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Real EstateWhere to find accommodation in London
Discover our guide Settle in London
Finding accommodation in London often means searching quickly and using several platforms at the same time. A flat, a room in a shared house, student accommodation or temporary accommodation: the best option mainly depends on your budget, the length of your stay and the area where you want to live.
Before replying to a listing, look not only at the rent but also at bills, Council Tax, the journey time to your workplace or university and the amounts you will need to pay before moving in.
To plan your budget, also check our guide to rental prices in London.
Where to look for accommodation in London
For a standard rental, shared accommodation or a room, several platforms list properties available in London. It is worth monitoring several of them and setting up alerts where available.
Some of the main platforms used to find accommodation include:
- AllTrippers: browse our property listings in London;
- Rightmove: flats and houses mainly listed by estate agents;
- Zoopla: flats and houses to rent across London;
- OpenRent: listings that include properties available directly from landlords;
- SpareRoom: particularly useful for finding a room or shared accommodation.
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Attractive properties can receive a large number of enquiries very quickly. Prepare your documents and key information in advance so you can respond quickly when you find a suitable listing.
What type of accommodation should you choose in London?
London offers several types of accommodation, each suited to different needs.
Renting a flat or house
Renting an entire property gives you more independence, but usually requires a larger budget. Check whether the advertised rent includes any bills or whether you will need to pay separately for electricity, gas, water, Internet and possibly Council Tax.
Properties are often advertised in pcm (per calendar month) or pw (per week).
Living in shared accommodation
Shared accommodation is very common in London and generally helps reduce housing costs while giving you access to areas where renting an entire flat would be too expensive.
When checking a listing, look at:
- whether bills are included in the rent;
- whether Council Tax is included;
- how many people live in the property;
- which communal areas are available;
- whether the room is furnished;
- how close the property is to public transport;
- the type of tenancy agreement offered.
In shared accommodation with a joint tenancy, the tenants who sign the agreement are jointly responsible for the rent. It is therefore important to understand the agreement before signing it.
Renting a room in your landlord's home
If you rent a room in your landlord's home and share areas such as the kitchen or bathroom with them, you may be classed as a lodger.
A lodger does not have the same rights as a tenant with an assured periodic tenancy. Some of the protections described in this article, particularly the requirement to protect a tenancy deposit, may therefore not apply.
Student accommodation
Students can also look for a room in university halls or private student accommodation. The rental arrangements may differ from those that apply to the standard private rental market.
If you are coming to the UK for long-term studies, remember to check the conditions of your Student visa before moving.
Temporary accommodation
If you arrive in London before finding a permanent home, booking a hostel, residence or short-term rental for a few days or weeks can give you time to attend viewings in person.
Platforms such as Airbnb can also be used to look for this type of temporary accommodation.
Arranging temporary accommodation when you first arrive may be preferable to rushing into a tenancy agreement for a property you have never visited.
How to choose an area in London
The best area depends less on its distance from central London than on your daily journeys. Two areas that are geographically close can have very different journey times depending on the Underground, train and bus connections available.
Before choosing a property, check:
- the journey time to your workplace or university;
- the Underground, train and bus services available;
- any changes you will need to make;
- nearby shops and services;
- housing costs in the area;
- the transport costs associated with the zone where you live.
Compare areas using your actual journey at the times when you will normally be travelling. A property slightly farther away can be more convenient if it has a direct connection.
What documents do you need to rent in London?
The landlord or letting agent may ask for several pieces of information before accepting your application, including proof of identity, references and documents showing that you can afford the rent.
Depending on your circumstances, you may also be asked to provide details of a guarantor.
Right to Rent
In England, landlords must check that adults who will be living in a property covered by the rules have the legal right to rent a home.
This check applies to occupants aged 18 or over, regardless of nationality. If you have a digital immigration status, the check can in particular be carried out using a share code.
Having permission to enter the UK as a visitor does not necessarily mean that you have the appropriate immigration status to settle there long term. Check your immigration conditions before arranging your move.
Do you need a UK bank account to rent?
You do not always need a UK bank account to sign a tenancy agreement. Payment arrangements can, however, depend on the landlord or letting agent.
A UK account can make it easier to pay your rent and bills regularly once you have moved in.
If you pay from an account in euros, remember to take exchange rates and any fees for transfers or currency conversion into account.
How much do you need to pay before moving in?
The amounts a landlord or letting agent can ask you to pay are regulated in England.
