Living and working in the UK

Some things you need to know BEFORE leaving Poland

PLEASE READ THIS SECTION CAREFULLY!

INTRODUCTION
London has for years been one of the most expensive cities in the world in which to live. We therefore urge anyone seeking work in the UK to prepare themselves fully before arriving and to come to the UK with realistic expectations. London is not a cheap place to live. House prices are high. It even costs you more to rent a room or house there than in other parts of the country.

While it is a playground for some of the wealthiest people in the world, the reality of life in the capital is something quite different! For most of us living and working in London and the South East the cost of living can feel like a yoke around your neck. From housing to the price of traveling to work every day, from going to the cinema or even just calling out a plumber - every aspect of life seems to be expensive.

The cost of living varies from one part of the UK to another. Generally it is more expensive to live in London and the southeast of England, and cheaper up north.

Please note that 80% of registered accession country workers who arrived in the UK since May 2004 earned less than £6.00 per hour

Since May 2004, homelessness agencies in London have seen increasing numbers of Eastern Europeans who are destitute and homeless. They have come to the UK with the hope of finding work, but instead found themselves sleeping rough and relying on charities for food and support. These organizations are generally able to offer little help with accommodation and support, as many Eastern Europeans are not entitled to the welfare benefits needed to access these services.

*** PLEASE BE AWARE OF FRAUDSTERS! ***

If you don’t speak English you run the risk of falling victim to exploitation from both English and Eastern European Fraudsters and Gang Masters. Easter European Nationals are often vulnerable to becoming victims of crime when forced to sleep on the streets or in squatted accommodation.

There have been MANY incidents where people have been promised jobs and accommodation in return for payment but when they arrive in the UK nothing is organized and the people who have promised help have disappeared.

We therefore urge anyone seeking work in the UK to prepare themselves fully before arriving. It is far better, and safer, to take time and make appropriate preparations before you travel or else you risk failure. These pages are designed as a general set of guidelines for people who are planning to come to the UK.

ACCOMMODATION
Houses and flats (apartments) to rent can be found throughout the UK, with a particularly large rental market in London. Private letting agencies can generally be found in most cities and major towns or online, often combined with real estate agencies. These will charge a fee on any rental agreement arranged through them. There is a government-run National Approved Letting Scheme, which includes details of registered lettings agents on a website: http://www.nalscheme.co.uk

Properties available for rent are also advertised directly by landlords in local newspapers and specialist property magazines, and you might check whether your local council holds a list of accredited landlords in the area. Inclusive accommodation is also offered with some jobs.

Cheap Workers Hostels are extremely rare in the UK and places are hard to secure. It is a difficult and lengthy process for A10 Nationals to secure a place in a state funded hostel. You will need to prove a minimum of 1 year’s continuous and legitimate UK working history to be even considered for housing benefits and possible hostel access. Government funded hostels ONLY accept UK residents who are eligible for access the UK benefits System. - PLEASE BE AWARE OF THIS!

It is possible to find both furnished and unfurnished rented accommodation. Both types usually rented out on assured short-hold tenancies. Typically, properties are rented for six months or one year, with the option to renew the lease. Rental prices usually reflect the market rate, and there may be restrictions on rent increases, depending on the type of tenancy agreement used. It is quite expensive to rent good quality housing in the UK, but rental prices do vary significantly between locations. It is very expensive to rent housing in central London.

Monthly rental prices for houses in early 2007 were:

Central London £2,800
Rest of London £1,500
Rest of South East £1,250
East Anglia £1,100
South West £1,100
Midlands £950
North West £900

Average monthly rental prices for flats in early 2007 were:

Central London £1,800
Rest of London £1,300
Rest of South East £1,000
South West £900
East Anglia £800
Midlands £800
North West £700
North East £650
Scotland/Northern Ireland £600
Wales £600

Average monthly rental prices for flats in early 2007 were:

When renting accommodation, it is important to sign a tenancy agreement setting out the responsibilities and rights of both the landlord and the tenant. This should include the date you begin the tenancy, amount of any deposit and the circumstances under which money can be deducted from it, the amount of rent and what is covered by it, timing of payments, details of any payment review arrangements and the length of any fixed term. You should also sign a copy of an inventory setting out the condition of the property and the details of any furniture and other items within the property. Gas and electricity charges are usually excluded from the rent but a portion of water costs is sometimes included. The landlord will in most cases be responsible for payment of service charges for apartments. You need to clarify whether or not council tax payments are your responsibility or included in your rent.

The landlord will usually ask for a deposit of at least one month's rent, and will often also require bank or employer references
www.uklodging.com

BANKING
There are around 20 major commercial banks in the UK, many of which also have branches overseas. The four largest are Lloyds TSB, Barclays, Nat West, and HSBC. Other institutions also offer banking services. These include the Post Office, various savings banks, cooperative and building societies. Most banks provide a range of additional services including mortgage lending and investment advice. Many offer Internet and banking facilities. There are ATM machines located at most banks and in most Supermarkets.

Bank opening hours are generally from 0930 to 1630 on weekdays. They are closed on public holidays and at weekends.

