There are countless properties in London that you can rent, and there are some truly incredible flats amongst them.
If living in a flat in London is something you’ve always wanted to do and are looking into it, here are some tips to help you on your way to finding that dream property!
Be open minded and flexible
It’s a good idea to go flat hunting with an open mind, not just in regards to the flats themselves but also the areas you are looking at. London is a notoriously expensive place to live in, and if you are unfamiliar with house/flat rental prices there, it’s a good idea to start looking so that you can assess what areas you can afford and which ones you may as well avoid.
Don’t forget to look online as well as in estate agents
There are countless great sites out there to find great rental properties in London, such as www.london2let.com, and therefore just heading to the streets to look in the windows of estate agents can mean you’ll miss something special. Websites like this one are often updated much more frequently with new properties and ones that are no longer available, too. You can sign up for alerts of new properties that may be of interest to you, too on most sites which can be really useful.
Think about whether you want it furnished or unfurnished
There are lots of advantages of both of these options, and disadvantages too. It’s a good idea to think about how long you’re going to be in the flat for and whether it’s worth investing in all new furniture for that time, and to go to all that effort of getting it into your property if it’s on the 12th floor of a block, for example. Furnished flats can be a little more expensive, yet it’s likely to cost you more in the long run to kit it out with lots of furniture.
Look into the local area of flats you like
If you’ve found some flats that you like, it’s a good idea to research the areas that they’re in so that you get a good feel for what life will be like there. There’s an insightful guide here of London areas that’s worth having a look at to get a general idea, but the best way to get a feel for the area is to go and spend some time there at different times of day so you can truly see what it’s like.
Ensure you know all the facts regarding your deposit
In the UK, the government have made it the law that all landlords and letting agents sign up to a Tenancy Deposit Scheme, so that your deposit is kept safe and is returned to you, so long as you look after the property and leave it in the condition you found it in. Before signing anything in any city, ensure that this government guideline is being followed.