When you make a relocation to London, you’ll discover there might be different taxes you have to pay in the UK than you’ve had to deal with before. It goes without saying that the UK has its own income tax structure that includes contributions to the national healthcare system (NHS), etc., but the ones that usually catch expats moving to London most by surprise are council tax and TV licensing. Today, I’ll explain the latter.
“You need to be covered by a valid TV Licence if you watch or record TV as it’s being broadcast. This includes the use of devices such as a computer, laptop, mobile phone or DVD/video recorder.
It costs £145.50 for colour and £49.00 for a black and white TV Licence.”
If you intend to be the sole occupant of your London apartment and will indeed watch television in it, you are responsible for obtaining your own TV license. If you’ll be lodging in a London flat-share in which you occupy one room of the London property and have a separate tenancy agreement from your flatmate(s), then you are likewise responsible for having your own TV license. If, on the other hand, you are sharing a London apartment rental under a joint tenancy agreement, then one TV license is enough for the entire property (there are exceptions to this rule, however—oddly enough, it could make a difference if you have “exclusive access to a toilet or washing facilities”; what that has to do with television, I don’t know, but they must be sticklers, so you can contact them with questions if you’re unsure).
With regard to that last arrangement, the London Relocation agency often assists groups of students seeking joint tenancy agreements on a shared London apartment to rent. If you’re a student moving to London and will be staying in a dormitory instead, be advised that even if there’s a communal television on your floor for all residents of that floor to view, you are still responsible for obtaining your own TV license if you watch programming inside your individual room.
You might be wondering, then, what is the license for? Well, a TV license basically pays for the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) programming you watch or listen to, be it on your television, computer, or radio. On the television, BBC offers thirteen different stations plus additional content with the use of a red button on your remote. Such additional content can also be found online through your computer or portable devices (including mobile), and programming is available via BBC iPlayer. Finally, there are eighteen BBC radio stations offering a diverse range of international music, news, sports, and talk. The fee likewise covers cost of installation of TV receivers.
Dinner with friends the other night brought this topic to mind because we were raving about the high quality of a lot of BBC programming. The content is comprehensive, and the filming technology is cutting edge, as evidenced by shows like Planet Earth and Frozen Planet. Seriously, just to give an example, this time-lapse footage on the underwater “brinicle” is insane (and has nearly five million hits on YouTube to date)!
So, hopefully this helps tick off one more question that your international relocation to London has raised. Moral of the story: if you plan to watch television programming in the comforts of your London apartment, you’re going to have to register for a TV license.
Relocation to London – What Happens After You Move In? - Image via Wikipedia
You’ve been smart and hired London relocation agents to handle your international relocation to London. You are now clutching the keys to your new London home in your hands and you’re ready to move in. While it would be nice to just move in and start exploring London, there are a number of important things that you have to do before you can say that you have completed your relocation to London.
Many of these can be handled by a specialist London relocation services company, especially if they have experience in expats moving to London. Ask your London relocation agents to provide you with a checklist of things you should do after you have signed the lease on your new apartment.
Relocation to London: After you’ve moved in…
The most important thing that you have to do is inform your local council that you have moved in. This then lets the council know where they can send you the bill for council tax. You cannot get out of paying council tax even as a renter, although some leases will include it in the lease agreement. It is very important to check this as nonpayment of council taxes is a serious offense.
Contact your local utilities company so that you have lights, water and heat when you move in. Ensure that you do not have to pay for any usage by the previous tenant, so you should take a reading of the meter before you move in and send it to them. They may send a technician round to verify the meter reading. You may have to sign accounts with two utility companies: one for power and one for water. You can shop around or ask your London relocation agents to recommend the best one in your area.
Make sure you inform your bankers both here (British bank account) and back home. It can have a bearing on your tax payments.
Make an effort to get a TV license. You cannot escape the wrath of the BBC if you fail to have a TV license. It is a quick payment and covers the use of all TV’s in your home. £142.50 is the annual payment for a TV license. If you want to get a landline, or internet service you should set that up using your new address.
All of these little accounts will help you establish a good credit rating in the eyes of British banks after your relocation to London.
