Flat hunting in London can be a time-consuming and frustrating process unless you go about it the right way. London is a huge city and trying to find a place to live in a city as large and diverse as the capital is almost impossible unless you narrow down your search and establish some parameters. Below, we look at some of the points you need to consider. Cost Your monthly rent will obviously be a major consideration and it is important to identify exactly how much you can afford. To ascertain this, you need to factor in transport costs, whether bills are included and whether you want to live with other people. Rental costs vary greatly across the city. Central London rents can be particularly high, with places such as Belgravia, Chelsea, South Kensington and Mayfair attracting affluent families and couples. Places such as London Bridge, Bermondsey and Southwark can cost slightly less, while Balham, Clapham and Tooting are cheaper still. Location When choosing any property, location is a major factor. There are various points you need to consider when it comes to location. One of them is proximity to your place of work. Public transport in London is world-class, however, being an international city, London is particularly busy during rush hour and it can take you longer than anticipated to reach your destination. Many of those who move to London choose to live in locations that are close to their place of work or offer them simple and direct routes to it. Safety is another point to bear in mind. Some areas are safer than others and you will need to balance cost, accessibility and safety when deciding. Furnished or unfurnished? If you have your own furniture, you could rent an unfurnished flat and possibly save yourself some money at the same time. The savings you make could allow you to rent a slightly bigger place or one in a nicer area, so it is something worth considering. A furnished flat is likely to cost you more, so you may have to sacrifice size or the quality of the location if you need somewhere with furniture. Transport When looking for flats in London, access to public transport is an important point. Most people are keen to live in places with underground stations or that offer easy access to them. Given London's size, it is important that you can go to and from your location easily. Property When flat hunting, it is vital that you go and visit those flats that interest you and not go off the pictures you see on a website. You would not buy a car without test driving it and the same is true when finding a place to live. It is important to inspect the window locks, the plumbing and other areas of the property before you sign a lease to ensure everything is up to scratch. A key part of finding the right place is identifying what you can afford and what you need and then doing plenty of research. The more prepared you are, the more likely that you will find a place to live that fits your criteria. Being prepared and doing through research can also save you a lot of time. London is a big, diverse and exciting city and you are sure to find a flat that ticks all of your boxes, so why not start researching now? Finding flats in London can be much easier when you do plenty of research and move quickly. Enlisting the help of a lettings agency can also make the search easier.
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