Moving to England Forums

England Information · Joined: 21 Oct 2006 Posts: 22 Home Country: uk

HOUSING IN ENGLAND (UK)

RENTAL MARKET

Britain’s rental market is much smaller in size when compared to continental Europe, with only 10% of families living in private rented accommodation.

Depending on where you are looking, good quality and larger rental properties can often be difficult to find and prohibitively expensive. Furnished or partly-furnished flats rented for short periods can be especially pricey.

Rental prices in different regions of the United Kingdom vary widely. Properties in London and the South-East England command the highest rents. In general rents are lower in Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the north of England, but there are exceptions in larger cities. As rents tend to decrease the further you are from a city centre, it is worth deciding to what extent you are willing to commute to work. Many people who work in the centre of London spend well over an hour travelling to and from work.

Finding a good apartment at the right price before you arrive in the UK is difficult. Landlords prefer to meet tenants before signing a contract and the wide range in quality means it is not advisable to commit to rent a flat “unseen”.

Supply and demand can vary considerably in the course of the year, with the end of the summer being more difficult in some areas as students start a new year (in the UK students tend to go to university away from home, so rent).

GETTING STARTED

Looking for accommodation in the UK can be a time-consuming and nerve-wracking experience. Whatever you do, give yourself plenty of time as you will be much more likely to get what you are looking for this way.

It's best to start looking before you leave or plan for free time to be dedicated to the search. If you are coming with your family, it may be more comfortable for them to arrive after you have found suitable accommodation. If you are arriving alone, the best solution may be to initially stay in a hotel/guest-house or with friends or acquaintances.

Unless you want to depend on getting lucky, you should consider several options for your apartment search. The most important thing is to have a very clear idea of what you're actually looking for, or it is very easy to waste time. The best start is to get familiar with your new environment by walking around, seeing how transport works and asking other people about different neighbourhoods and areas.

On arrival in the UK, you may find it necessary to stay in temporary accommodation for a few weeks or a month or two until you can move into an apartment. Many hotels and bed-and-breakfast establishments cater for long-term guests and offer reduced weekly or monthly rates.

There is a wide range of options when looking for an apartment. As always in life, the more you're willing to pay (i.e. for an agent), the easier your search will be.

Classifieds

You can find advertisements for apartments to rent and buy in local newspapers and from many online sources. Look for the ‘classifieds’ section, where there should be a section on property.

In London, the Evening Standard has some property adverts every day; on Wednesdays the paper comes with a free Homes & Property supplement which is more extensive. London also has specialized publications dedicated to advertisements, such as Loot, which is printed 5 times weekly and is also available online www.loot.com.

Understanding classified ads can seem like a task fit for a professional cryptographer. The demand for space in printed mediums has led to the use of a sometimes excessive and incomprehensible short-hand of abbreviations and codes. Fortunately, the increasing dominance of online sources renders much of this lingo worthless. Nevertheless, since printed classifieds remain popular (be that through preference or necessity), our glossary should help you interpret the numerous abbreviations.

When the ad gives a telephone number you should call as early as possible (within sociable hours (i.e. 9am-10:00pm) unless stated otherwise) to make an appointment. Be aware that adverts can easily attract up to 100 phone calls. Landlords sometimes collect offers and then make joint appointments with applicants.

Placing your own ad
You can also put your own ad in the paper or online saying you're looking for a place to rent. This can be a waste of time and money, since demand for rented accommodation invariably exceeds supply (especially in cities).

Nevertheless, for those willing to live in shared accommodation then you may have more luck when placing an ad. There are many online sites that allow you to place adverts looking for shared accommodation. Some of them, including www.nextroommate.com, allow you to place your own ad for free.

Estate Agents

Estate (US: real estate) agents are private companies that deal in renting or selling property. Estate agents often have the most attractive accommodation, as many landlords do not wish to spend time looking for and contracting tenants. In many cases, you never see the landlord as the agent handles all administrative tasks.

In most cases, the estate agent is paid by the landlord and so as the tenant you do not have to pay an agency fee. Nevertheless, because landlords have to give up a slice of their rent/selling price to the Estate agent they tend to have higher asking prices.

To find an agent or a list of estate agents in your chosen area in the UK you should contact:

The National Association of Estate Agents

Arbon House
21 Jury Street,
Warwick
CV34 4EH
Tel. +44 (0) 1926 496800
Email: info@naea.co.uk
www.naea.co.uk

TENANCY CONTRACTS

Standard rental contracts are designed to protect your interests as well as those of the landlord. As it is usually the landlord who provides the contract, it is important that you completely understand its implications.

Areas to look out for include:

Duration of agreement: Most leases last for 12 months, during which time the landlord cannot increase the rent. It is also important to appreciate the notice periods that either you or the landlord have to give in order to terminate the agreement.

Responsibility for household bills: Some utility services will be included in the rent (e.g. water), while others you may be responsible for paying yourself (e.g. gas, electricity).

Forfeiture: If you are deemed to be in breach of your contract you can be evicted from your accommodation. Be sure you understand the dos and don’ts of the contract.

Deposit: In almost all rental agreements, the landlord will ask for a deposit (usually one month’s rent). The deposit is used to cover any damages you may cause, along with any outstanding debts you may owe at the end of your tenancy.

It is often advisable to request the landlord to inspect the property and draw up an inventory with you on the first day of your tenancy. This decreases the likelihood of being charged for damages not caused by yourself.

Where to get legal help/advice: If you are unsure about the terms of your contract then it is highly advisable to seek legal assistance. One of the best free sources is the Citizens Advice Bureaux (CAB). This service offers independent and confidential advice face-to-face or by telephone. For more information see: www.citizensadvice.org.uk