London events for September 2011 include the ongoing BBC Proms, which wrap up this week - Relocation UK - Image via Wikipedia
Author: Colleen
If you’ve been planning an international relocation to London for 2011, can you believe it’s September already??!! Me neither. Well, if you’ve indeed already made the London move by this summer, then all hassle of finding and settling into a London apartment is hopefully behind you now (well, not at all a “hassle” if you wisely used London Relocation’s services and were hand-held through every step by one of our relocation agents). In that event, here are some goings-on around the city of London this fine month that you can finally step out and enjoy!
This Saturday, 10 September, alone has a handful of events:
BBC Proms in the Park – The BBC Proms have been going on ever since 15 July over at South Kensington’s Royal Albert Hall. The final performance this Saturday will be broadcast on giant screens in the nearby Hyde Park to accommodate a larger viewing public. (for more info – www.bbc.co.uk/proms)
The Mayor’s Thames Festival – In celebration of London and the River Thames, the Mayor is hosting this annual festival, the largest of its kind in the city. It includes everything from arts, music, dancing, food, fireworks, and other entertainment, a good time for singles and families alike joining to pay homage to London’s history, present, and future. (for more info – www.thamesfestival.org)
Gail’s Garden Party – If the little foodie in you is craving good eats in one of the loveliest London neighborhoods, this Hampstead food festival is in the spirit of bringing the community together and supporting local high street butchers, fishmongers, green grocers, and cheesemongers. A time for coming together and interacting, with music and facepainting to boot! (for more info – www.gailsbread.co.uk)
To follow later in the month…
Wednesday, 21 September – Sunday, 25 September:
The Chelsea Antiques Fair – A boutique-style fair of 36 vendors held in the Chelsea neighborhood‘s Old Town Hall. With high-quality items and knowledgeable experts, this is Britain’s oldest antiques fair. Wine will be served after 6pm during Wednesday’s open house. (for more info – www.penman-fairs.co.uk)
Thursday, 22 September - Sunday, 25 September:
London Fashion Weekend – A fabulous designer shopping event on the heels of London’s prestigious Fashion Week, open to consumers at the same exhibition and catwalk site in London’s Somerset House. Be in-the-know of the latest London fashions! (for more info - www.londonfashionweekend.co.uk)
Finally, The Honeypot Charity has a slew of events coming up this year, the September ones being:
The Honeypot Charity is about bringing joy and fun to kids who’ve had to prematurely assume adult responsibilities. So, any way that you can support them—be it this month or the whole year round!—is truly giving the gift of childhood. (for more info – www.honeypot.org.uk)
Whatever you’re up to this month, make it a fun one! Sure, the weather is cooling down and feeling very autumnal, but don’t let that demotivate you—we’ll be putting up with it for months to come, so beat the grey-sky blues now. And if you haven’t made your relocation to London yet, contact our London Relocation agents so they can make that London move a swift one and get you closer to enjoying what the city constantly has going on.
Living In London – Paperwork Planning When You’re Moving To London- Image via Wikipedia
Once you have stepped off the plane and you’ve started living in London, there are a couple of admin issues that you should get done as soon as possible to ensure that you’re settled as fast as possible and can get out and enjoy your new city and your new home.
Register at the Council
Just as soon as you have found your perfect new London rental you need to make sure that you contact the local council to register you at that address, not only will it help for future financial dealings, like opening bank accounts, but will also help you at the your local doctor and on the National Health Service in an emergency. You will have to pay council tax while you are living in London and they will need an address to send the bills to.
Register with a Doctor
Choosing a local doctor is quite important when you arrive in London. You’ll have to register as a local surgery to be provided with health care. Most doctors don’t take walk in patients, so getting registered means that you can see your doctor whenever you need to instead of going to a public health clinic.
Register for Power
You don’t have to go with the first power services provider in your area. There are a number of excellent power utility companies that provide very competitive rates and services. There are nearly 20 companies providing electricity and gas across England. UK Power Networks and NPower are two electricity and gas providers in London.
Register for TV
You’ll have to get a TV license when you arrive in London, remember that your televisions license is registered to your address, not you as a person, so if you move home, you have to change your address details with the BBC licensing department. You can do all of the paperwork to apply for a television license as well as renew your license and change your London flat address online at the BBC licensing website and they will post your license card to your new address.
