London is one of the biggest cities in the world. It is a city that most people would love to live in and that fork a large portion of their monthly salary on – simply to live there. With the work opportunities, stunning architecture and a wide variety of activities, you’d be crazy to not want to live there.
With the London rental scene being as competitive as it is, this article aims to shed light on some of the best practices you can adopt when moving or navigating the rental scene of the city.
Find the right zones and areas
Just like with every city, where you live with likely determine the price you pay per square meter on your apartment. Just think about New York, living on the East Side of Manhattan is going to come at a higher rate than staying in Brooklyn. This theory is much the same when it comes to London.
One small tip that needs to be mentioned right at the start is to keep the distance and price of transport in mind. The prices of the public oyster card go up depending on where you live, so the fee of traveling in from zone four to a job in zone one is higher than traveling within zone one, so keep these expenses in mind as they can add up over a month. But luckily for many long commuters, there are loads of online games like slots apps to play for real money that can keep you entertained on the journey, so at least you won’t be too bored.
Right, moving on to rentals – the best area for anyone on a budget is to stay slightly out of the city. So, zone one and zone two are the central parts of London, once you get out of zone three and four, the prices drop significantly. Therefore, the first thing you’re going to want to research is the zone you’re renting in.
A second area of interest is the direction you live. London is divided like a compass into North, West, South and East. Although not a complete rule, East is seen a bit like the up-and-coming area of London, where the students and artists reside, meaning that it is typically more affordable. The North is a bit out of town, more than any other area, so this is where you can also find something more affordable. On the other hand, the West is pretty hard to crack, as this features areas like Chelsea and Nottinghill, which are almost impossible to rent unless you’re willing to send over 1000 quid for a small room. The same goes for the South also quite posh like the West but not as bad.
It would be helpful if you thought about what you want to do in the city. If you’re a fan of parks, then going outside of zones one and two is a great idea, as there is a lot more greenery. Whereas, if you are hell-bent on being in the middle of the city, amongst the hustle and bustle, then you might be limited to zones one and two but only in East London, you can forget the prices in West London.
Use online tools as much as you can
The interesting thing about the rental market in London is the fact that a lot of it is online, which is something you should certainly make use of. There are platforms such as Spare Room, which allow you to log in, enter the budget and size of the room or apartment you’re after and then offer you a bunch of results. It’s a great way to see pictures and videos of a place, see where it is on the map and gain a general first impression of the space.
As London is such a big city, it’s almost impossible to go view every place you’re interested in as you’ll just be on the tube for hours on end so online viewings are a completely normal thing. Using WhatsApp or FaceTime calls to conduct viewings is therefore advantageous to anyone who has those pieces of media. Also, don’t forget that as someone new to London, especially if you’re coming alone, you will likely be renting with other people i.e., in a flat share. Therefore, these calls also serve as a bit of an interview process, from both sides.
Understand the role of agencies
One thing that is rather common in London is renting through agencies. Because the city is so big and it’s so hard to navigate, a lot of landlords hire agencies to deal with viewings and then a lot of people seeking apartments are rooms, contact one agency and try to view as many listings as possible. It’s hard to say whether agencies are a good or bad thing. It’s ultimately up to you. Loads of people prefer finding their own space to live by themselves whereas others can’t handle the stress and back and forth that comes with arranging your own viewings and would prefer to work with an agency. Just remember that agencies charge both you and the landlord for their services.
There you have it, the best ways to navigate the London rental scene. Keep your head on tight, it’s likely to become a bumpy road.
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