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FLATTING If you're planning to stay in London long term, it is undoubtedly worth your while to rent. Check the private ads in various free magazines, the Evening Standard and Loot. Alternatively, foot a charge and register with an estate agent. Depending on what part of town you are in, bedsits cost between £50-£85 a week, rooms from £50 to £90, and one-bedroom flats from £110 to £think-of-a-number. Bedsits are invariably your cheapest option: self-contained rooms with a small cooker and fridge, in a house where tenants share a bathroom. Flatsharing is a good way to meet people. For those wanting to hang out with visitors from the southern hemisphere, check out various publications distributed free at the accommodation section. There are studio and one-bedroom flats on offer if you don't fancy sharing, but the prices tend to be prohibitive and most Londoners end up sharing.
Where to Look There's no doubt about it, word-of-mouth is usually the best way of finding a room in a house or flat. For example, if you should find yourself in one of the many pubs catering for Kiwis, don't be afraid to ask around. The house hunting experience will still be fresh in their minds and they'll treat your enquiries with due respect. Some of the pubs that Kiwis frequent have a notice board where details of accommodation can be found. Failing this, try looking at adverts in newsagents windows or at publications such as New Zealand News, South Africa Times UK, TNT or LAM (all found free in distribution bins in Central London). The daily Evening Standard, Loot or Time Out are also very good, though with all of these sources you'll have to move fast as the best flats/rooms tend to get snapped up quickly. You could also try looking at www.accommodationlondon.net, which offers Kiwis the chance to rent shared houses or flats in northwest London. In general, expect to pay between £70-80 (sometimes less) and £150 per week for a room. If you’re planning to stay for 6 months or longer, this is undoubtedly the way to go. Remember to add up all additional expenses when calculating your budget. Monthly or quarterly bills for local council tax, gas, electricity, water, and TV licence really mount up.
On top of rent and bills, don't forget travel costs. London is divided into London Transport zones, with Zone 1 being the most central and Zones 5/6 being out in the suburbs. If you live centrally you will pay more for accommodation and less for travel. Living further out will save on rent but travel costs could be a problem. Your decision will largely be determined by where you work. Either way, it will save you time and money if you buy a monthly London Transport travel card, which can be used both during the week and at weekends. If you are keen on the idea of having your own flat, consider a minimum of £250 per week in Central London for a one bed/studio flat. A lease usually lasts for six months or a year and is not usually flexible. However, your tenancy will be governed by a contract and, assuming you pay the rent, you will be legally protected for the duration of your stay. You will have to pay a one-month deposit and your first month's rent up front. You will also have to satisfy the landlord that you are able to afford the accommodation and that you'll be a good tenant; so make sure you bring previous references with you. Londoners generally do their best to avoid estate agents but there's no getting away from the fact that if you're new in town it's going to be helpful to have a local professional on your side. A quick flick through the Yellow Pages will reveal scores of agencies for every area of London. They don't charge upfront fees and, should you decide to agree a tenancy, they'll be handsomely rewarded by the landlord. Take care to note any damage before you sign the inventory, so that when you leave the flat you cannot be held responsible and have your deposit withheld. If you are renting on your own or with another friend, you may have to arrange for the gas, electricity and phone to be reconnected and for you to be invoiced (usually on a quarterly basis). Remember, gas, electricity, water, and TV licence bills won't be lower because you are on your own. There is, however, a 25% discount on Council Tax for single occupant homes - get in touch with your local council to arrange this. A fun time can be had viewing www.net-lettings.co.uk (Gosh, does it really cost £2,500 per month to rent a two bedroom flat in St John's Wood?) - a very useful site, showing approximately how much flats cost to rent in different parts of London, plus comments on each area. Yes, converted to local currency the rents do seem expensive but remember Londoners enjoy salaries to match. Happy hunting! Somewhere in this great metropolis of ours you'll find four walls called "home". MOVING IN Whatever type of accommodation you decide on, it's almost certain that you'll have to pay cash up front - a month's rent in advance plus a similar amount as a returnable deposit - and you'll probably be asked to sign a six or 12-month contract. It is illegal to charge more than 2 months rent in bond. Read the small print before you sign and make sure you know what your rent covers. Council tax, gas and electricity may or may not be included. You should remember that whoever signs the lease is responsible for the rent and leases can be notoriously difficult to get out of before time. Housing law in Britain is complex, but advice can be obtained free of charge from a local Citizen's Advice Bureau.
Tips on Renting a Flat There are lots of different options when looking for a place to live. These include a room share, flat share, house share or if you are with a friend you could even rent a flat. Renting flats is an expensive exercise. It is just not the weekly rent that is due. In addition to this you have to pay for all bills, water rates, electricity, gas, heating etc. In addition to this you have to pay council tax. Most people would want a TV in their flat, hence you need to pay for a TV licence. Flats are not cheap. Flats at a minimum require one months deposit and one months rent in advance. Also remember when you are calculating how much rent will cost you per month the sum is the weekly rent, multiplied by 52 and then divided by 12. For example, two of you get a flat that in total is £250p/w. To find out how much you each pay the sum is £250 X 52 / 12 = £1083p/m a total of £541.50 each. When signing contracts make sure you read the agreement closely. Always be present when an inventory check is done. When it comes time to leave the flat be aware that you will not receive your deposit back straight away. Therefore if you plan to move into another property make sure you have sufficient funds before leaving your current place. When leaving it has been known for tenants not to pay their final months rent in order to ensure they leave with the same amount of money as they put down. Renting a flat with a friend or a group of friends is a lot of fun. The site lists some of the nicer area’s of London to live in so you know where to look. Just be prepared and understand the commitments it puts on you.
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