So you’re going to be moving to London and you’d like to know a little more about English culture and their way of life before you get there. Watching English television is one of the best ways of getting to know your new country and London in particular. The British are particular about their telly (television) and have a thriving television industry. Watching some British TV before you arrive will also attune your ear to the regional accents that are found across England. Sometimes they can be incomprehensible to foreigners, but if you listen to them long enough you’ll find yourself slowly starting to understand individual words and phrases.
The best show to watch if you want to get an idea of a London accent is “East Enders”. It’s a soapie, so you’ll have to get used to the characters, but it will give you a good idea of the way that many people in London live and work. You can also watch “Coronation Street” which is one of the longest running soap operas on television. A fair word of warning, if you’re used to the wheeling’s and dealings of the rich and famous, or is it ‘bold and beautiful’ people on American soap operas, you’ll find that British ones are very different. Most of them are about ordinary people and the struggles and lives they lead.
One of the biggest shows on the telly at the moment is Top Gear. Hosted by Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May, it’s a rollicking motor show with a difference. Watching Top Gear for just one episode will give you a good example of the way that the English use sarcasm as wit. No, really…Top Gear has been banned from the States because they’re so rude about cars! It’s all a bit of fun and Clarkson is especially witty.
Crime dramas, murder mysteries and science fiction, you can find it all on the telly in London. Having a good look at some of the more popular celebrity guest shows like Graham Norton. Standup comedy is also another way of learning out more about the way that British people laugh at themselves and have an irreverent sense of humor.
Once you’re living in London of course, you’ll be able to see your favorite comedians and entertainers in the flesh. London has dozens of live shows every night of the week catering to every possible entertainment taste.
Living In London – Pay Your TV Licence--Image via Wikipedia
Author: Belinda
If you are moving to London, expect to pay a licence fee to watch public broadcasting on the TV. The BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation) provides television programming, radio and internet services across England and uses the funds from licence fees to keep it in business. While other networks and media companies raise their revenues through advertising, the BBC differs in that it relies entirely on funds collected from licence fees.
The yearly cost of a TV licence in Great Britain is £142.50 for a colour TV. If you own a black and white television, you can licence your programming for under £50 (and yes some people still have them!) You can either pay your licence fee on an annual basis or you can pay it using one of the varied payment options that are available to everyone across the country. The monthly option is somewhat complicated. You’ll pay about £24 per month for the first six months (covering your first year of fees) and then £12 per month from the seventh month onwards which takes care of next year’s licence fee. The best thing to do if you’re going to be living in London for a few years is to set up a debit order from your bank account so it’s all handled electronically.
One thing to be aware of is the penalty of ducking out of paying your licence fee. The Brits take their BBC license fees seriously. Detector vans are used to pick up signals from properties in and around London and the fine for not having a valid licence can be as high as £1000. Even if you do not have a television and watch the broadcaster over the internet or on your mobile phone, you are still liable for the licence fee.
Fortunately, the BBC is one of most highly respected broadcasting corporations in the world and offers groundbreaking programming without on a regular basis. From the best English language news programmes to their innovative comedies and dramas, the small cost of a licence fee offers a truly exceptional value.
Living In London – Bills To Pay--Image via Wikipedia
Author: Belinda
Moving to a new country means you’ll have to get used to the different types of bills that you will be expected to pay. Most bills come monthly in the UK and it might be worthwhile knowing what you can expect to have dropping through the letterbox of your London apartment.
Typical Monthly Bills that you’ll be liable for when living in London:
Housing costs: Whether you are renting or paying off a mortgage, you’ll be expected to pay your accommodation costs on a monthly basis. In the case of a rental, your landlord or letting agent will probably ask you to set up a debit order to your bank account. This means that the money will be deducted from your bank account on a specific day of the month.
Council Tax: This is a tax that is levied on a property that has to be paid whether you are renting or have bought your London home. The amount of council tax you will have to pay varies according to the area of London in which you live. It is graded in bands (A-H) and is based on the value of the property. The council tax bill is sent out on an annual basis and you have the option of paying it as a lump sum or dividing the payments over TEN months. If you move during the year, you are responsible for informing the local council so that your details can be changed and new council tax responsibilities calculated.
