As Allied has helped thousands of Kiwi families and individuals make their international move, we’ve created this handy moving guide! Using our high level of expertise and experience, you’ll be excited and ready to make this monumental move. You can learn more about life in the UK, as well as some practical advice on how best to prepare for your relocation.
Life in the UK
The UK is made up of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, however in this moving guide we will be focusing predominantly on the capital city of London. The population of London is over 9 million people, which is pretty incredible when you compare it to the fact that the whole of New Zealand’s population is under 5 million. But, what is everyday life actually like in the UK and how does it compare to New Zealand?WORK & CAREER
As one of the biggest economic hubs in the world, London offers great opportunities for career and job opportunities. The city is mostly dominated by the service industries, which includes hospitality, retail, production and logistics. Financial services, media and the creative arts, and tourism are also key industries in London which offer a range of different job opportunities. It’s best to relocate to the UK after you’ve received a job offer as it can help your visa application, however you can come to the UK as a ‘standard visitor’ and work for six months without a visa (this is subject to specific business activities). You can either transfer with your existing company, use a UK based recruitment agency, or find job opportunities on websites such as Reed, Monster and Indeed.HOUSING
When it comes to housing in London, it can be competitive and expensive. As the value of housing continues to grow (even post-Brexit), the cost of buying and renting also increases. In London, you will find a mix of different housing options including flats (also known as apartments), terraced and detached housing. You should expect to pay more in London than you would in Auckland, with the average cost of a 3-bedroom apartment near the city centre estimated to be over $6,440 a month. There are no restrictions on foreigners purchasing housing in the UK so you are able to buy if you’d like. The average property value is estimated to be £523,666 by the UK government (or over NZD$1 million) in 2022.
MONEY & TAXES
The UK uses Pound sterling as their official currency. At the time of writing, £1 is equivalent to NZD$2. The UK and New Zealand have a tax treaty so you won’t need to pay double tax, however you will be required to pay tax on your income as well as contribute to the National Insurance scheme if making over the threshold. It’s best to work directly with a professional tax consultant so you can ensure that you are complying with all relevant regulations and laws as an expat.
THE CULTURE & LIFESTYLE
One of the benefits for those excited about moving to London and the UK is the culture and lifestyle that they offer. As the UK is the home of many famous and leading artists in theatre, music, film and visual art, there is no shortage of creative culture to enjoy! From the numerous galleries, theatres, music venues, and festivals, there’s always something new to discover and enjoy in London.
The culture of London provides more than simply entertainment and the creative arts, there is also a fierce love of sports. Not only has London hosted the Olympic games three times, but it’s also home to the Wimbledon championships, the NFL international series, and of course, the FA Premier League. While football (known as soccer in New Zealand) is the most popular sport in London, you can find both professional and amateur rugby union, cricket, and basketball played across the city.
TRANSPORTATION
Getting around the city of London can be achieved by a few different methods. In terms of public transport, the underground (also known as ‘the tube’) is a popular and convenient option. As the oldest underground metro in the world, the tube is one of the most efficient methods of getting around the city. It does get busy during rush hour which tends to be 7:30 to 8:30 in the morning and 4:30 to 7:00 in the evening. London also has bus, tram, DLR, overground (an above ground metro service) and cable card services. To use the tube and other public transportation, you’ll need an Oyster card which is a smart card that you use to put money on. You are also able to pay using a contactless debit card or mobile pay.
CLIMATE
When choosing to move from New Zealand to London, the weather isn’t usually the main reason for relocating. Known for its cloudy days and cold winters, Londoners follow the saying “there’s no such thing as bad weather, only unsuitable clothing”. However, you may be surprised that the weather is not as dire as its reputation makes it out to be. In fact, it can be comparable to New Zealand. London summers (which are from June to August in the northern hemisphere) tend to be relatively mild and pleasant, with occasional showers. A summer day will likely fall between 21℃ to 23℃, before cooling off in the evenings. The winters in London are cold and can even see snow, expect average temperatures to be between 5℃ to 10℃.
Planning your move to the UK
Now that you have a solid understanding about what life will be like when living in London, it is time to begin preparing to relocate to the UK!
VISAS & DOCUMENTATION
To be able to move to the UK, you will need a passport and a visa if you’d like to remain longer than six months. There are multiple different types of work visas you can apply for to give you the right to work in the UK, such as the popular skilled worker visa. If you are wanting to move to the UK to study then you will need an offer from a course with a licenced student sponsor and will be required to apply for a student visa. You can apply for a visa using the UK Government website.
To be able to get indefinite leave to remain in the UK means to settle permanently, and will depend upon your specific visa and circumstances. You can also apply to be a British Citizen.
PACKING BELONGINGS AND FURNITURE
Moving to London and the rest of the UK involves your belongings and furniture travelling over 18,380 kilometres! Due to this vast distance, ensuring that your items are packed safely and securely for their journey is essential. It’s best to get started early on your packing and follow a comprehensive packing and moving checklist so you don’t forget anything important. You can use a professional packing service to guarantee that your items are packed properly and ready for the move.
STORAGE
After packing your items for the move, you may be left with some items which you don’t want to part with or take with you to the UK immediately. Using storage is an ideal way to have your precious items safely stored while you prepare for your relocation overseas.
Short-term storage is a great option to provide you with much needed flexibility during your move, giving you time to settle into your new home before receiving the bulk of your belongings in the UK.
MOVING A CAR OR VEHICLE
As London and the UK also drive on the left-hand side of the road, you can bring your car or vehicle with you from New Zealand. As it’s tricky to handle the logistics of relocating a car overseas, it’s best to use a professional vehicle transportation service. The experts will ensure that your car has the right documentation and will meet any relevant regulations to be able to enter the UK, while you can focus on getting excited for your new home.
RELOCATING WITH PETS
We understand that pets are part of the family, however moving with pets can be tricky. An international move can be especially stressful for our furry and feathered friends.
Moving with pets can be tricky at the best of times. As you prepare for your international move, take your pet to the vet for a check-up and inform them about your move.
To bring your pet to the UK, they’ll need a Great Britain pet health certificate and as well a microchip. Your pet will need a rabies vaccination as well as any other vaccinations specific to their breed. To get your pet safely to their new home, use a professional pet transportation service. The professionals will have the right expertise and resources to ensure that your pet is safe and sound throughout their journey to the UK.
CHOOSING THE RIGHT MOVING COMPANY
If you are moving internationally, you need to decide what moving company you will use. As an overseas relocation requires multiple logistics to be handled at once, you need an international moving company who has the right experience and expertise to successfully manage your move. Their team should have a high level of training so you can trust that they will handle your precious items and belongings with the utmost care and respect. As your move doesn’t end when you leave New Zealand, you require a moving company who has a global network of movers so they can assist once you arrive in the UK. As there’s more to a move than just transporting boxes from one location to another, you should choose a moving company which can offer multiple different moving services including vehicle and pet transport, transit insurance, and any other required additional services.