Finding somewhere to live
If you are lucky enough to have friends in London to stay with when you arrive, you can avoid the rush of the Great Flat Race. It requires research and training, much crossing of fingers and toes and a few deep breaths! Many firms will help you wih finding accommodation and point you in the direction of estate agents, and provide other assistance.
A basic rule is: the more central you are, the higher your rent will be, but your transport costs will be reduced. The further out you live, the cheaper your rent, but the more you'll shell out for transport.
What are flats like?
You will probably find accommodation to be smaller, older and closer to your neighbours than what you are used to. Look at a few places for a comparable price in each area to get a feel for what is good value. But don't dither! If you have seen a few and you see one you are happy with take it. If you don't, someone else will.
Flat rentals in London also tend to be quite expensive, so the best value way to live in London is to flat share with other friends from back home or it can be a great way to meet new friends.
Popular areas to live
Popular areas for 20-30 somethings to live include Fulham, Putney and Wimbledon in the South West, Shepherds Bush, Acton and Ealing in the West and Kilburn, West Hampstead and Willesden Green in North West London. Earls Court has long been a favourite haunt and the Docklands is becoming an increasingly favoured spot.
Be aware however, while rent may be cheaper in the Docklands, commuting to a job in the West of London will be extremely time consuming. If you're unsure where you will be working - keep your options open committing to no more that a six-month lease. Check out www.upmystreet.com for an overview of particular areas.
Finding a place to live
Where to start your search:
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Estate Agents / Accommodation Agencies
Registering with local estate agents in your chosen area(s) is the best way to get your search under way. As a general rule, they focus on the particular area in which they are based so you may have to register with quite a few to ensure that you cover the market.
From a practical point of view, they will want to see a letter from your bank back home or from your future employer to demonstrate your creditworthiness and that you are a quality tenant. Failing that, evidence in the form of bank statements that will prove your ability to pay the rent will be needed.
A useful website is the professional body for lettings agents - ARLA. Here you'll find useful information for tenants www.arla.co.uk/info/tenants.htm as well as a search facility to find the name of local agents www.arla.co.uk/search/search.asp.
Some estate agencies are part of national or London-wide chains with offices in multiple locations. Some of the larger ones include:
www.foxtons.co.uk
www.winkworth.co.uk
www.kfh.co.uk
Hays Legal has partnered with Foxtons to provide a personal service to candidates we place in new roles in London - ask your consultant for more information.
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Newspapers
The newspapers that cover the London property market best are: Loot, The Evening Standard (especially on a Wednesday in the Homes & Property supplement) and of course, the local newspapers in the area. TNT, available for free outside most Tube stations, is another good bet, especially for flat shares. These will list properties offered both by agencies and private owners.
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Websites
In addition to the agents' own websites, there are numerous websites to check out to search for properties. Some of the most useful are:
www.propertyfinder.com
www.loot.com
www.accommodationlondon.net
www.gumtree.com
