Renting an apartment or a house in the UK
This morning, your employer told you that you were being transferred to the United Kingdom.
So, welcome to your new English life, a joyful mix of trendy and politically correct attitude!
In order to prepare yourself to the specifics of the English estate market, French Touch Properties, a leading property search company in London tells you what you need to know about this very unique market.
Tips about the London rental market:
Agency fees: Since June 2019 there are no agency fees except for company lease and rentals above 50k/ year.
Insurance: as a tenant in London, it is not an obligation to be insured. However, we recommend you insure your personal belongings.
Break clause: this is a provision of usually 6 months in a lease which enables either the landlord or the tenant, or both, to end the lease early. Otherwise it is a short-term rental lease for which the rent is often twice as high.
Boroughs: each area of London, know as Borough, has a very different atmosphere from another, a different architecture (buildings or small houses) and different prices … there’s something for everyone! We will identify with you the best compromise area-budget-transportation.
Carpet: English people love the cosiness of the “Carpet”: do not be surprised to see a lot in properties.
Ceiling height: houses and many London apartments have relatively low ceilings: make sure you have a plan B if your old large old family wardrobe does not fit into your English cottage…
Childcare: childcare such as nurseries are generally open from 8am to 6pm leaving you with limited freedom if you work a bit far; try to live not too far from a good nursery if you plan to use this type of care.
Deposit: the agencies request 6 weeks of rent deposit.
Equipped Kitchen: whether a furnished or an unfurnished accommodation, kitchens are always provided with all appliances. So you don’t need to take your entire kitchen with you in your move.
Housing tax: in London you must pay the Council Tax over a 10 month period (April to January); the amount depends on your borough and the surface of your home.
Hooks: often tenants must follow strict rules to put their pictures and painting up on the walls: Check what your lease says.
Internal Area: the size of a house is generally not criterion for describing a property, and the square meters are rarely calculated. We rather speak of the number of bedrooms.
Utility room: English houses often have a laundry room called “utility room” which is very handy to dry your clothes.
Washing: each property is professionally cleaned before you move in; you must have it professionally cleaned at the end of your tenancy.
Year: we all come with the idea of staying a year but it is clear that it usually turns out to be three years
Zone: London is a very spread-out city made of 5 different zones. The farther you live from Zone 1, the least expensive are the properties.
