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Contribution from a writer on tips for moving to the UK and finding the right property for you.

There can be a variety of reasons for you to move into the UK. It could be down to finally landing a dream job in the country, or it may be down to just wanting a fresh start in one of the world’s top countries. Whatever the reason, there are certain things you should be aware of before moving to the country – and knowing how to find the right property is certainly one of these things.

Read the Contract – Whether Buying or Renting

This is one of the most important aspects to be aware of when you are moving to the UK. Whether buying or renting your new property, you need to be particularly careful about the fine print. As an example, if you’re about to rent a property, there can be a number of clauses put into the contract (the ‘Tenancy Agreement’) that can be potentially very detrimental to you as the tenant. Depending on the type of landlord you’re dealing with, the clauses can be either quite straight forward or they can be designed so that, in certain circumstances, you’ll have unexpected fines imposed on you. Therefore, if you are unsure what these clauses mean you may want to contact property lawyers or, specifically in the case of buying property, conveyancing solicitors, to read over the contract for you and make sure that everything is correctly in place and without imbalance in favour of the landlord/seller. This will make sure that you aren’t hurt further down the line and it makes sure that your time in your home in the UK can be enjoyed without any doubts your rights in future.

Check Your Meters

The vast majority of homes in the UK are fitted with a meter for your gas and electricity, and it is vitally important that when you first move into your home you read the meter and make sure that it is up-to-date. If this isn’t done, you may be stuck with the bill from the previous tenant/owner of the home as the home would’ve been passed over into your name. You should therefore try to contact the supplier and make sure you’re clear from your side of things.

Make Sure You’re Clear On the Legal Front

It is important to know about the different visa tiers that are in the UK. Since 2013 the tier system has become the way for how the government decides how migrants coming to the UK are classified, and this can be the deciding factor for a number of banks to give you a mortgage for your home. For instance, if you are given a tier 1 visa then this would mean that you work in a desirable profession (as classed by the government) which would mean it would be fairly easy to gain a mortgage. However, if you have a tier 4 visa it may be harder to land a mortgage straight away and you may need to look to renting a home until you have spent sufficient time in the country.

For further useful tips on moving to the UK, consider also reading this article.