Key points to memorize for Life in the UK test chapter 5

Housing

• 2/3 of people in the UK live in their own home. The remaining 1/3 lives on flats, rented houses or rooms.

• People who buy homes usually pay it with mortgages. Mortgages are loans that are paid for usually a long time, for example, 25 years.

• If you want to buy a home, you’ll need to go to a real estate agent. In Scotland, however, you need to go to a solicitor. Both act on behalf of the buyer and acts as a mediator between the buyer and the seller.

• Surveyors check the condition of the house you are about to buy. Usually, two are hired by the buyer, as they cannot see the survey done by the first surveyor.

• You can rent accommodations from your local authority, from a housing association or from landlords.

• “Council housing” - Local authorities provide this kind of housing.

• When renting a house, you need to sign a tenancy agreement, or lease. This contains the set of rules and agreements discussed between you and the seller.

• You are required to pay a small deposit fee called deposit. This fee will cover the fees should any damage occur. At the end of your tenancy, this will be refunded to you by the seller.

• It is a criminal offense to force a tenant out. Landlords should follow the correct rules should they prove that their tenants are a nuisance. It is also unlawful and a criminal offense if landlords deny services due to sexual or racial discrimination. Same goes for disabled people.

• You can to the local authority, or in Northern Ireland, the Housing Executive, if you are homeless. However, you are not given a place to live unless you are in priority need and have a connection within that area.

• Should you encounter problems or questions with housing services, you can call Shelter, a 24-hour housing charity, or The Citizens Advice Bureau.

Services in and for the home

• Water is supplied to all homes in the UK. The charge for this is called water rates.

• All properties in the UK have electricity supplied at 240 volts.

• For questions with regards to your electricity or electric bills, you can contact Energywatch. For gas problems, call Transco.

• Most homes have already a telephone line. Should you need a new line, call BT on 150 442. You can also get advices on Ofcom.

• 999 or 112 are the emergency numbers in UK.

• Rubbish or wastes are collected on the same day of the week. Large objects, however, need to be collected separately by contacting your local authority.

• Council Tax are taxes used to fund local authority services. It depends on how large your house is and the value of your house. You get deductions if you’re living alone, are disabled, or a person with low income.

• It is advisable to insure your home. The landlord usually does this to prevent damage to his / her property.

Money and credit

• Bank notes in UK come in £5, £10, £20 and £50 denominations.

• Euro is the official currency of the European Union states. UK, however, decided not to adopt it and still using GBP as their main currency.

• You can get / exchange foreign currency at banks, building offices, or large post offices.

• Debit Cards use up money from your account to pay for the goods. Credit Cards require no balance from your account; however, you are sent a bill every month.

• You can get loans from banks, or from the Association of British Credit Unions (ABCUL).

• The UK has a system of social security which pays welfare benefits to people who do not have enough money to live on.

Health

• Healthcare is organized under the National Health Service (NHS). It began in 1948, and is one of the largest organizations in Europe.

• Family doctors are called General Practitioners (GPs). Before you go to the hospital, they are usually consulted first. They then refer you to a specialist for your illness (should you be really sick).

• Prescriptions are free for anyone who is:
  • Under 16 years of age (or under 25 in Wales)
  • Under 19 and in full-time education
  • Aged 60 or over
  • Pregnant or with a baby under 12 months old
  • Suffering from a specified medical condition
  • Receiving Income Support, Jobseekers’ Allowance, Working Families or Disabilities Tax Credit

• Free dental treatment can be availed by:
  • People under 18 (in Wales, people under 25 and over 60)
  • Pregnant women and women with babies under 12 months old
  • People on Income Support, Jobseekers’ Allowance, or Pension Credit Guarantee

• Sight tests are free for people aged over 60, and children. In Scotland, however, eye tests are free.

• When registering a birth, if the parents are married, the father or mother can register the birth. If they are not married, only the mother is allowed to register the birth. If they are not married, but both parents want to keep both names, they’re both required to come to register the birth.

Education

• Education is free for children aged 5-16 (4-16 in Northern Ireland).

• Compulsory education is divided into two stages, primary and secondary. Some schools have middle-school in between.

• Primary stage is from 5-11 (4-11 in Northern Ireland). Secondary stage lasts until the age of 16. They can decide whether to continue studying (go to Further Education) or stop.

