A large number of people move to London every year to work and study, but finding a place to stay in such a large and bustling city can be a daunting prospect. This helpful guide will help you through the process.
Steps
Step 1. Start looking for accommodation in London through the internet
There are many rental websites with specific lists, here are the most famous and useful:
- RoomMatesUK.com. Well designed, dynamic, intuitive site, where anyone can find cheap apartments and rooms, meet new tenants and chat with them online. Both landlords, agents and private owners publish on the site. In addition, the SMART AGENT works 24 hours a day, every day, helping to find the best one. combination of tenant and available apartments or rooms for rent!
- Gumtree. Very good for cheap apartments in all areas of London. Both agents and private owners advertise on this site, but also some scammers, so be wary! Read the Be Safe section for more information.
- Findaproperty. Site only for agents, for medium-sized properties.
- Primelocation. Site for agents only, for large-scale properties in more central areas of the city.
- Rightmove. Site only for agents, for medium-sized properties. Numerous announcements in less central areas of the city and outside London.
- Craigslist. Very popular in the US, less so in the UK. Good for cheap real estate from both agents and private owners, but there are also some scammers.
- Loot. It may be fine for some cheap apartments, but most of the listings found on this site are also featured on Gumtree.
Step 2. Choose an area
London is a big city, so there is a huge variety of rental properties, but with a decadent transport system it can take a lot of time to get around and prices vary considerably from area to area. Here is a list of factors to consider when deciding where you want to live:
- The budget! This is the most important consideration. Everyone would love to live in Mayfair, but that's not realistic for most people. Generally, the closer you live to the center, the more expensive the apartment will be. Use the search engines listed above to get an idea of the average prices in each area.
- Transport. Where do you have to go? Do you think you have to work in Kensington? Will you go to school in Bayswater? Transport in London is generally very slow and expensive, which is why most people like to live as close to their place of work or education as possible if they can afford it.
- Space. How much space do you need? If you need to have a garden and an extra room, then you should probably look away from the city center. If you are satisfied with only the bare minimum, then you could afford to live in the center.
Step 3. Contact agents or owners through online advertisements, check if the advertised property is available and if you can arrange a "visit"
You must always see a property that interests you before agreeing to rent it. The rental market in London moves very fast, so sometimes the property you are interested in may have already been rented out. Don't worry, if it's an agency, it will likely have something similar to show you or it will take your details to call you as soon as there is availability. When visiting a property, ask the agent or owner as many questions as possible about the following topics:
- Availability. Since when is it available?
- Contract. What is the minimum contract duration?
- Deposit. What kind of deposit is required? Will it fall under the Tenancy Deposit Scheme?
- Documentation and references. What does the owner require?
- Furniture and accessories. What is included?
- Bills. What bills will you have to pay?
- Neighbors. Who are the neighbors (noisy students, families with noise intolerant children, etc.)?
- Neighborhood. What does it look like?
- Etc.
Step 4. After seeing the property you like and asking the questions listed above (as well as any that come to your mind), if you decide to take it you have to make an offer
In theory, any advertised price for a property is negotiable, to what extent depends on several factors. If the market is active (e.g. in the spring, summer and autumn months), owners are less inclined to negotiate on the price than in the November and December period when the market is at a standstill. So you could try to offer the owner a lower amount than he asked for, but he could very well say no. When bidding, you also need to be absolutely clear on the following points:
- Contract. What length of contract do you want?
- Removal date. When do you want to start the contract and move?
- Furniture and accessories. What exactly is included? Is there an inventory (recording of the exact contents of the apartment)?
- Documentation. What does the owner require and for when? Once you have made your offer, the owner may agree immediately or may want to negotiate the price and terms.
Step 5. Once the landlord has accepted an offer, you will need to pay a deposit
It usually corresponds to a week's rent and is non-refundable. If you change your mind and decide not to take the property anymore, you will lose it. Typically a property is not taken off the market until the deposit is paid and, in theory, another tenant could win the property even if the owner has accepted your offer. Thus, a property is not booked until the deposit is paid. Things to remember when paying a deposit:
- Make sure you agree and are clear about the period in which you will have the apartment.
- The deposit is non-refundable. If you change your mind and no longer want to rent the property, the owner will keep it.
- Make sure you have a receipt from the landlord or agent showing the address of the property, the amount paid, the date, the agreed rent, the agreed moving date and any other details you have agreed on. The deposit is subtracted from the first rent installment.
Step 6. Provide the agreed documentation when bidding
Here are some things that often need to be included:
- References from the employer. A letter or email from work confirming your employment. Sometimes the owners will also ask for confirmation of your salary.
- References from your current homeowner if you live in the UK.
- Bank statements. The owner may want to see the last 3 months of bank statements to see if you have any income and are not in the red.
- References from the bank. Some landlords ask for a letter from the bank confirming that you can afford the rent.
- Identification document. All owners will require photo ID to check your identity!
- Credit check. Some landlords will require a credit check to make sure you are not in serious debt.
- If you have just arrived in London, it will be impossible for you to provide much of this data, so be sure to ask the landlord or agent what is required when you visit the property.
Step 7. Before moving, ask to show you a copy of the rental agreement that you will need to sign
Read it carefully and check that the conditions agreed at the time of the offer are present. If there is something you are unsure about or are unhappy about, talk to the agent or owner immediately. Be careful, this is a document that binds you legally and you don't have to sign anything you don't understand or don't like.
Step 8. Find out how much and when to pay
This must be made clear when negotiating the offer with the owner / agent. Most landlords ask for a month or six weeks' rent as a deposit and the first month's rent in advance. You will have to pay all this before or at the time of signing the contract and check. If you have an agent, the landlord may ask you to pay the agent upfront, then the agent will pay the landlord once the contract is signed. The deposit payable must be registered by the owner or agent with the Tenancy Deposit Scheme. This is a government program that protects any deposit dispute when the lease comes to an end. As long as you have paid the rent in the course of the contract and have not caused any damage to the property, you should receive the full deposit back. Remember that when you pay the deposit and the first few months of rent, the landlord will request the "cleared funds" before they can transfer you. Some money transfers, especially from overseas, can take several days, so make sure they are made to the owner's or agent's account by the date the contract is signed.
Step 9. Get the keys
On the day agreed as the start of the contract you will meet with the owner and / or agent to sign the contract and enter the property. Your references will have already been verified and your money received. The owner or agent could carry out an inventory of the property, taking note of the contents and conditions, but you have already agreed this at the time of the offer. That's it, now you can enjoy your new property!
Step 10. Pay the rent
It will be agreed upon when you walk into the house, but typically it will be monthly and you will pay with a standing order of payment from your bank directly into the owner's or agency's account.
Advice
- Try to rent directly from the owner. You will avoid agency commissions and get a better price.
- What happens if there are any maintenance problems? Call the owner or agency. You will have discussed this at the time of the offer and the person responsible should be clearly indicated in your contract.
Warnings
- Use common sense. If it sounds too good to be true. it is!
- Never pay anything to anyone you've never met.
- You must always see a property before paying.
- Ask as many questions as you can about the property and the people who show it to you.
- Ask for receipts for anything you pay (deposit, rent, etc.).
- Make sure the person showing you the apartment has the right to do so. Whether it's the agent or the owner, they have to prove their identity.
- Never pay to see a property or to book it before you have seen it.
