Rental Property

Rental Property in London

London Flat Finder

About half our searches are for flats in central London. Having handled over 3,500 transactions, we have extensive experience with the vagaries of leasehold properties in London. The system of buying a flat in London is steeped in history and etiquette. See Zoopla.

When you buy a leasehold flat, you are in fact buying the right to use the property for the length of the lease. You’re not actually buying the building, just the apartment as specified in the lease. This is the norm in London and nothing to worry about as long as you have good guidance and advice. Whether you’re looking for a house to rent in London or a flat to rent in London, you’ve come to the right place.

London Property Finders can help you find your ideal rental property in the quickest time at the least possible price. We thrive on finding rental properties quickly, thus saving you time. We negotiate on your behalf and focus on securing the property at the least possible rent, thus saving you money. We’ve been in the property business in London for many years and can advise you on the pros and cons of different areas, helping you choose the right one. Below is a brief guide to renting in London.

Why Rent in London

There are many reasons people rent flats and houses in London. Short Term Solution – Renting in London is quick and provides an easy short-term “fill-in” before you decide to buy. It gives you a great opportunity to get to know an area before you commit to buying. You can flavour the transport system and discover how long it takes to get to work, the city centre, friends and other places further afield.

Short Stay – If you expect to be in London for, say, six to twelve months, then, unless you are very lucky, it will probably be cheaper to rent. Much longer than that and you start to eat into money you could have spent on purchasing your own place and benefiting from any capital appreciation that would have had. Superb Location – Often, you can rent a property for far less money than it would have cost to purchase it.

This gives you a fantastic opportunity to live in an area you may not be able to afford to buy in. Renting an apartment in Mayfair or Chelsea might cost £1600 per week, whereas buying it could cost up to £15 million. No Maintenance – When you rent in London, you are not expected to do any maintenance or updates to the property. The landlord does this. Studying in London – You may find it more flexible to rent whilst studying in London. You have more freedom to move around, as you’re not tied to one place.

How to rent an apartment in London

Firstly, you must choose an area. This is generally led by where you will be working, studying or socialising with friends. If you use the public transport system it’s important to make your commuting time as short as possible. Most people dislike being stuck underground on a tube (subway) for a long time, and the buses can be quite slow. Ideally you should chose an area which is as close as possible to where you need to go and is the best area you can afford with your budget.

The types of properties that are available in London don’t change that much from area to area. For some people, security is the next most important thing. Ideally, you should choose somewhere off the ground floor; otherwise, you will feel too vulnerable. Go for a first-floor or second-floor walk-up apartment (Don’t forget, first floor in London is the floor ABOVE the ground floor. It’s known as the second floor in many other countries!!). Any higher than this and you will really need a lift unless you’re super fit! However, if you have to have outside space, you’ll probably have to live on the ground floor or lower ground floor, where the majority of gardens and patios are.

Help and Advice

Q: “I have just put in an offer on a rented house in London. The agent has told me that the landlord will decide whether to have the inventory done by a professional or himself, but apparently, even if he hires a professional, I have to foot the bill, despite not having a say in the matter. Is this right, and is it worth the added expense of hiring a professional?”
Sofia, London

A: “It is generally recommended that inventories be done by independent inventory clerks. It depends on the individual landlord and the inventory company, but overall, inventory companies have a better understanding of the ‘fair wear and tear’ rule. Landlords (particularly if they are emotionally involved with the property) can sometimes be unrealistic about the cleaning and repair costs that they expect tenants to pay for at the end of the tenancy.

“If an inventory clerk has inspected a property and found it to be in good condition, it will be very hard for a landlord to justify imposing additional cleaning and repair charges for things they have ‘found’ later. When an inventory clerk is used, it is normal for the landlord to pay for the check-in inspection and the tenant to pay for the check-out inspection or vice versa. The landlord should not expect you to pay for both.”