FINDING A HOME IN LONDON

Housing is highly in demand in the city. There are thousands of people who live in the city and thousands more who don’t but work in it. This puts the price for living accommodation at a premium if you decide that you really must make your home here. If you are used to owning a house, you may want to consider living outside the city. On the other hand, you may simply choose to rent a flat which is more readily available in the city.

CHOOSING WHERE TO LIVE IN LONDON

London is split into general areas – Central, North, East, West, South East and South West London. The rent is usually higher in the central area of the city in comparison with the other areas.

London is a city that is actually made up of towns or suburbs. These towns got eaten up as the city expanded and generically became known as London but maintained their identity. Examples of boroughs are Richmond, Greenwich and Camden.

There are 580 towns in London. The most popular areas for flats are in Islington and Clapham but there are always great flats in each town. It is better if you decide where you will stay based on its proximity or travel time from where you will be working or studying.

It is so exciting. You’ll finally be on your own and living in London. You may be going there for work or maybe you are about to attend higher education. That is absolutely great.

Before you leave for the city though, you really should be well prepared. The city is no place to find one self stranded and ignorant. The pace of life is very fast here and it is to your advantage to have as many things organized as possible before you even set foot within the boundaries of the city.

Make sure that you have a place to stay once you get to the city. There are lots of hotels, hostels and bed and breakfasts but even these can be full, especially during the peak season of travel. Don’t leave this to chance; confirm the booking before you even leave home.

If you are a foreigner, make sure that you have photocopies of your passport and any other vital documents. It is best to have a photocopy of all the important pages of your passport, especially your visa.

If you are planning to drive in London, make sure you have an international driver’s license. While the public transportation system is quite extensive there is nothing like having a car of one’s own. Better get this before you even leave your home country. Don’t forget to have this photocopied as well for safety.

Traveler’s Cheques are your best friend when you are out of your own country. They are safer than carrying cash.

If you are in London for an academic education, always have your International Student Identity Card (ISIC) ready at all times. There are lots of discounts that you can avail of using this ID. Don’t waste the opportunity to save when you can.

You’ll also need to have extra passport pictures. You’ll need them when you apply for your visa and other ID’s. Though London is sure to have photo machines that you can use, it makes more sense to have them ready before you even leave your hometown and have them handy in your wallet.

Irregardless of whether you are new to London or have been here a while, it makes sense to be careful when hunting for a place to stay. You never know where danger lies.

To increase your safety while searching for your new home, practice caution. Whether you find a listing online, from the newspaper or from a billboard, you will still be dealing with strangers.

If you can, don’t go hunting alone. Bring a friend with you, especially someone who is already familiar with the city. Your friend can help you negotiate for a better rate as well as tell you if the place is a good choice or not. Having a companion also minimizes the risk of any harm happening to you since most criminals prefer attacking people who are alone rather than those in a group.

If you can’t bring someone with you, make sure that someone knows where exactly it is you are going. Get the land line numbers of any flats that you plan to visit together with the name of the person you set off to meet. It doesn’t make sense for someone to be renting out a property yet not have a contact number. Leave this list with someone you can trust to raise the alarm as needed.

If you have a mobile phone, make sure to notify your friend as you arrive at a possible flat. Make sure that your future land lord hears you advice your friend or family of your location.

If you are looking at flat sharing, ask who else will be present when you go to view the property. It makes sense for you to meet as many of the people with whom you will be sharing your new home with anyway.

Don’t carry a lot of cash with you when you go hunting. You never know if someone will take interest in your presence. It is best not to turn yourself into a juicy target.

Lastly, It is still best to choose a flat in an area where you know people. Ask your family, friends or co-workers if they can recommend a flat. They are more likely to steer you in the direction of a great place than one you randomly find in the paper.