In my view you should not apply until you are on the electoral register and have a current account with a few months' wages going in. Then you can talk informally to the branch staff where you have the current account about getting a credit card with a small limit, and see what they say. It is possible that they might approach you first.

Does anyone have any advice to offer on getting a credit card when one has been out of the UK (in Europe) for a nuber of years and have now returned, renting a property ?

GollyB