London Houses for Rent

Here I will write a series of posts to guide you in the process of finding a house to rent in London. Today I will begin with the initial considerations. If you find something you would like to know more, send me an email!

Things to consider when renting a house in London

• Usually your house search will be determined by different factors that you have to have in mind: Time, budget and location

• It is always a good idea to check that the letting agency belongs to the RICS association (Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors http://www.rics.org) or other similar institution.

• Check with a lawyer the contract you are offered by the letting agency. He will explain you the consequences of some of the common clauses (damages, improvement costs, etc)

• It is usual to have to make a deposit before you even enter the house. The actual law requires the letting agency to store this money in a protected account (this protects you from unfaithful house owners)

• From October 1st all houses will require an EPC (Energy Performance Certificate). This document will expose the energy efficiency of the building (in the same way than fridges for instance). This will help you to calculate better the electricity and heating expenses.

 
Finding the perfect house
Whether you have rented a house in London before or this is your first time, there is a lot to think about:

Is this house the most convenient to you? Make sure you check:

• The rent costs. How much will you have to pay? It includes the bills or you have to pay extra for them?

• Location. Is this house near to local amenities? (schools, hospitals, cinemas, shops, etc)

• Transportation. The bus/tube/train links are good enough?

• Rooms. Is the number of rooms suitable for your present and near future needs?

What kind of tenancy should you request?
The tenancy is always an AST (Assured Shorthold Tenancy) if the rent is less than 25,000 £/yr and you don’t live with the landlord. The length of the tenancy can be agreed with the landlord but usually lasts for 6 or 12 months. When the tenancy period expires, the landlord can gain possession of the house if he gives you a written notice of 2 months. If you do not pay the rent for 2 months or 8 weeks, the landlord is entitled to ask you to leave.

What is your budget?
This is a paramount thing to consider when looking for a house and there may be some expenses that you did not consider at first (especially if this is your first rent) For instance:

• Monthly rent (obviously)

• Costs of getting references

• Inventory and tenancy agreement costs

• The deposit and any maintenance costs

• Water rates, gas, electricity and telephone charges

• Council Taxes

• TV license

• Insurances
  

In the next post I will give you checklists to verify that the letting agency acts correctly and that the house you want to rent obeys the safety and health regulations. Stay tuned!

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