We all know that establishing a life in a new country is an equation with many unknowns. Since many factors such as cultural differences, climate, food, working life and laws will change at the same time, you need to do a good research on the suitability of the conditions before deciding on such a change. It would be good to have a lot of information about renting a house in advance.

If you are thinking of moving to the United Kingdom, or more specifically to London, you should remember that you will be moving to a large and cosmopolitan city. Your needs will determine the points you should pay attention to when renting a house in London.

We can produce various examples to clarify this situation:

• You have young children and your priority may be that they live in a safe place and receive proper education.
• You may be someone who works hard and therefore wants to reduce your time on the road as much as possible.
• You have a high income level and you want to live in the center of the city and have all the opportunities provided by that city at your fingertips.
• The social class you belong to in the city you live in may be very important to you, and you may think that you will be happy in an environment where similar people live in London.

Just as the needs of the people in these examples are different from each other, the houses that can meet these needs will be in different places and conditions. House rents in London have a very wide range. Criteria such as being in a safe neighborhood, easy access to public transportation, availability of good public schools, and distance to the city center are among the factors that affect house rent.

It will be useful to determine your needs correctly and get information about the needs or legal responsibilities that you are not yet aware of but will encounter when you start living in London.

How and Where to Rent a House in London?

When it comes to renting a house, everyone will naturally think of real estate agents first, and this is also true for London. However, do not think of real estate agents in London as real estate agents in Turkey. The responsibility of real estate agents in London begins when they rent the house to you, but continues until you leave that house. You can contact the real estate agent and ask for help if you have problems regarding the house or the owner. Also, estate agents do not charge a house showing fee in London.

Real estate agents in London or the people whose house you rent will act in a more assured manner than those in Turkey. They may ask you for a valid employment contract and if you have not started any work, they will ask for a working guarantor. If you cannot meet both of these conditions, they may ask for 6 months’ rent and deposit in advance. The deposit issue also appears differently in London. In London, the deposit you give will be transferred to a special account, not to the homeowner’s account, and will be returned to you at the end of the contract if no expenses have been incurred in the house.

What is this Council Tax?

In addition to expenses such as electricity, water and natural gas, you will encounter a tax called “Council Tax”, which is paid every month in London. This tax will be £1,000 or more per year, but what can give you peace of mind is that you will receive transparent information about the areas in which the tax is used. Among the places where this tax is distributed: There are useful and necessary services such as organizations working for the elderly in need of care, common needs of children, and cleaning services.

Negotiation is Customary

You can also negotiate with the landlord or real estate agent in London. Other people who are looking at the same house as you will probably negotiate, so the homeowner will choose among these offers.

What is the Real Estate Agent Commission?

The real estate agent commission, which is approximately 40% of the rent when renting a house in London, is shared between the landlord and the tenant. If the host tries to make you pay the full commission, do not accept because the standard procedure is to split the commission.

If you need more information on this subject, we at LondonbyJada will be happy to help you. You can reach us using the contact form on our website or by calling +44 (0)7787 806 039.