Holding deposit
A holding deposit may be requested to temporarily reserve a property while your application is being processed. It is capped at one week's rent.
It should not be confused with the tenancy deposit, which is the security deposit paid for the tenancy itself.
Tenancy deposit
For most tenancies covered by the rules, the tenancy deposit is capped at:
- 5 weeks' rent when the annual rent is below £50,000;
- 6 weeks' rent when the annual rent is £50,000 or more.
Rent in advance
Since 1 May 2026, new rules have also regulated rent payments made before moving into a property for assured periodic tenancies.
A landlord or letting agent cannot ask for, encourage or accept rent before the tenancy agreement has been signed by the parties.
After the agreement has been signed and before the tenancy begins, they can generally ask for no more than one month's rent when rent is paid monthly, or 28 days' rent when it is paid at another interval. Some specific situations are exempt.
Be cautious if someone asks you to pay several months' rent before the tenancy agreement has even been signed. For tenancies covered by the new rules, this has not been permitted since 1 May 2026.
Tenancy agreements in England since May 2026
The Renters' Rights Act 2025 significantly changed how the private rental market in England operates from 1 May 2026.
Most former assured shorthold tenancies became assured periodic tenancies. New private tenancies covered by the legislation also follow this system.
These tenancies now operate on a rolling basis, for example from month to month. They normally no longer have a fixed end date.
How do you end your tenancy?
For an assured periodic tenancy, the agreement states how much notice you must give. A landlord cannot require more than 2 months' notice. If no notice period is specified, the tenant must generally give at least 2 months' notice.
The landlord and tenant can also agree in writing to a shorter notice period.
Can a landlord end the tenancy?
Since 1 May 2026, the no-fault eviction procedure known as Section 21 has been abolished for tenancies covered by the new rules.
A landlord who wants to regain possession of the property must now use one of the legal grounds for possession provided by the regulations and follow the relevant procedure and notice period.
A landlord cannot simply remove you from the property themselves if you dispute having to leave. An eviction must follow the legal process and may require a court order.
Tenancy deposits and deposit protection
For an assured periodic tenancy, the landlord or letting agent must place your tenancy deposit in a government-approved tenancy deposit protection scheme.
There are three approved schemes in England and Wales:
- Deposit Protection Service (DPS);
- MyDeposits;
- Tenancy Deposit Scheme (TDS).
The deposit must be protected within 30 days of receiving it. Within the same period, the landlord must provide you with information including which scheme is being used and how to recover your deposit or dispute a deduction.
Keep the information relating to your deposit until the end of your tenancy. You may need it if you disagree with any deductions when you move out.
Inventory and condition report
Check the inventory and condition report carefully when you move in. Report any mistakes promptly and keep your own dated photographs of the property, furniture and any existing damage.
This can be particularly important if you need to dispute a deduction from your deposit at the end of the tenancy.
How to avoid rental scams in London
The pressure of London's rental market can make you feel that you need to act quickly, but you should still carry out the essential checks.
- Avoid paying money for a property that you have not been able to verify properly.
- Be cautious of rents that are unusually low compared with similar properties in the area.
- Check the identity of the letting agent or person you are dealing with.
- Read the tenancy agreement before making payments relating to the rental.
- Do not send sensitive personal documents to someone whose identity you have not verified.
- Keep written records of conversations and payments.
A video viewing can be useful while you are still abroad, but on its own it does not guarantee that the listing, property or person you are dealing with is legitimate. Do not allow yourself to be pressured into paying immediately because you are told that other applicants are about to reserve the property.
How to calculate monthly rent from weekly rent
London property listings frequently use the abbreviations pw (per week) and pcm (per calendar month).
To convert between them correctly:
- weekly rent to monthly rent: rent × 52 ÷ 12;
- monthly rent to weekly rent: rent × 12 ÷ 52.
Example: rent of £300 per week is equivalent to approximately £1,300 per month (300 × 52 ÷ 12).
Do not simply multiply weekly rent by 4 to estimate the monthly amount: a year has 52 weeks, which works out at approximately 4.33 weeks per month.
Bills to budget for in addition to rent
Depending on the property and tenancy agreement, your rent may or may not include certain costs. Before signing, check who pays for:
- electricity and gas;
- water;
- Internet;
- Council Tax;
- any other services included in the agreement.
If a listing says bills included, ask exactly which bills are covered.
Who has to pay Council Tax?
Council Tax is a local tax linked to your home. The amount depends in particular on the property's Council Tax band and the London borough where it is located.
