Moving back to UK after 10 years away- tips please

love_lifer

Hello

I'm posting on a friend's behalf. She is planning to move back to the Uk in about 6 months time, and is concerned it will be difficult to rent somewhere without a recent British bank account. She intends to have a job to come to, and will do- she's a teacher.

Any tips on how to make the move as smooth as possible? Are landlords likely to discriminate against her due to no recent UK address/account?

Thanks for any advice/thoughts

D_M_E

This might work, worth a try.

Some British banks have outposts in varipus countries.

She should find out if thete is such a branch anywhee near whete she currently is and if thete is one ask in thete if they can open a British account for her.

She would need to provide passport details and hwr National Insurance number and. may have to provide othet evidence.

love_lifer

DME that's really useful thanks

Marine_life

My advice? Stay away!

ERICS_MUM

Marine_life wrote: »

My advice? Stay away!

Depends which country she's leaving behind ! The UK might be paradise in comparison.

always_sunny

If she has family and friends, she should organise her name on some (joint) bills before landing, that together with her passport seem to prove she is herself to organisations!

In towns/places with no much demand, it shouldn't be a problem.
In London, trying to secure a 'cheap' flat with competition it may not be so easy.
Worse case scenario, if she has 6 months rent saved up, she can pay upfront.

SHE NEEDS A BILL WITH HER NAME AND ADDRESS IN THE UK!!!!!

love_lifer

Thanks always sunny and DME I've passed your advice on and shes looking at getting registered at a friends house in order to get an account etc. She's non EU currently

Hopefully it will work out

Oh and marine life- you take your weather with you, in my experience

Mr.Generous

I would imagine a female teacher is quite a desirable tenant, I don't think she has too much to worry about.

steampowered

Marine_life wrote: »

My advice? Stay away!

If life in the UK is so bad, why don't you move?

Personally I think the UK is great. It isn't perfect but there is a relaxed culture, free healthcare, good infrastructure and democratic government (which is very moderate and competent by international standards).

The main negative of living here is that us Brits seem to be in a habit of complaining and moaning about absolutely everything, and don't even seem to care whether our complaints are factually justified or not.

Ptolemyspuzzle

I had to go the 6 month deposit route. I didn't want to put my name on my mum's electoral role as I didn't want her to potentially have council tax issues (single person).

Things to check - since she'll be working with kids, get all criminal record stuff done in her current country now before she leaves. I mucked that up and can't pass a DBS check now without physically going back to the other country and miraculously finding my old passport that seems to have gotten lost in the move.

Are any of her no-claims transferable (unlikely if outside EU, but worth asking).

Lack of credit history is a pretty big issue at times and ridiculously frustrating. Not a lot you can do but try to build it up once here. I am with HSBC, despite their "international bank" status and waffle, they really weren't much help. Every time I'd ask the UK branches about certain things they'd basically say "we don't do it like that here" or "I don't know about that" or whatever. They often point out that they don't have any information on my account in another country and can't take any of that information into account.

Suggest she keep her private health insurance running if possible. The NHS is frustrating after dealing with non-NHS systems. Anything that relieves pressure off the system is a good thing imo so it's win-win

Have a friend set her up with a cheat sheet - all of the silly little things that make life stressful when you first move. Explain the rubbish system, days, re-cycling etc. What she needs to register for and where. Laws that may have changed (driving etc). Even simple things like reminding her that most of the country shuts down on Sunday, pubs close early, supermarkets may not be 24/7 and even if they are 24/7 it doesn't actually mean 24/7 etc.

Reverse culture shock is a pretty horrible thing, people assume that because you're "coming home" everything will be straightforward, but it isn't.

Rain_Shadow

Ptolemyspuzzle wrote: »

Have a friend set her up with a cheat sheet - all of the silly little things that make life stressful when you first move. Explain the rubbish system, days, re-cycling etc. What she needs to register for and where. Laws that may have changed (driving etc). Even simple things like reminding her that most of the country shuts down on Sunday, pubs close early, supermarkets may not be 24/7 and even if they are 24/7 it doesn't actually mean 24/7 etc.

.

And be sure to tell her that nice Mr Gladstone isn't the PM any longer.