Discovering the U.K.

However, you may need to drive further to work, to access stores and services, to participate in cultural activities, and to attend sporting events.

Partner’s Possible Future Employment If the accompanying partner is eligible to work and is interested in looking for a job, consider where the partner could have access to job opportunities could prove beneficial in the future.

Securing Rental Housing The U.K.’s selection of housing is extremely diverse. Properties may be rented on a furnished or unfurnished basis, although the supply of furnished property tends to be very limited outside major towns and cities. Unfurnished properties usually include carpets, curtains, an oven, and hob (stovetop). They may also include “white goods” consisting of a fridge-freezer, washing machine, and dishwasher, but this is dependent on the landlord. Properties are normally rented for a term of six to 12 months. Options to renew are commonly written into a lease but it is up to the landlord to agree to a further term unless stated otherwise in the tenancy agreement. Short term lettings of less than six months are difficult to obtain, but there are now some landlords supplying this sector. Once a property is sourced, a lease has to be signed by both the landlord and yourself (or your employer if it’s a corporate lease). Rental payments are made monthly in advance. Most letting agents will require a direct debit or standing order arrangement with your bank for the ongoing rent.  The referencing company will carry out employment and credit checks, which can take a week or so. To expedite the process, it is wise to have your employer’s HR (in the U.K.) contact details on hand. There is usually an administration charge that can range from £150-300 for a single applicant, with an additional charge of £70-100 for each additional adult who will be living at the property. This is non-refundable in the event that referencing is not passed  The letting agent may require a “holding deposit” whilst they arrange for references to be carried out. This is usually the equivalent of two weeks rent. The amount will subsequently be deducted from the remaining costs payable for the tenancy (see below). This is an important payment to make as it will remove the property from marketing with the agent. Other parties are still entitled to offer on the property if they viewed the property before with the letting agent, or if a different agent is conducting viewings still  Once the referencing has been completed, the agent will forward a draft Tenancy Agreement for review  Once terms are agreed by all parties, the tenancy agreement can be finalised and the balance of remaining monies must be paid to the agent by the start date of the tenancy Typically, the initial process and the costs involved once a rental property has been found are as follows:

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Discovering the U.K.