Renting a room rather than an entire house or flat is often a more common occurrence these days. Especially for renters in London, renting a room rather than a whole place to yourself can be cheaper, easier, and a more social experience.
However, the last thing that you want is to end up getting ripped off when looking for a room to rent. Indeed, finding the perfect home in London is no mean feat. Beware of shady private landlords and Gumtree ads. If something seems too good to be true, then it probably is.
That said, once you’ve found somewhere that suits your needs, London is a wonderful place to live. With that in mind, here are some of the main things to look out for when searching for the ideal room for you.
DETERMINE YOUR NEEDS AND BUDGET
Before you start searching for a room to rent, decide how much you are willing to spend and make a list of all the things that you need from a room. Some rooms offer the basic essentials, or you may want to consider paying more to live somewhere where you can enjoy a space that is more like a studio flat within a larger property including your own bathroom and kitchen facilities.
Once you have decided what you need, what your nice-to-haves are and how much you can afford to pay for that per month, check out listings at roomclub.com to find room options that are suitable for you. Also, make a list of other London property sites and sign up to updates. Trustworthy platforms include SpareRoom, RightMove, Zoopla and OpenRent. If you’re looking to live in a specific area, take a trip there and pop into a local estate agents’ bricks and mortar offices. They can show you properties that meet your requirements.
There are also available tools online that you can use if you’re looking for the perfect property, helping you narrow down into the specific details and desires of your search.
ROOMS GO FAST
Perhaps the most important tip when looking for somewhere to live in London is that places go fast. As such, you have to be available and in the city when the call comes. Anywhere of any real appeal tends to go – or goes up in price – on the same day it becomes available, with pesky estate agents exacerbating the problem by exaggerating (and often simply manufacturing) the need for urgency.
To circumvent this issue, consider closing off a dedicated week in your calendar to flat hunting in which you rent an Airbnb or stay with a friend in London and get deep into the search without distraction.
FURNISHING
Another key factor to consider is whether you want to rent a furnished or unfurnished room. Most rooms for rent come with basic furniture that you can add other items to if you like. Consider any items of furniture that you already have, or electronic items such as a TV that you may not need to be included in the room for rent. While renting a furnished room may cost you more compared to renting an empty space to fill with your own stuff if you already have furniture, if you don’t have items like a bed, wardrobes and drawers, chair, and other essentials, these can all be quite pricey to buy up-front when you begin your tenancy.
CONSIDER THE LOCATION
The location of your room is going to be one of the most important factors to consider. If you need to find a room to rent in London, then make sure that you will easily be able to get to work and anywhere else that you travel to on a regular basis. Although having this advantage can cost you more, if you can afford it, it’s a good idea to look for rooms that are located close to tube stations, overground stations, or bus stops for your peace of mind when getting around.
London has 32 boroughs so if you’re unfamiliar with the city, it’s best to give a few neighbourhoods a ‘trial run’, as it were, to find which best suits your unique needs. Check out our guide to East London’s best areas here and some of the coolest neighbourhoods in the city here for a little more inspiration.
HOUSEMATES
When renting a room within a property, most people are going to live with housemates at some point. Unless you’ve found a property that’s currently completely empty and you are the first tenant, then chances are you are going to be moving into a home that is already a living space for other people. Most shared properties have communal areas such as living rooms, dining rooms and kitchens so there will be ample opportunity to get to know your housemates.
If you are not a huge fan of the idea of moving into a property with people that you do not know, it may be worth teaming up with some friends who also want to live in the same area to find a property together. If you are moving into a property that people are already living at, it can be a good idea to meet them in person first, get to know them a little bit and ask them more about what living there is like.
UTILITIES
It’s also worth considering whether or not the utility bills are included in the monthly rental price for tenants. This is most commonly the case with HMO (house of multiple occupation) properties in the UK, as it tends to be an easier arrangement for both the landlord and the tenants, who do not need to deal with the stress of figuring out which companies to go with and how they are going to pay it.
On the other hand, if you are moving into a property with friends, then you may be responsible for paying your own utility bills. Bear in mind that in the UK, council tax is the responsibility of the landlord rather than the tenants in an HMO, and will usually be rolled into the rental price regardless of who is responsible for paying the other utility bills.
UNDERSTANDING YOUR RIGHTS
Finally, it’s important to understand your rights as a tenant. Even if you are only looking for one room to rent, you can still enjoy all the same rights as any other tenant in the UK. Being aware of your rights will help you settle into an enjoyable stay and avoid uncomfortable situations with either your landlord or housemates.
Room rental is becoming more and more popular in the UK, particularly for working professionals in large cities like London. Keep these factors in mind before you start your search for the perfect room for you.