Renting in London, Everything you need to know

Moving to London is never easy and being in a busy environment for some can take time to get used to. One of the hardest parts about moving in our opinion is moving into the right type of accommodation. If you aren’t from an area it’s difficult to know if the area you are moving into is suitable for your needs.

You will also have to take into consideration the distance you will need to travel to and from work. The tube system in London is very good but it can be pretty boring riding the tube for hours each day.

London is known for its diverse culture, nightlife, art, music, restaurants and bars, so getting a property in the right location is very important if you want to enjoy everything London has to offer. Here are some of our tips to get the best property to rent in London.

Do your research

When starting your property rental journey it’s important to start with researching London. It’s easy to fall in love with London, it’s busy has a great atmosphere and there are so many things to do here, but don’t let that rush your search.

Take your time to find out what areas are most suitable for your needs. Do you need to be close to work, do you want to be close to the nightlife or would you prefer to be closer to the main shops. Whatever your needs are, take the time to write them down and look for areas in London that fill those needs.

London is so big that it’s easy to get this step wrong, so make sure to do your research for your individual situation.

Keep a budget in mind and stick to it.

You always hear of horror stories where someone has paid thousands for an apartment in London and it’s smaller than a shoe box, but that’s extreme, there are some lovely places to rent in London that can be had for a fair price. In our experience, it’s easy to fall in love with a place only then to discover it’s a little out of budget. Set a budget and stick to it, living in London is expensive so don’t pay more than you can realistically afford.

Don’t overpay for space you don’t need either. Maybe you have more personal belongings than can fit into a one bedroom. Instead of renting a two-bedroom apartment and using up more budget consider hiring a self-storage unit first.  Storage units are much cheaper than adding a second bedroom and they can keep your valuables safe too.

Start searching for your property as soon as possible

Renting a property in London is frustrating, to say the least. Most properties get snapped up very quickly which often leaves you disappointed. It could take you anywhere from a few weeks to a few months to find a property that suits your needs so be sure to start as soon as you can.

Pack away non-essentials and hire a storage unit

Moving everything on the same day is both stressful and tiresome. If you are moving to London we would recommend packing away and storing your goods before the final day. A storage unit is good for this as you can rent them for a few months so there’s no pressure to move everything in one day.

Packing and moving can be stressful so check out our new house checklist that can be used to cut down on your stress and make your move easier.

Start viewing properties

In London, you need to move quickly, if you see a property you like you should phone the agent right away. Making a phone call is the quickest way of getting through to an agent and booking a visit.

You should make sure to view a property before making an offer on it. We have heard stories where people haven’t viewed a property and have signed for it only for it to not look like the property online.

Making an offer

When you have found a property you should make sure that all of your paperwork and references are in hand and ready to go. Property gets snapped up so quickly in London that you need to be quick if you want to get a property that suits your needs. Even hanging around a few hours could be the difference from missing out on your new London home.