Settling in

In the UK, you need a TV licence to watch or record live television, which includes watching live YouTube and streaming services, and to download or watch BBC programmes on BBC iPlayer. This applies even if you are watching television on your phone, laptop or other devices. If you watch live television or BBC programmes without a TV licence you can risk a penalty fine and prosecution.

If you require a TV licence you can visit this page to pay and update your account.

If you do not watch live television or BBC, it is useful to declare this in order to avoid multiple letters reminding you to pay. You can declare you do not need a TV licence here.

Remember that even if you live in student halls or a flat share, you are still expected to have your own licence!

Council tax is paid to your local council (you can find out which council you live in here) to fund local services such as street cleaning, libraries and local transport. How much council tax you are required to pay depends on what ‘band’ the property you live in is, how many people live there, and your financial status.

The council you live in will typically determine your council tax band on your behalf and send you a letter notifying you of how much to pay and what payment plans you can set up. You can also receive a discount if you are a student, disabled, or low-income. Council tax costs vary significantly depending on where you live, and its good to check how much you would be expected to pay before putting in an offer on a property.

Students at the Crick who want to receive a council tax discount should contact their universities for a council tax exemption letter which they can then forward on to their local council.

All local councils in the UK offer rubbish and recycling collection services. The days and frequency of these collections, and what can be recycled, is specific to the property's location and local council.

You can check rubbish and recycling collection days in your area here.

It is a good idea to have insurance, so that if personal belongings are stolen an insurance company will provide compensation. This covers the possessions kept in the home, and in some cases portable items as well. Always remember to carefully check what is included when choosing a policy.

There is also buildings insurance, which is for landlords or property owners and covers the structure of a property, for example, walls, windows, baths, toilets and roof. You would not be expected to pay for this insurance.

Some, but not all, non-UK driving licence holders can continue to drive on this licence in the UK, however, others may need to apply for a UK licence. You can check whether you can drive on your existing licence here.

If you or a dependent want to learn to drive whilst in the UK you can find this page which includes all information required to get started.

Insurance

In the UK, all motorists are required to have valid insurance connected to a specific car, so you can’t borrow a friend’s or family member’s vehicle unless you have the correct insurance to do so. You also need to have valid road tax if driving on public roads and an up-to-date MOT status.

The majority of NHS healthcare is done by doctors called general practitioners (GPs). They deal with the health of the local community and are the first point of contact for a patient. To use GP services you will need to choose and register with a GP practice.

It is advisable to register with a GP as soon as possible - don't wait until medical services are urgently required, as services that would normally be free may not be and support may take longer to access.

You can find your closest GP and find out how to register here.

For medical emergencies, treatment is free for everyone at hospital accident and emergency departments (often known as A&E). You can find your local A&E here.

In a medical emergency, call 999.

These give quick and easy access to care for minor injuries or issues. Centres will often be open outside normal practice hours, and will not usually require an appointment, registration or payment.

The NHS website provides a guide on when to visit A&E and when to make use of a walk-in centre here.

Pharmacists can provide non-urgent and minor medical advice on a walk-in basis. You can find a local pharmacy and find out what advice a pharmacist can provide here.

111 is the NHS non-emergency number. It is free and available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Call 111 to speak to a trained adviser who will ask you a series of assessment questions and then direct you to the most appropriate medical care.

Most dental and optical services are paid for by the patient and are run by private clinics, but some individuals will be entitled to free NHS optical vouchers and/or free dental treatment.  All under 18s are eligible for free NHS and dental treatment.

There are many private healthcare providers in the UK, and many NHS practitioners also perform services for private patients. These services are more expensive than treatment on the NHS and are normally paid for through private medical insurance schemes.

Crick provides a Crick group private insurance option which newcomers may want to join as appointment times for GP and specialists through NHS has long waiting lists.

The NHS has a range of services available such as appointing a midwife, local antenatal classes, and tests. The local GP will be able to provide information about the services available in a local area or visit the National Childcare Trust website for more information.

If you are expecting a baby, you are entitled to maternity leave and a reasonable amount of paid time off work to attend antenatal appointments. If your partner is pregnant, you are entitled to take paid time off work to accompany them to two antenatal appointments.

Statutory maternity leave is 52 weeks and some parents may be eligible for maternity pay. Information on what you are eligible for can be found here.