How To Rent An Apartment in the UK
Renting a property in the UK as an expat is stressful, but possible. Take a deep breath, and let’s get into it.
First property is always the hardest
As expected, getting that first rental is always the hardest and the most intimidating. You’re going to need some things set up first – like access to money or a UK bank account along with a job in the UK.
It may be helpful to stay at a hostel in the meantime while looking for a property, if you don’t know anyone in the UK and can’t crash on anyone’s couch.
Price of Rent
This is going to vary a lot, but London will be one of the most expensive places to live. However if you’re heart is set on living there or you have a job lined up there.. you’ll just have to deal with it.
A great option for all our London-renters is to rent a room rather than a flat yourself.
Cost of living elsewhere is typically cheaper but does depend on the part of the country. For instance, the North of England is typically a lot cheaper than the South.
A room in central London could put you back over £1,000 per month but you could rent an entire semi-detached home for that price or even lower in the North.
Tip: London can be extremely competitive so if you view a property and like it – don’t wait around to put forward your interest because they can go within days
What documents do I need to provide?
The main thing is you need to provide that you are allowed to be in the UK and you’re not just a tourist. The best way to do this is with your Biometrics Resident Card if you have one as part of your visa (I’ve never been asked for further information other than this card as my proof to be in the UK).
It’s also good practice to provide your passport as proof of identity, too.
If you’re a student, you’ll need a letter from a UK university.
Another big part of the “check” process is your financial background. A letting agency won’t approve you for a property if you can’t prove that you can pay for it, or don’t have regular income coming in. These types are documents include stuff like:
- bank statements
- pay stubs from your employer
- Letter of confirmation of employment from your employer
- Copy of employment contract.
Will I need to pay a deposit?
As a renter, you will likely have to pay a deposit on your property.
Your tenancy deposit will usually be the same amount as 4 or 5 weeks’ rent, so it’s good to get budgeting beforehand. It’s illegal for your landlord to force you to pay a deposit of more than 5 weeks’ rent (or 6 weeks’ rent if your annual rent is more than £50,000)
Landlord vs Letting Agency
There’s 2 main ways to rent: directly from a landlord or with a letting agency who works on behalf of the landlord. The biggest difference is the distance between you and the landlord. When you rent directly, you’re in direct contact (with rent payments, any repairs or maintenance, etc).
With a letting agency, you deal with them directly and they work on behalf of the landlord. You may not even know who your landlord is!
Letting agencies are much more regulated and should understand the law – it’s part of their job. You may not always get that with a private landlord who could try to take advantage, whether they know they’re doing that or not.
In my recent years, I’ve rented properties through a letting agency – they’re also the easier ones to find online. I personally, would much rather deal with a professional letting agent than a landlord when things can get heated or confrontational when it comes to money, repairs and their property.
If you’re looking at renting in the UK, make sure to check out my top rental tips here.
Different types of properties
The British people use a few words that might be different from your home country:
Apartments = flats
A row house or a townhouse = terraced property
House = detached
“Flat shares” are really popular in expensive cities like London where you are sharing the property with others – typically you’re renting a room in a flat with other flatmates.
Best websites to find UK properties
Rightmove: https://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-to-rent.html
Zoopla: https://www.zoopla.co.uk/to-rent/
On the Market: https://www.onthemarket.com/to-rent/
Your Move: https://www.your-move.co.uk/rent
*SpareRoom: https://www.spareroom.co.uk
*This one in particular is great for big cities like London where it’s realistically too expensive to rent a full apartment on your own
Are bills included?
In the property listing (and then finally in your tenancy agreement) it should state whether bills or utilities are included and how much.
For reference, a lot of flat shares have some bills included but renting my flat with my partner, no utilities are included.
Also make sure your rent is either PCM or PCW – most flat rentals work monthly but some flatshares, since they can be short term, typically pay weekly.
Don’t forget that you’ll also need to allocate money for council tax which is paid directly to your local council based on the property you live in.
What’s the renting process like?
Here’s what you can expect for a typical renting process in the UK:
- Look at properties to rent online (sometimes I’ve even had an email alert set up when I was looking at a particular area)
- Contacted them via the web listing that you’re interested and wanted to view the property
- See the place and submit your interest
- Then you’ll deal with the letting agency on getting approval (background/financial checks)
- If you’re successful, you’ll then sign a tenancy agreement and schedule your move-in date!
What if I need help with the law around renting?
Citizens Advice has a guide on tenancy agreements and are a great resource – reach out to them if you need help or are worried you might be taken advantage of when renting.