• Young people (aged 16) who leave school early whose families have low income can get allowances thru Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA).

• Faith schools are primary and secondary schools linked to the Church of England. There are also Muslim, Jewish, and Sikh schools. In Northern Ireland, some are called Integrated Schools, which aims to bring students of different religions together.

• Private schools are also known as independent schools. 8% of children go to these schools.

• All schools must follow the National Curriculum. This includes English, Math, Science, Design and Technology, Information and Communication History, Music, PE and Citizenship.

• In England, curriculum is divided into four stages, called Key Stages. The students are required to take SAT tests at 7, 11, and 14. At age 16, they take GCSEs. At 18, if they have decided to stay at school, can take AGCEs (Advanced GCE levels).

• In Wales, they have abolished SAT tests at age 7 and 11, and are planning to abolish the last SAT test at 14. However, they are still required to assess students’ performance at those ages.

• In Scotland, the curriculum is divided into two phases, the first is from 5-14, the second, from 14-16. They will soon follow a single curriculum for all pupils aged 3-16 called A Curriculum for Excellence.

• You can get additional English lessons from an English Additional Language teacher.

• Children aged 14 get career advices. It is also available from Connexions.

• Schools must be open for 190 days a year.

• At present, most universities charge £3,000 per year. Students who can’t afford this can be given a grant. The universities can also give them support, in form of bursaries, which they are required to pay once they leave the university to work.

Leisure

• Films are classified as such:
  • U (Universal) – can be watched by anyone aged 4 and up
  • PG (Parental Guidance) – suitable for everyone but some content may not be suitable for children
  • 12 or 12a – children under 12 are not allowed, unless they have an adult to accompany them
  • 15 - children under 15 are not allowed to see the film
  • 18 - no one under 18 is allowed to see the film
  • R18 - no one under 18 is allowed to see the film, and this is limited only to some cinemas.

• A color TV license costs £ 131.50 (2006) and lasts for 12 months. People aged 75 up can apply for a free license. Blind people get a 50% cut when applying for one.

• You must be 18 or above to be allowed to bet or gamble, go clubbing, drink alcohol, or smoke.

• It is unlawful to hurt a dog or a cat. The owner is responsible for the behavior of his / her pets.

• Pets should be properly vaccinated. If you cannot afford to vaccinate your pets, you can go to the People’s Dispensiary for Sick Animals.

Travel and Transport

• For information on trains, call the National Rail Enquiry Service. For trains in Northern Ireland, call Translink. For coaches, call National Express. For coaches in Scotland, call Scottish Citylink.

• Tickets for trains are discounted for families, people aged 60 and over, disabled people and students and people under 26.

• All taxis must have licenses and license plate.

• You must be at least 17 to drive a motorcycle, 18 to drive a medium-sized lorry, and 21 to drive a large lorry, or bus, with the additional requirement of a special license, besides your driving license.

• In getting a driver’s license, you should follow these three steps:
  • Apply for a provisional driver’s license. With this you can drive a motorcycle.
  • Pass a written theory test.
  • Pass the practical driving test.

• Drivers can use their license until 70.

• You can drive in the UK if you have a driver’s license from any member states of the EU.

• It is a criminal offense to have a car not insured.

• You must pay a road tax before you can drive. Failure to do so can get your vehicle towed.

• It is required for everyone riding a vehicle to have a seat belt for safety. It is illegal for someone driving the vehicle to have a mobile phone on hand.

• Speed limits are:
  • 30 mph in built-up areas
  • 60 mph on single carriageways
  • 70 mph on motorways, and dual carriageways

• It is illegal to drive when under the influence of an alcoholic drink. A police officer can stop you and force you to take a breathalyzer test to see how much alcohol you have in your body. Failing the test can get you arrested.

• Should you be involved in a driving accident:
  • Do not drive away. That is a criminal offense.
  • Call the police or emergency number 999 / 112.
  • Get the contact details of the other drivers.
  • Give your details to the police.
  • Make a note of everything that happened.

• You can use these items to prove your identity:
  • Official documents from the Home Office
  • Certificate of Identity
  • Passport or travel document
  • National Insurance (NI) number card
  • Provisional or full driving license
  • Recent bill
  • Rent or benefits book