How to find a place to live in the UK
When finding a property in the UK, the first thing you'll need to ask yourself is:
Will I rent or buy?
If so, you'll need an Estate Agent!
Can I afford to rent a flat myself? Or will I need to live with other people?
If so, you'll need a flatmate!
How do I find a flatmate?
Roommate = Flatmate
If you need to find someone to split the rent with you, you'll need to find a flatmate (not roommate!).
You can find a flatmate on a few different websites, but we recommend:
What is an Estate Agent
Real Estate Agent = Estate Agent
It's a person who sells or rents property. Estate Agents work for estate agencies which are businesses that sell or rent properties.
You can work with multiple Estate Agencies to find a place to live.
If you’re meeting an Estate Agent in London, they may ask to drive you to multiple properties to be able to see several in a short amount of time.
How do I find a property and an Estate Agent?
We recommend two resources:
These two both operate as standard websites and as apps that are on the US Apple marketplace. The apps are equally easy to navigate and will show you available properties in your desired area and price range.
When you find a property that you're interested in, there is a contact option that will facilitate reaching out to the assigned Estate Agency.
What can I expect after I make contact with an Estate Agency?
You will likely receive both an email and telephone call back the following business day. However, sometimes you just won't hear anything back at all. In this case, it means the property has already been sold or let.
Why are so many unavailable properties still on Zoopla or Rightmove?
The catalouge of properties available on these apps is controlled by the Estate Agencies.If the Estate Agents don't update the listing after it has been sold or let, it will still show as available.
Zoopla and Rightmove offer the same service, so why do you need both?
Well, because Estate Agents are not consistent. Some upload the latest details on one app before the other. Some smaller Estate Agencies may not be on both.
What fees need to be paid to Estate Agents if you're renting a property?
If you're renting (which is "letting" in British English), then there will be fees paid to the Estate Agent. These fees used to vary wildly and frankly, were growing out of control. Because of this, the government has stepped in and now there are clear rules on what can be charged.
In a nutshell, here's what you can be charged as a tenant:
rent (obviously)
a refundable deposit for the tenancy
a refundable deposit for holding the property (so that it's not let to anyone else)
a payment to assign the property (usually 50 GBP)
reasonable fees in the agreement to cover things like lost keys, utilities, TV license, etc.)
You can read more about that here: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/tenant-fees-act
What fees need to be paid if you're buying a property?
What about fees?
How much will I pay in admin fees to rent or buy in the UK?
Honestly, there's a lot. The biggest one that we don't have outside of the UK is the Stamp Duty. Other fees like surveyor's fees and legal fees are pretty similar to buying property outside of the UK.
A full list can be found here: https://www.which.co.uk/money/mortgages-and-property/first-time-buyers/buying-a-home/the-cost-of-buying-a-house-aTnH73d3llji
How difficult is it to find a property?
This all depends on the local market. Frankly, in central London, it's really difficult because there's such high demand. You have to act quickly because there's a lot of competition - especially in the rental market!
If you’re looking in London in a high-demand area, it will be a challenge. I once lived in Bayswater (near Notting Hill) and I saw about 20 flats over the course of three weeks. A few had the fridge in the living room, a few had no living room at all, some had washing machines in bedrooms, etc. It took a long time not just to find an available property but one that I was willing to rent in my price range.
Tips and Tricks for Finding a Property
1. Start early. Some properties will go on the market months before they actually are available. Line up places to see even before you move.
2. Know what neighborhood or area you want to live in. Research, research, research!
3. Shop around. Make sure you look at lots of properties to be familiar with the market and understand how much you should pay.
4. Got your heart set on a primary school? Make sure to live in that school's catchment area to have a good chance of getting into the school.
5. If you won't be driving (or won't be driving right away), consider the distance from public transport, grocery stores and pharmacies (chemists).
6. Talk to Estate Agents. Tell them what you're looking for: how many bedrooms and what you're willing to pay. They'll stay in touch with you and let you know about properties even before they go on Zoopla and Rightmove!
