Aside from your financial planning, the key pointers which are worthy of consideration include:
- Your credit rating – if you have lived overseas for many years, or never lived in the UK, you may not have built up a credit rating. Many items (telephones, loans, mortgages, credit cards) are driven by a credit rating. So it may be that your bank will need to assist here, at least in the short term.
- Cost of Living – the UK may be a more expensive place to live than your overseas location. So plan ahead and make sure you will be aware of the impact of your move on your lifestyle.
- Cash Deposits – you may need access to a significant amount of cash for a few weeks, to buy new things which may have been lost in transit, or which you have chosen to leave behind. For example you may be unable to bring any electrical items (televisions, fridge/freezers and computer equipment) to the UK as they could run on different voltages.
- Schooling – the UK system means that children cannot be enrolled into a school until they are physically in the country. You may want to plan ahead, to ensure you have researched the area and will be in the right catchment area but there is no guarantee that you will be able to secure a place. This is particularly pertinent if you want your child to attend a ‘good’ school which is over-subscribed.
- Property – global websites help enormously in this area. It may be useful to rent in the short-term, if you do not know the area to which you are moving well. Do be aware that UK houses can be smaller than those overseas.
- Practicalities – you must register with your local doctor, dentist, council