London Luxury Lettings: Finding a Place to Rent in London

Finding the perfect London rental property doesn’t happen by chance. The ability to determine your needs, identify problem areas and ask the right questions will help you make the right choice before you sign the tenancy agreement. Remember, once you have signed on the dotted line you are typically committed for six months or a year.

Determine your property needs

Once you have determined your needs, searching for an property will be much easier.

Price range: Price is one the most important considerations. Decide how much you can afford or want to spend. Remember to factor in utility costs, parking and your usual monthly bills. Knowing your price range from the outset will focus your search, saving you time.
Location: It is important that the neighbourhood you choose to live in is well suited to you and your family. Consider the distance from your work place or schools. Do you mind a long commute every day? Is public transportation easily accessible? Is it a high crime area? Is it close to amenities such as local shops, doctor offices and the post office?
Type of property: Consider the size of your family and the space you require for your furniture and other possessions. Will you be happy in 500 square feet or will you need 1000? Will a one-room studio be adequate or do you require a one, two or three bedroom flat? Typically, the larger the flat the higher the rent will be.
Features and amenities: Determine what features you need or desire in your future home. Is an en suite or on-site laundry facility important or do you mind going to a laundrette? Does the building feature security features such as porter, video cameras or a controlled-access public entry? Do you want the convenience of a dishwasher, an on-site gym or pool, a balcony etc.?

Renting a flat in London: Inspect the property

Never rent a flat unseen. It is essential that you tour the property and examine it closely for problems. Areas that warrant inspection include

The building: What is the state of repair outside and inside? Are common areas kept clean and in good repair? Are the walls in need of paint? If maintenance appears to be lacking it could be a sign of poor building management.
The flat: Upon entering the flat take note of general appearance and upkeep. Are the carpets or flooring worn? Are the walls cracked or in need of paint? Is there staining on the roof or walls (an indication of a water leak). Check all light switches and outlets to ensure they are working. Poor general maintenance may also be an indication of poor maintenance in other areas.
Doors and windows: Are there secure locks, a peephole and security locks on all outside doors? Check for drafts around windows, doors, light switches and electric outlets. If you are paying for heating, a drafty flat could be cold and costly in winter.
The kitchen: Check taps for water pressure and hot water. Examine the base of the taps for leaks and look under the sink for signs of water damage. Turn on the hobtop and oven and check that the refrigerator, dishwasher and any other appliances are in good working order.
The bathroom: Check taps for water pressure and hot water. Examine the base of the tap for leaks and look under the sink and around the bath or shower cubicle for signs of water damage. Press gently on tiles. If the tiles move, it could be a sign of water damage in the wall behind the tiles. Flush the toilet to ensure it drains properly.

Information required to make an application to rent a property?

When you rent a property you are being given care and control of an investment which may be worth several hundred thousand pounds. The owner is entrusting London City Lettings with with the supervision of his/ her investment and we must be sure of our tenant’s credentials. Careful tenant selection also assists you as a tenant by ensuring that as far as is reasonably possible your neighbours will be compatible and will allow you quiet enjoyment of your new home. To assist us we will require a Tenancy Application form to be completed. The information required from you will be:

Full name(s) of occupant(s)
Current address, telephone number, agent or landlord and period of tenancy. Previous address, agent or landlord and period of tenancy.
Date of birth, Naitonal Insurance Number and/or passport number
Current occupation, employer, period of employment, name of person who can verify this information and telephone number.
Number of adults and children to occupy the property.
Number and type of any pets.
Name, occupation and daytime telephone numbers of three personal references (excluding those above or family members).
Name, address, relationship and telephone number of next of kin.

Legal rights and obligations when renting residential property ?

