German expat in the UK reporting in. > What has your experience been? Mixed. Do your research first. It was difficult to get a bank account and rent a flat without references or fixed address (I stayed in a hostel the first few weeks). I once got evicted from a flat (with 10 days notice) because of a legal loophole. The landlord was insolvent, bank repossessed, my tenancy agreement was declared void because landlord…
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.