Your guide to renting UK Property
When moving to London or the UK, it useful to have some knowledge on how renting property in the UK works.
Location
Location is always important. You need to be sure that the area you are looking in has the right transport links for you. Having good access for work and schools if you have children is the key. It’s good to talk to colleagues that live in the new location. They will often suggest you live where they as it’s human nature to consider where you live is the best, but it may not be the best for you. Take some time to walk around the area you’re interested in. Do you like the shops and the people? Can you see yourself living there?
London Relocation
If relocating to London consider looking at areas a bit further out or along the main train lines (National Rail) rather than on the tube lines (London Transport). Rents will be considerably cheaper. What you pay in central London for a one bed apartment you could get a three bed house in some further out locations for the same price! However, a lot of people are still looking for that ‘London experience’.
In London the closer you are to the centre (or zone 1) the more expensive the rents will be. Being close to good public transport can push the rent up too. Most people insist on being within a ten-minute walk of the nearest tube station. If you are prepared to walk, cycle, take the bus, it might open up more centrally located options that aren’t near a tube station.
When moving to London or the UK, it useful to have some knowledge on how renting property in the UK works.
The UK Rental Market
Relocating to the UK and finding a good place to live (particularly in London) can be a challenge. The property market moves quickly and there will usually be several other people looking at the same apartment at the same time as you. If that is the case it can be difficult to get a reduction in the rent. However more recently due to the UK voting to leave the EU rental levels have begun to flatten or fall in many parts of the UK, particularly London and the south of the UK.
Rental Regulations
There’s quite a lot of regulation when it comes to applying for a tenancy on a property. Your first hurdle is to apply for a visa unless you’re from Switzerland or a country in the European Economic Area (EU). You can therefore work in the UK without permission. Your visa must be in place before you sign off on any tenancy agreement. You will be required to take your original passport and visa into the estate agents office before the keys will be handed over to you. It is vital you make sure your visa is in place before moving to the UK.
Applying for a Tenancy
When renting UK property you will need to prove you are working and your employer will need to provide references. Your income will also need to be sufficient to cover the rent. When renting UK property the proposed monthly rent when multiplied by 30 is at least equal to your gross annual salary. If you are not working you will need to be able to pay your rent in advance for at least six months. If you currently rent the agent is likely to ask for a reference from your current landlord. Most of the time they may not bother if your landlord is abroad. A lot of people worry that they won’t be able to pass any credit checks as they have no credit history in the UK. The agents don’t bother with this at all. They are more interested in your work status.
You will need a UK bank account to pay ongoing rent as this needs to be paid by direct debit or standing order. Opening a UK bank account can prove very difficult if you do not already have a home address in the UK. UK banks will ask for a myriad of information and documentation as well as a letter from your employer.
Fees
All agents charge a fee for drafting your tenancy agreement and for carrying out referencing checks. This varies between around £250 through to £500. You will also need to pay a rental deposit equivalent to six weeks rent which gets placed into a tenancy deposit scheme. The deposit is returned to you at the end of your tenancy subject to the property being returned in the same condition as when you moved in apart from general wear and tear. There is also one month’s rent payable before your tenancy start date as well as check in or check out fees the fees for which are dependent upon the size of the property. If you have a pet the rental deposit is increased against any damage your pet may cause.
Using a relocation company or agent when renting UK property does help to save a lot of time and effort. They also know the property market well. Relocation agents will in many cases be able to source off market properties for you. They can provide a smooth and efficient moving service. This means you can focus on your job and settling into your new life in the UK.
Citrus Relocation
Citrus Relocation provides a range of award-winning relocation services to help companies move employees and their families reducing the stress associated with an international move. Services include home finding, schools search, shipping, pet transfer, serviced accommodation, settling in support and a range of concierge services. Citrus Relocation
