www.voa.gov.uk - This website gives you details about paying and cost of council tax in the UK. Council tax is a legal requirement for anyone renting or buying accommodation in the UK. This is sometimes included in the advertised rental price but before you sign a lease make sure whether or not it is!

www.bt.com - BT is British Telecom who is the provider most people use for the telephone. You may be charged a connection fee as well as line rental and your calls made. In the UK call 192 for BT directories.

There are a few other providers such as:

www.onetel.co.uk and www.telewest.co.uk

Usually bills are sent out monthly or quarterly and can usually be paid by cheque, direct debt, at a post office or telephone.

Gas and electricity are supplied to the household by the local supplier i.e. London Electric. Water is dealt with by the regional supplier i.e. Thames Water for London.

www.tvlicensing.co.uk - Believe it or not everyone in the UK that owns a television is legally required to purchase a TV license!

www.boxclever.co.uk - This is a great store where you can rent utilities such as a washing machine, television, video or fridge etc. They will deliver the item to you and payment is normally monthly.

www.argos.co.uk - Stores such as Argos are great for flat pack furniture at a reasonable price.

www.autotrader.co.uk and www.exchangeandmart.co.uk - Great websites to help you purchase a second hand car in the UK. Both are available in printed form from local newsagents.

NB. You can use on your Australian license in the UK for 1 year and after this period you will need to apply for a UK license. If you intend to drive outside the UK then you will need to get an International Drivers License. To obtain one of these contact your local motoring body (e.g. RACV, NRMA etc….)

www.bbc.co.uk - The British Broadcasting Corporation has been broadcasting since the 1922. The website is helpful for news, education, sport, travel, radio and more.

Mobile phones can be purchased from a variety of stores throughout the UK. Common networks are Vodafone, Orange, T Mobile, O2 and BT. All carriers provide contract and ‘pay as you go’ (prepaid) phones. Good tip: If you have a mobile in Australia take it with you and buy a ‘pay as you go’ (prepaid) sim card. This works with most Australian mobiles and means you don’t have to buy a whole new phone.