Tips for Finding an Apartment in the UK

Looking for an apartment in London is like looking for a life partner. Very similar characteristics:

• You’ll see the one with a good location: proximity to market, bus station, etc, but has a tiny tiny room. 🤦🏻‍♀️ 

• If you eventually find one of good size, the rent price will be enough to buy land in your home country! 

• If you say you should go for a shared apartment to save cost, you will see the one with too many flatmates (4-7 people under one roof)! With a high tendency of noise and discord! And I don’t recommend this if you’re a student! 

• You will also see the one that has only one bathroom (with like 7 Flatmates sharing it), and you’ll literally have to queue to shower!

• You will also find houses where flatmates have pets—pets that’ll be sharing the kitchen with you 😥. And if you’re someone like me who has a phobia for animals, you’re finished!

• It’s just so difficult to find one that ticks all the boxes, especially if you’re on a budget: Space, location, size, price, no pets, not many flatmates! 

However, if you can afford to pay, you can get your preferred choice!

P.S It is important to note that UK houses are notably tiny, especially in London. So prepare your mind if you are coming from a city with large apartments.

Ah! I’m exhausted! 

What to look out for when searching for an apartment in the UK:

During my house hunting, these are some of the things that guided my choice. I went with the list during viewings and literally read it out to the landlords, making sure the apartment ticks my boxes, and they were really pleased with how prepared I appeared:

1. Sexual orientation of the Flatmates

2. Heating … when is it on? and for how long?

3. Pets. Allowed? Can you deal with dogs and cats running up and down? I’m personally not a fan of animals, and one landlord told me she has one dog and four cats 👀 🏃🏽‍♀️ 

4. Number of current flatmates. So you have a clue of how much noise you’re about to deal with.

5. Number of bathrooms available, just so you know how long you have to wait if you want to have your bath

6. The gender of the current flatmates: all male or all females

7. Landlord location:  is it a live-in Landlord or a leave-out Landlord (the latter is always the best)

8. Are bills included in the rent or not? A bill-inclusive rent is always the best.

9. Is alcohol allowed?

10. Religion of flatmates

11. Any allergies (some houses don’t allow certain foods like pork, cheese, etc) so you can’t keep them in the fridge. It’s always good to ask cos You don’t want any surprises later.

12. Are visitors allowed?

13. Washing machine usage (once a week or…)

14. Key to lock the room (does your room have a key) 

15. Network reception: is it strong?

16. Any curfew (late nights)?

17. If it’s a shared apartment, ask how the cleaning is shared between Flatmates

18. Location: proximity to bus/ train station, shops, etc. it’s quite difficult for some places if you don’t own a car, because you’ll have to take an Uber to get to the bus/train station whenever you’re going out. Which is not a wise way to spend money.

19. Any rules? One landlord said I must be vaccinated before I can rent the place.

20. Contract: does it allow you to move out when you need to? Some landlords will give you a contract where you can’t pack out no matter what until you’ve lived there for up to a year or 6 months, in some cases. In this situation you’re stuck!

21. Garden: do you prefer houses with gardens? Ask!

22. Parking lot: Is there a free parking lot in the area?

Areas to find relatively affordable apartments in London:

Barking

Dagenham 

Ilford 

Beckton

Kent

etc..

Websites where you can find apartments for rent 

Almost everything in the UK us online based, including finding a life partner. Lol 😂 So finding an apartment online shouldn’t surprise you. 

On these platforms you will find landlords advertising their apartment, or tenants looking for Flatmates or agents looking to rent someone’s house (but I don’t recommend going for agents). 

Here are some sites you can find apartments: 

SpareRoom: This is my number one choice. This was where I got my apartment, and I find the app very easy to navigate. It allows you refine your search to what area you like to live, to include your budget, the number of flatmates you want, pets or no pets, and lots more. You can also find a house to buy. 

Zoopla : Never used it, but I heard it works 

RightMove: I know someone who got an apartment through them. 

Gumtree: Founded in London and has been around for over 20yrs. It is also a very efficient platform.

Facebook marketplace: I’ll particularly be careful  with this, as I’ve heard too many cases of fraud, where people paid for houses but were scammed.

Overall, don’t get carried away when looking for an apartment. 

If it looks too good to be true, kindly double check. 

Be very critical with your search. 

Ask questions, and Don’t be desperate!

Hope this helps! 

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