I can imagine the huge difference in rental culture from Germany to UK. I'm an American living in the UK (but actually have been most of my life) and for a while I was a double Expat by living in Hamburg for a year on ERASMUS exchange ;)
As you say, tennants in the UK have so few rights, unlike what you are afforded in Germany where it's almost as good as owning the place you live in.
Being an american expat to anywhere is getting increasingly difficult as the US GOV puts more and more requirements of other countries hosting US Citizens. For instance a requirement that all foreign banks with US account holders report to the IRS any American held bank account activity. many european banks are responding to this by not doing business with US nationals...
And yes, getting UK bank accounts as an Fresh-Off-the-Boat expat seems like one massive chicken and egg situation involving residential addresses and job details. you generally need two of one to get the other. Job and bank account to get a flat, address and job to get bank account, bank account, address and work permit to get a job.
As you say, tennants in the UK have so few rights, unlike what you are afforded in Germany where it's almost as good as owning the place you live in.
Being an american expat to anywhere is getting increasingly difficult as the US GOV puts more and more requirements of other countries hosting US Citizens. For instance a requirement that all foreign banks with US account holders report to the IRS any American held bank account activity. many european banks are responding to this by not doing business with US nationals... And yes, getting UK bank accounts as an Fresh-Off-the-Boat expat seems like one massive chicken and egg situation involving residential addresses and job details. you generally need two of one to get the other. Job and bank account to get a flat, address and job to get bank account, bank account, address and work permit to get a job.