Originally posted by PalynkaI can't help massively but I hear from friends that young, trendy and affordable can be found in areas such as Putney, Islington etc
I'm moving there next year.
Does anyone know what are the best sites/ways to find an apartment for rent? Tips on zones, prices, traps are welcome.
I like Richmond, don't know what rents are etc.
I have a few flats that I rent out in london, one tip I would say is do npt get a flat via an estate agent, use either gumtree or loot. Agents charge you for signing contracts, possibly refernce checks too (not sure about that one), carrying out inventory checks etc when you move out. They also add approx 8-10% to the rent, I have used them occassionally in the past but the flat has also been advertised by myself in both loot and gumtree at the same time minus the estate agents fee of 8%, so anyone viewing via loot/gumtree would have got exactly the same flat 8% cheaper and also avoid all those fees that the agents charge tenants.
london is a fantastic city, it is vast though and really busy. dont believe the crap the others are giving you. there are great areas to live but its expensive so it all depends on budget.
the best areas are to the north west just a few miles from the centre, hampstead, belsize park, primrose hill, st johns wood, notting hill. islington is ok but a bt grimy, as is camden but camdens good to live near but not in. there are some bits to the south west, richmond, wimbledon, teddington, hampton court that are nice in a suburban sort of way. i reckon all big cities have a lot in common, they all have choice parts but mostly they are grimy etc, like new york.
Originally posted by Palynkahttp://www.moveflat.com/cgi-bin/dbr.asp?n=3705
I'm moving there next year.
Does anyone know what are the best sites/ways to find an apartment for rent? Tips on zones, prices, traps are welcome.
not a bad site to check along with the others.
I'm with eamon o- NW is a pretty good area to live. I'd try and get somewhere with a direct bus/tube route to work in zone 2 to avoid excessive travel, but it's pretty easy to get to most places, even from quite far out.
Check out the tfl website for transport links and time:
http://www.tfl.gov.uk/
London is a great place but very expensive. You are in for a shock.
You will probably do best to rent a house or flat from someone who is working temporarily out of the country for a year or two. It will be much cheaper and well furnished.
Stay clear of single room lets in a house or flat - it's a rip-off.
North of the river, good places are Finchley and Muswell Hill. The latter will be more expensive and not so good for the tube. Finchley (East, West, North) are all good for the Northern Line and buses. Barnet is further out but cheaper. Stay clear of Tottenham.
Enfield is cheap but not in a London postal district. Nevertheless, it's ok and not too bad for transport.
Ealing (West London) is very nice, good for the Central and District lines but a bit 'posh' thus expensive. Go further West to Hanwell and it is cheaper but you lose the underground.
I might have a three-bedroomed house to let next year! Keep me informed.
Originally posted by znshoThere was a piece in the news here a few months ago about an apartment in London which was basically the size of a small walk-in closet selling for $200,000.
London is a great place but very expensive. You are in for a shock.
You will probably do best to rent a house or flat from someone who is working temporarily out of the country for a year or two. It will be much cheaper and well furnished.
Stay clear of single room lets in a house or flat - it's a rip-off.
Buying is probably the best idea. An investment in a London property will set you up for life! Start in a 'cheap' area, small place. Ex-local authority properties might be a good start, but be very, very careful of the area / neighbours etc.
Despite what you read about London property prices, there are affordable areas and the mortgage interest payments will be only a little more than a monthly rent.
Originally posted by kirksey957It must have been in Knightsbridge or somewhere near the centre. One can definitely find a reasonable sized one or two-bedroomed flat further out for that amount of money, or a studio elsewhere.
There was a piece in the news here a few months ago about an apartment in London which was basically the size of a small walk-in closet selling for $200,000.