Accommodation UK, London, Flat, House, Room for rent, sharing
If you are renting, historically, accommodation costs have been less in the north, midlands and east of UK compared to the south. You can get a decent 2 bed fully furnished house for £500/550 a month in the east compared to £750/825 in London or South East. This is just a guidance for what you can expect.
If you are new, unless you have a place to stay booked before hand, the B&Bs as they are called is the place to start with.
B&B (B and B) stands for BED and BREAKFAST. It means exactly what it says - they provide a shelter to sleep and an early morning English breakfast with Tea. You can read more about what you get to eat in the Food section.
There are a variety of B&B hotels available depending on your budget. Warning!! Higher price does not always mean, good service.
As a new comer into this country, you may want to spend intelligently and settle down for a moderately priced room. Choice is yours.
Different types of rooms are available
- Family room - ideal for a family or group of friends (3 - 4) - typically 1 double bed and 2 single beds available. If the room has ample space, you can ask for an extra bed (at additional cost though)
- Double bedroom - 1 double bed
- Twin bedroom - 2 single beds
- Single bedroom - 1 single bed
The rooms can come with different bathroom and toilet facilities.
- Private - a toilet cum bath attached to the room. Typically has bath tub
- En-suite - a toilet cum shower (sometimes just a shower inside the room, and the toilet/WC may have to be shared with others and is outside the room)
Rates / charges for the room vary depending on the facilities and proximity to the town. Typically it could be anything between £25.00 - £100 a night. However, Youth Hostels are cheaper and very economical for a group / family. You dont get breakfast like in a B&B, but you get a kitchen available to you if you are adventurous enough to try your cooking skills.
Also note, whatever time, you check-in, the check-out time in most hotels are 11:00 AM. Check out the following for some fantastic deals.
Shared accomodation
Once you spend your first few days in the B&B, you realise that it’s a costly affair. The sooner you find a house / flat to rent, the better.
If you are single, a shared accomodation in UK could be just right for you. Check out Housepals. Housepals is a website for people looking to share a house or flat. Gumtree.com - the UK’s online community - Jobs, Flats, Friends and more!
is another fantastic place to find shared accommodation. I’ve had the best responses here.
Alternately, use the google search box below to search for house share or flat share. Ideally it will be a big house / flat shared by working professionals who share the cost. You will generally get a bedroom for yourself and have to share the bathroom, toilet and kitchen with others.
Some useful websites -
Laterooms.com
http://www.nextroommate.com/
Renting a house / flat
The following are some of the typical houses / flats that you can look out for. They are available either furnished, semi/part furnished or unfurnished.
Furnished
A fully furnished home comes with modern kitchen equipment, washing machine, dryer, gas/electric heating, dining table, sofa, chairs, beds, wardrobes, good toilet and bathroom, vaccum cleaner, dishwasher, TV, microwave and in some cases crockery!!. Basically everything you need to live in a decent house without spending on furniture.
Semi furnished
A semi-furnished home will have atleast good kitchen equipment, washing machine (probably with a dryer), gas/electric heating, wardrobes, good toilet and bathroom. You may have to buy if you need anything more.
Unfurnished
Empty house with basic kitchen (stove, refrigerator, washing machine, etc) and bathroom fittings. Would be ideal if you have your own furniture to bring in.
Studio apartment
A Studio Flat is a self contained flat with its own kitchen, own bathroom and a bedroom which is also used as a living room. The difference between a Studio Flat and a one bedroom flat is that a one bed flat will have a bedroom and a separate living room.
Bedsits
A bedsit is a room with its own cooking facilities but where you would share the bathroom and toilet with other people. A bedsit is a basic and affordable choice for students. A bedsit usually comprises a single bedroom and permission by the owner of the property for you to use the kitchen, lounge and bathroom. Bedsits are made available to students by private individuals or families who have a spare room and wish to rent it out.
When considering renting a bedsit, there are a few things to consider. If you live in a bedsit, you have to live according to someone else’s rules. It might be inappropriate to listen to music whenever you want or cook food late at night. You would also have less freedom to bring guests into the house. Another thing to consider is that if the bedsit is offered by a family with young children, there would likely be noise which could disturb your studying.
Maisonette
A maisonette is essentially a flat on two floors or a self-contained apartment (usually on two floors) in a larger house and with its own entrance from the outside
Other types are pretty straight forward. Houses / flats are available as one bedroom, two bedroom, etc with separate kitchen and bathroom/toilet.
Rent
Typically when you rent a house / flat in UK, you have to pay the rent upfront and not at the end of the month. You will also have to pay one month rent or one-and-a-half month’s rent as deposit. Usually a minimum term of 6 - 12 months is expected. There may be some exceptions where you may luckily get it for a short term.
Total cost of renting accommodation
Generally house rent in UK is exclusive of bills unless mentioned. Typically you will pay Council tax, Gas bill, Electricity bill, Water bill, Telephone and TV Licence. Remember to take the readings, call the utility providers and setup your account from the date of entry into the property.
Warning: When you see that the rent for a property is 450 pounds, with the bills in mind, be prepared to spend upto 600 / 650 pounds depending on the town you live in.
University of London provides a comprehensive list of everything you need to know about housing. Check it out - ULHS
The property checklist can be a very useful tool when renting a property.
Keeping track of inventory, utilities’ readings
Finding an accommodation in UK that suits you is just one milestone you crossed. Once you occupy the property, it is equally important to take a note of the condition of the property. Ideally, the landlord or property agent will provide a checklist which should be filled to indicate your findings against the claims. For example, if the inventory checklist says ‘Wardrobe - New’, you might find a crack or a hole. This must be put down on paper in front of a witness. Sign and give the original to the landlord/agent. Keep a copy for your records. It will help you leave the property without any dispute or loss of deposit. For more details check out
Inventory and Schedule of Condition