Depending on the type of tenancy, Council Tax may be your responsibility or the landlord's. In some shared properties, including certain houses in multiple occupation (HMOs), the landlord may be responsible for paying it and include the cost in the rent. In other tenancies, it is paid directly by the occupant or occupants.
Before renting a room in shared accommodation, ask explicitly whether Council Tax is included in the advertised amount.
What about students?
A property where all the occupants who count for Council Tax purposes are full-time students may be exempt from Council Tax. If someone in the household is not a full-time student, Council Tax may be due, although a discount may apply depending on the circumstances.
Applications and other formalities are handled by the council responsible for your address.
Renting in London with a pet
The rules changed on 1 May 2026 for assured periodic tenancies.
A tenant or prospective tenant can ask the landlord for permission to keep a pet in the property. The landlord must consider the request and can only refuse it if they have a valid reason.
Once permission has been granted for the pet concerned, the landlord cannot simply withdraw it. A new request may, however, be required if you want to keep another pet.
The tenant remains responsible for any damage caused by their pet. The landlord may, for example, make justified deductions from the deposit to cover the cost of repairing that damage.
Having a pet does not allow the landlord to require a deposit above the legal limits that apply to tenancy deposits.
Useful vocabulary for finding accommodation in London
| English term | Meaning |
| pcm / per calendar month | Rent per month |
| pw / per week | Rent per week |
| bills included | Some or all bills are included |
| furnished | The property is rented with furniture |
| unfurnished | The property is rented without furniture |
| landlord | The person who owns and rents out the property |
| letting agent | An estate agent responsible for renting properties |
| holding deposit | A payment used to temporarily reserve a property |
| tenancy deposit | A security deposit for a tenancy |
| lodger | Someone who rents a room in their landlord's home |
| joint tenancy | A tenancy agreement shared by several tenants |
| Council Tax | Local tax linked to residential property |
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FAQ about finding accommodation in London
What is the best website for finding accommodation in London?
For renting a flat or house, Rightmove, Zoopla and OpenRent are among the platforms worth checking. SpareRoom specialises particularly in rooms and shared accommodation. It is better to monitor several platforms rather than relying on a single website.
Do you need a UK bank account to rent in London?
Not necessarily to sign a tenancy agreement, although having a UK bank account can make it easier to pay rent and bills once you have moved in. If you use an account in euros, check the fees and exchange rate applied.
How much is the deposit when renting in London?
For tenancies covered by the rules, the tenancy deposit is generally capped at 5 weeks' rent when the annual rent is below £50,000 and 6 weeks' rent when it is £50,000 or more.
Can a landlord ask for several months' rent in advance?
For assured periodic tenancies covered by the rules introduced on 1 May 2026, a landlord or letting agent cannot ask for or accept rent before the tenancy agreement has been signed. After signing and before the tenancy begins, advance rent is generally limited to one month when rent is paid monthly.
Do one-year tenancy agreements still exist in England?
Since 1 May 2026, assured periodic tenancies operate on a rolling basis and no longer have a fixed end date. This reform covers the vast majority of standard private tenancies, although different rules may apply to student accommodation, lodgers and certain other types of housing.
Can you rent in London with a pet?
For an assured periodic tenancy, you can ask for permission to keep a pet and the landlord cannot refuse without a valid reason. You remain responsible for any damage caused by the pet.
Do students pay Council Tax?
A property occupied only by people who qualify as full-time students may be exempt from Council Tax. If one occupant is not a full-time student, Council Tax may be due, although a discount may apply depending on the household.
Summary
When looking for accommodation in London, monitor several platforms and compare the true cost of each property, including rent, bills, Council Tax and transport.
- Rightmove, Zoopla and OpenRent are useful for entire properties; SpareRoom is particularly suitable for rooms and shared accommodation.
- Before signing, check your Right to Rent, the tenancy agreement, which bills are included and the amounts you are being asked to pay.
- The holding deposit is capped at one week's rent and the tenancy deposit at 5 or 6 weeks depending on the annual rent.
- Since 1 May 2026, most private tenancies covered by the rules operate as assured periodic tenancies without a fixed end date.
- Never send money under pressure without checking the property, the tenancy agreement and the identity of the person you are dealing with.
The rules presented here mainly apply to the private rental market in England. Different rules may apply to student accommodation, social housing, short-term rentals, lodgers and other specific situations.
Sources and useful links
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