Finding accommodation in the UKAlthough finding a job will be your first priority when arriving in London you should start searching for permanent accommodation in your first week of arrival. Getting settled in a place to live will be your biggest expense. You should be prepared with up to 10 weeks rent in advance to cover the 1st month rent and up to 6 weeks bond/rent damage deposit. The best place to search for available accommodation is on the Gumtree Website gumtree.com or in the TNT Magazine which comes out Monday and Wednesday (or on their website, tntmagazine.com). You should note that demand for accommodation is high and competitive, if you like a place you should be prepared to sign on the dotted line straight away and come up with rent and bond/damage deposit on the spot. Find out more about the London area and the best London suburbs to live in here. There are a number of options available for accommodation including: Short-term Hostel accommodation There are a large number of hostels in and around London. For current rates and availability visit the following websites. Please note that hostel accommodation is considerably more expensive that weekly rental rates, you should make finding more permanent accommodation a priority. If you are booking hostel accommodation before you arrive we would suggest that you book for a maximum of 3 nights, you may well find a place to live within that time. Dossing You may already have friends living in London who have generously offered you their couch, “dossing” is really only acceptable for a week before the flat mates will expect you to move on. Current dosser rates are £5 per night. Share Housing Moving into a share house is an excellent way to meet people and reduces your costs in setting up house as all furniture and appliances are already there. Depending on the agreement that the current tenants have you may or may not be required to sign a lease and you will not always need to pay a damage deposit/bond. Rates for share housing vary depending on the zone you are in and how close you are to a tube station. Following are approximate current rental rates. Please note these rates exclude Council Tax. See below for information:
Short-term shared accommodation Short-term shared accommodation is available at all times of the year and is in abundance during June, July & August when most people are traveling. Be prepared to be living in some one else’s room with little space for your possessions. This option is excellent if you are new to London and don’t know anyone there and if you are simply testing the waters before deciding on a more permanent commitment to London life. Short-term rates start at approximately £50 per week. In most cases the process for joining a shared house is very informal. You will usually meet the flat-mates at the pub and discuss the details there. It can be a bit of a personality test but it is important that you act yourself –even if you love the room, you will be sharing a house with these people and it is important that you feel comfortable around them. Be honest about your expectations, if you know you will have trouble living with party animals then it is important to have this clarified before you move in. Setting up a new flat You may have friends that you are traveling with or whom you know you would like to live with and wish to set up a new flat/house. You will be required to sign a lease agreement and will need to provide copies of your Passport, Bank Statements and a letter form your employer. Some landlords require written references from previous landlords also. Please note that landlords are very strict on the number of tenants in their property and you can expect to have regular inspections. Again, the amount of rent you pay will depend on location, proximity to tube stations and quality of housing.
It is common for most houses to come with minimal furniture including couches, tables and bedroom furniture including beds, dressers and wardrobes. Laundry facilities will also be provided. You may be lucky enough to move into a fully furnished house with all appliances (TV, Stereo, Iron, etc) and kitchen utensils and have very little to buy. Cheap bedding, bathroom and kitchen supplies are available from a range of High Street stores including ARGOS (argos.co.uk) and Primark. For second hand furniture scour the pages of TNT magazine or online at tntmagazine.com or Gumtree at gumtree.com. It is important that you make yourself fully aware of all requirements of your lease including its length, frequency of rental payments and your notice period and requirements as a tenant should you wish to cancel your lease. You may wish to take a friend along when you are signing the lease to act as a witness. Council Tax Council Tax is similar to rates and is a cost that is usually passed onto the tenant. It will be made clear to you in your rental agreement if you are required to cover this expense. You should assume that the advertised rental rate is exclusive of Council Tax. Council Tax rates will vary depending on the Borough you live in. For Council Tax rates for your visit your Borough’s website. Register with us now and take the next step in your career. |
"I found your UK Seminar so helpful. You provided really useful, practical information from people who have ‘been there’ - I’m so glad I went along. I was really impressed by the standard and professionalism and you made the move seem much less daunting." HJ, heading to London 2010 |
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