Car Tax: This is a big one if you’re living in London. Apart from having to pay the congestion charge to drive a motor vehicle in London, you will have to pay car insurance and car tax on your vehicle. Do not fall behind on your payments or you could face a stiff fine or even have your car impounded.
Electricity/Gas/Water: You’ll receive a monthly bill based on your usage of each utility during the month. Look around for the most competitive prices for gas and electricity as they can be expensive.
TV Licence Fee: This is an annual fee levied by the BBC for the right to watch world-renowned British public broadcasting.
Your other bills may include satellite TV (cable), internet, and mobile phone services. Living in London is expensive and you’ll have to keep track of all of your monthly payments so you don’t fall into arrears.
Relocating to London - "Turn on the Telly" Moving to London - Image via Wikipedia
Author: Belinda
Television in England is very different from television programming in the States or Canada, and if you are moving to London then you will want to get set up as soon as possible. One of the first aspects of television viewing in London is that you’ll have to pay a television licence for the privilege of watching the TV. This licence fee is the way that the BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation) finds the funding for all of their programming, which is among the best in the world. The company is completely reliant on this fee, and does not have any paid advertising during their programming which means uninterrupted viewing. The fee is payable per year and will cost you £142.50 which is a small sum compared with the cost of cable or pay-per-view channels.
If you are bringing a television with you as part of your London relocation, then you will have to be sure that you have the right conversion set. All the channels in England are UHF whereas the channels in the States are mostly VHF. The plugs are different and so are some of the television receiver signals. You’d be wise to check the specifications before you leave on all of your electronic goods so you can get them working as soon as you arrive in London.
Best of British
British television programming can be a little confusing at times, but if you really want to get an idea of what living in England, and specifically London, is all about then watching some of the excellent programmes will help you to familiarise yourself with the local customs and behaviour. Perhaps one of the biggest differences between the programming that is available in England and that of America is the glamour factor. British programmes tend to have less ‘bling’ than their American counterparts do. Soap operas are grittier and deal with people from backgrounds that are more realistic. Two of the most famous ‘soapies’ in England are ‘Coronation Street’ and ‘East Enders’. They are well worth watching, even if you are not a closet ‘soapie’ fan, because they present a portrait of life in modern London that will educate you far more than any travel guide or brochure around.
You will need to have a TV guide if you want to decipher the seemingly random scheduling times for British televisions shows, they often run late and you will have to be careful if you are recording your favourite ‘new’ British show. While there are only 5 channels to choose from in England, compared with the hundreds on offer in the States, all it means is that you only have to flip through them for a short while to decide that you would rather go out and have an evening on the town!
I was just saying the other day that one of the coolest things about moving to London are all the entertainment options it has to offer. You’ve got your world-renowned theatre, A-list British actors who’ve made their mark in American cinema as well, clever British comedy and drama on the telly, club acts, street performers, and, what I rank just below street performers for its pathetic organization of a basic studio audience, BBC One.
BOO BBC!!! Is this what I pay TV tax for? Forgive me if I sound a little bitter today; perhaps I’m in a mood because my sinuses are crackling and my ears are ringing after TWO HOURS of standing in line last night with the frigid wind right off the Thames thrashing around me as I waited, unsuccessfully, to get into the taping of today’s Graham Norton Show despite having a ticket in hand. My friend had invited me along (as I mentioned Wednesday in my post about Mayfair), and I didn’t realize until yesterday that BBC’s brilliant booking system, in fact, over-books like a gol’ darn airline, so even with a ticket, you’re not guaranteed admission unless you have “Priority” status. Well, my friend has it now for the next date she books thanks to our pain and suffering of last night. Be warned, then, if you’ve made your UK relocation and are looking to step out of your new London apartment to enjoy such an evening of entertainment—make sure you get there EARLY and dress WARMLY.