Every residential tenant in England and Wales has the right to:

Know the terms of the tenancy. Although there is no legal requirement for a landlord to provide a written agreement (or lease) it is in your interests as a tenant to have one. You should study the terms carefully before signing. If you have doubts you may need to get some expert advice.
Know the name and address of the landlord (normally included in the agreement)
Accommodation which is in a good tenantable state of repair - free from defects.
Reasonably quick and effective repairs if you report defects.
Safe accommodation, all electrical, gas and other systems and appliances meeting modern safety standards and are subject to regular checks.
A CORGI Gas Inspection Certificate annually and on entry to the accommodation
Operating instructions, safety warnings and emergency procedures where appliances and systems may be unfamiliar.
Peaceable and quiet enjoyment of the accommodation, free from demands for access without notice and/or interference with utilities or other supplies to the property.
A rent book if the rent is payable weekly.
A reasonable (statutory) period of notice if the landlord wants you to leave.
The return of the security deposit within a reasonable period of time (up to 30 days) subject to the property being clean and damage free and no outstanding accounts.

Tenants rights and obligations

What are your legal obligations when renting Residential Property ? Every residential tenant in England and Wales has an obligation to:

Give honest and truthful statements during the tenancy application process.
Pay a reasonable (market) rent.
Pay the rent as and when it is due.
Respect and care for the landlord's property, furniture and fittings.
Pay the landlord for any damage (beyond normal wear and tear) at the end of, or during a tenancy.
Pay the landlord for any exceptional cleaning and rubbish removal at the end of a tenancy.
Report defects to the landlord immediately they become apparent.
Not use the premises for any purpose other than residential accommodation.
Not keep pets, unless approved by the landlord and the tenancy agreement.
Not do anything in or around the premises which would cause nuisance, damage or annoyance to the landlord or the neighbours.
Not bring into occupation other residents without informing the landlord. (Such additional adult occupant/s will be required to sign a tenancy agreement)
Not leave the accommodation unoccupied for more that 14 days without informing the landlord or his agent.
Give notice to quit in writing, which must be at least 1 calendar month, where the rent is paid monthly.
Not to use the security deposit in lieu of rent.
Observe all the terms of the tenancy agreement.

Building and contents insurance

When you are living in rented accommodation it is the landlord's responsibility to take care of the building insurance. However, this does not take care of your contents and possessions or damage caused by you or your visitors to the landlord's fixtures and fittings.There are also several other risks which, as a tenant, you should consider. It is well worth thinking about the benefits to be had through a relatively inexpensive tenant's insurance package. For example, comprehensive cover can be arranged which includes:

Full all-inclusive risks cover for your house contents
Cover for damage to landlord's fixtures and fittings - protects your security deposit
Malicious damage and vandalism
Occupiers and personal liability
Alternative accommodation and rent payments
Frozen food
Money and credit cards
Extended cover to possessions when outside and away from home.
In addition tenants may consider taking out accident, sickness and redundancy protection by way of protecting their rent payments.

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Short let apartments have become the right choice for any visitor to London, whether here on business or pleasure, providing a second home especially for stays of more than a few days.

Luxury short term lettings in London: Acton Barnes Battersea Bayswater Belgravia Bloomsbury Brentford Camden Town Chelsea Chiswick City of London Clapham Covent Garden Docklands Ealing Earls Court Fulham Greenford Hammersmith Hampstead Holland Park Kensington Knightsbridge Maida Vale Marylebone Mayfair Notting Hill Park Royal Pimlico Primrose Hill Putney Regents Park Shepherds Bush South Bank St Johns Wood Victoria West Kensington West End West Hampstead

Luxury Short Lettings

Our fully serviced short term holiday lettings offer total flexibility and can be used as somewhere to work from while in town, entertain friends or just simply unwind after a hard day. Families visiting London can make considerable savings by renting short term holiday apartments that could be as much as 35%, when compared to staying in an equivalent standard hotel, not to mention the added benefits of having more space, privacy and extra facilities and the large savings to be made in being able to prepare meals at home and not needing to eat out every night.

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Whether you're looking for a short let apartment for a day, a week, a month or a year, our London serviced apartments are a cost effective short let alternative to restrictive hotel rooms, being an average of 15-30% cheaper than hotel accommodation of an equivalent quality.