Settling in the UK
The first months after moving to the UK run through four administrative steps: renting a home and having the deposit protected, proving right to rent, settling council tax, and registering with a local general practitioner.
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Visa pages set out how the right to enter the UK is obtained; once it is obtained a separate administrative order begins, and it is governed by housing, tax and health rules rather than immigration ones. For the routes themselves, see UK visas and immigration.
01
What are the first steps after moving to the UK?
The first months consist of four connected steps: a rented home, a bank account, council tax registration and GP registration. Order matters, because the address is a precondition for each of the other three and none completes without it.
- A tenancy is signed and the address is fixed from that point.
- With proof of address, a bank account is opened.
- The local authority is notified for council tax, with any exemption declared at the same time.
- Registration is made with the GP practice covering that address.
- Where work follows, the right to work is proved to the employer.
02
How is a rental deposit protected?
A deposit does not stay with the landlord. GOV.UK requires the landlord to place it in a government-approved tenancy deposit protection scheme within 30 days of receiving it, and to return it within 10 days of agreement.
The caps on what a landlord takes, and the tenancy type itself, changed on 1 May 2026. Those figures are set out at renting a home in the UK.
03
Why is immigration status checked when renting?
A tenant proves the right to rent to the landlord with documents before a tenancy starts. GOV.UK states that this check applies only within England, and the documents accepted depend on nationality and immigration status.
04
Who pays council tax?
Council tax is charged on people aged 18 and over, and a full bill assumes at least two adults live in the property. Households where everyone is a full-time student are exempt from the charge.
| Household | Position | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Two or more adults | Full bill | Register with the local authority |
| One adult | Single person discount | Claim the discount |
| All full-time students | Exempt | Declare student status |
| Mixed student and non-student | Charged, with a discount | Declare the composition |
Free starter report
Let us draw up your free starter report
Five short questions. In return you get a one-page report setting out the steps, the documents, the official fees and the timings for the route you chose, each with its source.
05
How is registration with the health service done?
Access to the health service begins by registering with a GP practice covering the residential address. Registration carries no charge and it is the gateway to the rest of the system, hospital referrals and specialist care included.
Registration is made with a practice whose catchment covers the address, which is one more reason the tenancy comes first in the sequence. The healthcare surcharge paid with a visa application covers the use of the service; the registration itself is separate from it.
06
What does British Global do at this stage?
British Global puts the move in order: it sets out your timetable and budget in a written preliminary report, showing which step falls in which month and which document is needed at each point. It does not act on your behalf.
- A written report sequences the first months against your own dates.
- The document list for each step, and when it is needed, is set out.
- Matters requiring regulated advice are referred to the appropriate professional.
- Referrals are made for housing and tax questions that need a specialist.
07
Frequently asked questions
Does the right to rent check apply across the UK?
No. GOV.UK states that the check applies within England only. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland carry no equivalent requirement.
Do students pay council tax?
A household where everyone is a full-time student is exempt. Where the household is mixed, the bill is charged with a discount rather than removed.
Is registering with a GP practice free?
Yes. Registration carries no charge, and it is what opens access to the rest of the health service including hospital referrals.
Sources
- GOV.UK — A landlord places a tenancy deposit in a government-approved protection scheme within 30 days of receiving it and returns it within 10 days of the amount being agreed.
- GOV.UK — A right to rent check is required before a tenancy starts and applies within England only; the documents accepted depend on nationality and immigration status.
- GOV.UK — Council tax is charged on people aged 18 and over, a full bill assumes two adults in the property, and households where everyone is a full-time student are exempt.
- NHS — Registering with a GP surgery is free and is the route into the rest of the health service, including hospital referrals.