We ourselves arrived at London Studios on Upper Ground near the National Theatre (make note of that address for aiming your tomatoes) at 5:15pm, and I reckon it was about 7:20 when we were mere yards from the door and wrist-banded and everything when the people at the front of the line finally left and were kind enough to tell us that anyone whose wristband number exceeded 200 wasn’t getting in—these were the people at the front of the line who were the only ones that could possibly hear the flakiest of reps that BBC could’ve sent out there to address the crowd, who basically just stood on the top step flapping her hands around and speaking as loudly as if she was in church, guaranteeing to leave us in ignorance. I thought we were going to have another student-protest-esque riot on our hands simply due to a lack of communication. BBC, are you that low on human capital that you can’t send someone to walk down the line with status updates, or maybe had the very person who is wrist-banding everyone say what the color and number of it means so people can make the decision for themselves whether to brave the 0.5% chance of getting in out of the freezing river-wind or just high-tail it to the pub? My previously tissue-damaged toes from early stages of frostbite went absolutely numb out there—I don’t even know who Graham Norton is just like the rest of the world outside the UK doesn’t, so he’s definitely not worth losing toes over. I was only there for Daniel Radcliffe, so I guess I’ll just catch him on the silver screen like everyone else soon.
In any case, it would probably make more sense for them to designate who has seat assignments and who is wait-listed from the getgo so that, again, people can make the decision for themselves and not be left to waste their time in highly unblissful ignorance. (Not to mention that if these shows want attractive audience members, they aren’t going to get it by exposing them to high-speed winds that’ll destroy the best of hair days! )
Thank you for letting me rant. It was a frustrating night. Idiotically, however, I’m still totally registering online to score tickets to other shows that I actually do watch, like Top Gear. I’ll just know to select warmer-weather dates and get there super early. Tickets can be applied for directly at BBC for some of their programs (http://www.bbc.co.uk/showsandtours/tickets/) or through the Applause Store, which also offers tickets for other stations (http://www.applausestore.com/home.php).
Otherwise, just kicking back and viewing the programs from my warm London apartment sounds just as, if not more, appealing to me…
If you expect to be moving to London by January 2011 and already fancy UK television, might you be interested in attending the National Television Awards? It’s like the Emmys for the UK TV community, and you can be there to see the celebrities live on 16 January 2011!
Why do I mention this now already? If you’ve just made the London move or are already here and are/will become an O2 customer for your UK phone service, priority tickets are available to you through tomorrow, 6 August, or until tickets sell out.
Missing British TV from your previous travels abroad, or are you not yet familiar? You can do your homework prior to your London relocation by subscribing to a UK TV-abroad service that is accessible online. A simple Google search yields an array of options, among them: The Telly, My Expat Network, and View TV Abroad. You’ll have to shop around for pricing plans and quality of streaming. I’m curious, have any of you tried a service like this? Does anyone have a recommendation? I haven’t used one of these myself, so can’t personally vouch, but I already know I’ll be wanting to subscribe when that day comes to move back to the States from London.
You can also keep current through the stations’ own websites, like BBC, ITV, Living, and UKTV (which encompasses Blighty, Eden, Alibi, Dave, etc. channels). And I *heart* Anglotopia‘s faithful following of British TV—”Doctor Who” even has its own section on the main page.
So welcome to the land that brought us classic entertainment like “Benny Hill” and “Monty Python” and that inspired America’s own hits like “The Office,” “Dancing With the Stars” (called “Strictly Come Dancing” here), “American Idol” (the “X Factor”), and countless other predominantly reality/game shows—on my recent visit home to the States, I saw that “Dating in the Dark” and “Four Weddings” are among the newer ones to move Stateside. People tend to join one camp or another depending on whether they prefer the British originals to the U.S. copycats, but I personally embrace both and appreciate them for their differences (though I will not forgive “Shark Tank” for bastardizing one of my beloved Top 3. Not sad to hear that one’s cancelled already). If you’re on Team America in this debate, never fear—most U.S. shows air over here, too. We might range from a couple weeks to an entire season behind, but we do get them.
Whatever you may watch, London Relocation Ltd. will find you the perfect living room to plug in your TV
after TWO HOURS of standing in line last night with the frigid wind right off the Thames thrashing around me as I waited, unsuccessfully, to get into the taping of today’s 
