you might find helpful. You can click on the links below which we hope provide you with even more useful information.

https://www.internations.org/london-expats/guide

http://www.expatarrivals.com/europe/united-kingdom/london/moving-london

http://www.movingtolondon.net/

www.payscale.com