In order to open an account non-UK nationals may be asked to show their passport, evidence of their UK address and employment details. Lloyds TSB have introduced a new scheme that allows you to open a simple current account with either a passport or ID card. They have literature in Polish and Polish speaking workers at their branches in King Street, Hammersmith and in Ealing, West London.
www.lloydstsb.com/polska

There are Moneygram and Western Union Agents through out the UK who offer competitive rates for immediate international money transfers.

CLIMATE AND WEATHER
The UK has a temperate climate, with winter temperatures moderated by the warm Gulf Stream. Although there are distinct seasons, the weather is somewhat unpredictable at all times of year. The skies are frequently overcast.

Mean annual temperatures range from 6 degrees C (43 degrees F) in the far north of Scotland to 11 degrees C (52 degrees F) in the southwest of England. Winter temperatures very rarely fall below -10 degrees C (14 degrees F), and in summer temperatures do not usually exceed 32 degrees C (90 degrees F).

Rain falls throughout the year and there is an average annual rainfall of more than 1,000 mm (40 in). Snow sometimes falls in winter, especially in Scotland, northern England and the Welsh mountains.

COMMUNICATION (Telephone, Post, Internet, TV, Radio)
In the UK postal services are currently the responsibility of The Post Office, made up of The Royal Mail, which deals with the collection and delivery of mail, Parcelforce, which deals with parcel delivery; and the Post Office, which has retail services and is the agent for the letters and parcels businesses. There are currently some 500 main post offices and a further 17,000 branch or sub-post offices which are operated on a franchise or agency basis. From January 1st 2006, the postal market will be liberalized, allowing other licensed operators to collect and deliver mail.

The UK has a very advanced telecommunications system. Services are provided by BT (previously the state-owned British Telecom), along with many other companies including Cable and Wireless Communications, NTL, and Vodafone. There is a fibre-optics telecommunications system, run by the privatized National Grid (electricity transmission company) and telephone services run by cable television companies.

In general, local telephone calls are not free. The rate per minute will depend on which Telephone Company and package you are using.

CURRENCY AND COST OF LIVING
The national currency is the British Pound (£ sterling), with one hundred pence to each pound. Notes are issued in the value of £50, £20, £10 and £5, and coins to the value of £2, £1, 50p, 20p, 10p, 5p, 2p, and 1p. Value Added Tax (VAT) is a 17.5% tax which is payable on most retail purchases.

Below is a rough estimate of how much things cost in England.
(Last updated April 2007)











Item
Milk (1 litre) £1.11
Apple Juice (1 litre) £0.73
Bread (800g loaf) £0.96
Eggs (carton of 6) £0.99
Sugar (1Kg) £0.99
Butter Spread (250g) £0.84
Jam (454g) £0.70
500g pasta £0.38
1kg apples £1.50
Instant noodles £0.39
1kg potatoes £1.50
Tuna (per tin) £0.82
500g minced beef £0.60
1 kg bananas £1.50
Cheese 200g £2.00
Teabags (250g) £1.50
Instant coffee (200g) £2.50
Plain yoghurt 180gr £0.50
Cheese 500gr £3.00
Cornflakes 375gr £1.15
Coca Cola 1lt £1.00
Mineral water (still) £0.80
Olive oil 1lt £4.00
Pineapple 500gr £1.80
Frozen pizza 320gr £3.00
Ice cream 1lt £3.99
Biscuits (plain pack) £0.50
Kit Kat chocolate bar £0.48
Can of Pepsi £0.60
Sandwiches £2.50
Beer £2.50 per pint
Wine £3.50 per glass
Coffee £1.20
Soft drinks £1.00
Tea £0.70
Table wine 0.75lt £8.00
Scotch whisky 0.75lt £20.00
Vodka 0.75lt £18.00
Shower gel 250ml £2.50
Soap (bar)150gr £1.50
Toothpaste 120gr £1.50
Toothpaste 120gr £1.50
Shampoo 200 m £4.00
Deodorant 50ml £2.00
Aspirin (100 tablets) £3.50
Face cream £5.00<
Telephone line £25.00 (monthly line rental)
Mobile/cell phone £50.00 +
3 minute phone call £0.06 (home phone)
3 minute phone call £0.35 (cell phone)
Monthly energy costs apartment (100sq.m./1076sq.ft.) £35.00
Web cafe £1.00 (30 mins)
Newspaper £0.65 + (more at weekends)
Magazine £1.00 - 3.50
Cigarettes (20) £5.50
Tobacco (12.50grm) £2.50
Private doctor £100.00 (30 mins)
Women's haircut £40.00
Women's shoes £60.00
Men's shoes £60.00
Pair of jeans £50.00
Men's shirt £30.00
Women's dress £35.00
Petrol (gasoline) £0.89
Restaurant meal £10.00 + per person
Meal in a café £7.00 + per person
McDonalds Meal £4.50
Theatre Ticket £20.00
Cinema Ticket £7.50 adult
Underground Journey £2.00 adult single

DRIVING AND PUBLIC TRANSPORT
In the UK about 90% of all passenger journeys are made by road, mainly in private cars.

