• Bank accounts

  
  

  • Information on opening a bank account can be found here on the direct.gov.uk website

  
  

  
  

• Communications

  
  

  • Internet: either via telephone line (ADSL/broadband e.g. from BT), or cable

    
    

  • Telephone connections are available via standard telephone lines or (often as part of a TV-internet-telephone bundle) cable television lines.

    
    

  • Mobile telephones: example supplier

  
  

  
  

• Driving

  
  

  • See this link for information on driving using an international driving licence in the UK

    
    

  • Details of MOT (annual vehicle inspection), insurance, road tax and other driving requirements can be found here

    
    

  • Parking information can be found here on the Surrey County Council website

  
  

  
  

• Employment

  
  

  • Job search websites include reed.co.uk

  
  

  
  

• Healthcare

  
  

  • For details of local NHS (state) doctors see here

    
    

  • Private healthcare providers include BUPA and AXA-PPP

    
    

  • Details of eligibility for NHS free hospital treatment can be found on the Department of Health website

  
  

  
  

• Personal taxes

  
  

  • See here for information on the Direct.gov website

    
    

  • Details of accountants who can help with personal annual tax returns can be found on the ICAEW website

  
  

  
  

• Property insurance

  
  

  • Usually consists of buildings and contents elements; example provider

  
  

  
  

• Property maintenance

  
  

  • If renting a property, maintenance is usually the responsibility of the property owner

    
    

  • In the case of ownership of a flat in a block, external maintenance is usually organised by a management company (which may be owned by the property owners) and the costs shared between the owners

    
    

  • Otherwise owned property maintenance is the responsibility of the owner. mybuilder.com includes details of builders and other property tradespeople

  
  

  
  

• Property taxes

  
  

  • Council tax is collected by the applicable district council, and made up of district, county and police charge elements

    
    

  • More details can be found on the applicable district council website

  
  

  
  

• Television

  
  

  • A television licence is usually mandatory if you have a means of watching television - see here

    
    

  • Cable television is available through Virgin Media

    
    

  • Satellite television is available through Sky

  
  

  
  

• Utilities

  
  

  • Electricity and gas: deregulated (competitive) markets - see here for suppliers

    
    

  • Water: this map is a good starting point for identifying your supplier - Thames Water provides sewerage services for most of Surrey, and fresh water supply for some areas

  
  

  
  

• Visa

  
  

  • See the Home Office website for information on obtaining a work visa (if required)

  
  

Next page: Leisure