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.