Vehicles travel on the left-hand side of the road and overtake on the right. It is mandatory for drivers and their passengers to wear seat belts where fitted. There are laws, which are strictly enforced against drinking and driving, and it is illegal to use a mobile phone while driving. The minimum driving age is 17.

To take a British driving test you must normally be resident in the UK. The test includes both written and practical components, and you must hold a provisional license before taking the tests.

European Union citizens can drive in the UK on their own licenses, or exchange them for a British one. Citizens of non-EU countries can drive for up to 12 months on the license issued by their own country. Within this time they must apply for a provisional British license and take a British driving test if they wish to continue driving in the UK.

EDUCATION AND SCHOOLS
Education is compulsory in the UK between the ages of 5 and 16 (from 4 in Northern Ireland), but many children start in nursery or infant classes from earlier ages. Around 65% of pupils are currently remaining in education voluntarily beyond the age of 16. The usual age of transfer from primary to secondary school is 11 (England and Wales) or 12 (Scotland).

The UK has a national curriculum that was introduced under the 1988 Education Act, which applies to all state schools. Statutory testing is carried out at the ages of 7, 11, and 14. Examinations for the General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE; England, Wales, and Northern Ireland) or the Scottish Certificate of Education are taken at 16, after which students can stay on in school or attend colleges of further education. At this stage they either study for vocational qualifications or for the General Certificate of Education Advanced Level examinations (A levels), which are the usual requirement for entry to university. In Scotland, the Scottish Certificate of Higher Education takes the place of A levels.

Employment – please see special EMPLOYMENT section

HEALTHCARE AND MEDICAL TREATMENT
The National Health Service (NHS), funded through taxation, provides free or relatively low-cost medical care to UK residents. Charges are payable for prescriptions, dental treatment, eye tests and spectacles, except for those groups of people who are exempt from payment, which include children, pregnant women and those in receipt of unemployment benefits. Hospital care and NHS General Practitioner consultations are free for all residents, and there are hospitals and clinics in all parts of the country. There are relatively few dentists now offering NHS services.

Overseas visitors from non-EU countries are eligible for free emergency treatment at NHS hospitals, but have to pay for in-patient treatment and other medical services. However, the UK has reciprocal health care arrangements with a number of other countries including Australia, the former Soviet Union states and a number of Eastern European countries, and nationals from these countries are exempt from healthcare payments.

** See NHS Information in Polish **

LEISURE, ENTERTAINMENT AND SPORTS
The UK has a wealth of cultural and historical heritage attractions, leisure and entertainment facilities, and diverse and often spectacular natural environments for sightseeing or outdoor pursuits. Despite the unpredictable weather, outdoor activities are very popular, from walking and cycling to a wide range of spectator and participant sports. Football is the biggest spectator sport, with rugby, cricket, tennis and horse racing also being very popular.

LANGUAGE
The official language is English, and this is the first language of the vast majority of the population. Distinct regional accents and dialects exist in different parts of the country.

Welsh is the second official language, spoken by about a quarter of the population of Wales. In the Scottish Highlands and Islands, around 60,000 people speak a Scottish form of Gaelic.

There are numerous languages spoken by ethnic minority groups, including Chinese dialects, Hindi, Urdu, Gujarati, African languages, Spanish, Portuguese and currently many Eastern European and Slovakian Languages.

English is the language of international commerce and the language of work in the UK. Without good communicative English it is hard to secure work other than at either the lowest level or more usually in the black economy. Most work environments are supported by strict health and safety laws, which require a good knowledge and understanding of English.

**PLEASE THINK CAREFULLY ABOUT THIS BEFORE COMING TO WORK IN THE UK. IT IS IMPORTANT TO HAVE GOOD SPOKEN ENGLISH WHEN SECURING A JOB**

Social Security – please see EMPLOYMENT section

TAKING YOUR PETS
The UK has a Pet Passport Scheme, under which dogs and cats from specific countries are allowed to enter without quarantine, provided they meet specified anti-rabies, blood sampling and anti-worm/anti-tick hygiene requirements. The pet must be micro-chipped, vaccinated against rabies and blood tested. They can be brought into the UK only after six months have elapsed after a satisfactory blood test. Three airlines (British Midland, Finnair and Lufthansa) and a number of ferry lines are currently authorised to bring non-quarantined animals into the UK.

The DEFRA website (http://www.defra.gov.uk) provides details of countries covered by the Pet passport scheme, and the procedures for bringing a pet to the UK under this scheme.

TRAINING – see section Training

UTILITIES, ELECTRICITY, GAS AND WATER
Electrical voltage: 240 v AC, 50HZ. Plug type: 3-pronged Light fitting: bayonet and screw type.

Competition has now been introduced into the supply of electricity and gas in the UK, and in most regions there are a number of choices of supplier. Details and price comparisons can be found at energywatch.org.uk or by calling 0845 906 0708. Contact the individual companies for application procedures and connection charges.

For the supply of both gas and electricity, a credit meter is usually supplied and regular bills are sent to the customer following meter readings. For new customers the company may ask for some form of security in the form of a cash deposit, a guarantor or a direct debit arrangement.