r/Glasgow Tools

Hello there! I'm a fellow American who moved to Glasgow for my husband's PhD.

I'd recommend looking for a part-furnished or unfurnished flat if you want to bring the pets. A lot of letting agencies here just can't be bothered to check whether the landlord will allow pets and give a blanket ban. Or, try to rent directly from a landlord through Open Rent. We managed it by renting before we got a dog, being good tenants for a few months, and then asking nicely if we could get a dog.

Secondly, one thing I found very frustrating when we moved was the inability to find a place to live in advance. It's really hard to find a letting agency willing to rent to you without an in-person viewing, so you may need to plan for an Airbnb for the first few weeks. And honestly, you might be more comfortable with this approach too. It can be hard to assess the state of a property over video, and there are plenty in bad condition.

Lastly, I saw you also asking about utilities. Water is included in your council tax, which you won't have to pay on a student visa. Electricity and gas can be separate or combined, but actually are provided through privatised companies, not one state service provider. You can switch which provider you use for a better rate. Lastly, don't expect to be able to get Internet quickly. Often you will have a few weeks lead time between signing up for a service and actually getting a modem and Internet access.

Also, just to warn you... the Mexican food is awful here.