Housing
Finding a home
Oxford is a patchwork of 24 different wards, each with its own identity. View the city wards boundaries map to get a sense of its geography. Many University staff live and work in the medieval, Georgian, Victorian and Edwardian buildings that grace the city, but a large percentage live elsewhere; either in neighbouring villages and towns or further afield.
You can rent or buy a house, flat or bedsit /studio apartment but be aware that buying a home in the UK can be a lengthy process, with sales taking an average five months. There are also significant additional costs on top of the purchase price of the property. Shared accommodation (renting with other people) is one of the most cost-effective ways to rent and a really good way to meet people. Your best entry point for rental or sales will be property search sites such as Right Move, Prime Location and OnTheMarket which list properties advertised by multiple estate agents.
If you are renting, you will need to supply a deposit; your landlord is legally required to put this money into one of the government-backed Tenancy Deposit Schemes. This ensures your deposit will be protected if a landlord refuses to refund it without good reason or makes unreasonable deductions.
Mortgages
New staff affiliated with a college, may be able to take advantage of a joint-equity purchase scheme. Contact your college bursar for more information.
If you plan on getting a mortgage, use this affordability calculator for an indication of how much you can borrow – this will usually be up to five times your gross annual salary. If you have a variable monthly income or a fixed-term contract, the lender may impose extra conditions or affordability checks. You will generally be required to pay a deposit of 5-25% of the value of the property although some lenders offer zero deposit mortgages.
You must have an established credit history in the UK of at least three months (non-EEA citizens are often required to have a 12-month UK credit history). Learn how to improve your credit rating, this is best done by opening a bank account as soon as possible on your arrival and, if you are eligible, registering on the UK Electoral Roll (to find out how to register to vote, please see Moving to Oxford). [link to Welcome to Oxford/Before you arrive/Moving to Oxford section] You can start a credit history in the UK by taking out a mobile phone contract rather than a pay-as-you-go mobile phone, since the mobile phone operator will register your contract with the UK’s three main credit reference agencies. Mortgages can be arranged through your bank or building society, or an independent mortgage broker who can show you a wider range of mortgage products. Compare mortgages either through a broker or using online comparison sites to ensure you are getting the best deal.
Connecting your home – utilities, internet, mobile and other services
Once you have found somewhere to live, you will want to find out who you will be paying for water, gas and/or electricity services. If you are renting, ask your estate agent to find out which companies are currently supplying the property as, in most cases, all the services will be connected and read the ‘After you move’ section of this advice on moving home. If you are buying a property, you will need to set new contracts up as the previous owners will have ended their utilities contracts. Your estate agent will be able to help with this and may be able to advise which companies the previous owners were contracted to.
Use Uswitch, Gocompare.com or comparethemarket to find the right gas or electric contract for you and establish who your water supplier will be.
You can connect to the University’s Wi-Fi network using your University email address through eduroam or OWL. The IT Services Work Remotely page explains how to connect your work laptop and mobile devices for work purposes. If you cannot immediately access Wi-Fi through the University's network, there are many public Wi-Fi hotspots available.
You do not technically need a landline (a phone that is connected to the phone system by wires) to have broadband, but some packages require you to have or get one. To activate an existing landline or to arrange for one to be installed, you will need to contact a telephone provider such as BT, Sky, TalkTalk or Virgin Media. Get quotes for broadband installation at comparethemarket, Gocompare.com and MoneySuperMarket. It is often cheaper to buy telephone and internet services in packages which may also include a TV subscription.
You will need a licence to watch television in the UK, including viewing live television on devices such as your computer, mobile phone, games console, digital box and DVD/VHS recorder. Information on how to pay and the fee is available on the TV licensing website.
Insurance is highly recommended to protect you against the loss of personal property (contents insurance) and damage to your home or flat (property insurance), particularly if insurance from your home country does not cover you whilst abroad.
You may wish to protect your possessions against damage or theft. Go to the Citizens Advice Bureau website for more details. Comparison websites, such as MoneySuperMarket, Gocompare.com or comparethemarket.com, will give you competitive rates from a variety of insurers. Your bank may also offer special deals on insurance cover.
