Securing your abode in the UK can get quite tricky. For starters, its real estate market is known as one of the most competitive in the world. It would be best to familiarize yourself with the different options available. When it comes to short-term rental options, you will only need to present a valid government ID and a verified account.

Among these are:

• Airbnb
• Homeaway
• VRBO
• TripAdvisor
• Homestay
• Booking

There are many available options on social media as well. You may find listings on Facebook or other informal markets such as Gumtree. Be forewarned though, as many of these listings can turn out to be illegal, as some renters temporarily sublet their place while they go on vacation- even if their lease contract says otherwise.

What Documents Do You Need to Rent on a Short-term Basis?

Generally, you will only be required to have a current government ID and a verified account on the platforms.

What is the Average Price of Short-term Rentals in the UK?

A short-term rental in the UK is considered to be below 6 months. Tenancies that last from 6 months to a year are marketed as medium-term and anything above that is considered a long-term lease.

If you really want to save big-time on rental costs, you might want to look for your home even before flying out. There are many online listings for available apartments and the extra diligence will pay off in the long run. This is because it prevents you from renting short-term while you look for a more permanent accommodation in the UK. The only disadvantage of course is that you don’t get to visit the apartment or the neighborhood where it is located in person.

The alternative is renting short-term while shopping around for a more suitable home. Short-term rentals are usually furnished and can be rented out on a monthly basis. According to the Residential Landlords Association (RLA), the average price for a single night in a home listed on Airbnb in London is 137 GBP (176 USD). If instead you rent medium term, the average rent in the capital costs 1,700 GBP (2,141 USD), which makes the average cost to be 56 GBP (70 USD) a night.

Renting a House or Apartment

Knowing where to look and what to look out for is essential when navigating the real estate market in the UK. It is best to set your mind on matching your budget with the corresponding location to avoid wasting time and prevent disappointments. A sought-after location in London can be 100 times more expensive than the same type of property found in the north of England.

Renting in the UK as a Foreigner

Renting in the UK can be a daunting task for anyone, let alone a foreigner. Aside from the usual considerations, you have to factor things such as the length of your stay in the country, finding a suitable place for all your belongings you brought in, etc. Trial and error short-term rentals are generally a pain, and nobody likes packing and unpacking boxes of belongings for the umpteenth time. It’s either you do your house-hunting before flying out or deal with the hassles of short-term rentals until you find your ideal home.

As you will probably have your hands full with the entire relocation process, we can take the weight off your shoulders with our Home Finding service. Whether you are looking for a short or long-term solution, we can help you find the accommodation best suited for your needs.

How to Rent a House or Apartment in the UK

Unless you plan on staying in the UK permanently, a rental will be your best option. Not only are rentals

easier to find, they are basically hassle-free when it comes to general upkeep. Landlords have an

obligation to maintain a certain standard when it comes to safety and livability. They are mainly

responsible for repairs to:

• the structure and exterior of the property (e.g. walls, windows, external doors and stairs);
• drains, gutters and external pipes;
• basins, sinks, baths and toilets;
• gas appliances;
• electric wiring heating; and
• hot water.

If you are planning on making a more permanent investment down the line, renting first gives you a general idea of what it’s like in a particular neighborhood. Living in the same location for a while will give you a better sense of how things work, allowing you to make a more informed decision when buying your own property.

Average Rent in the UK

Just how much is the average rent in the UK? It’s safe to say that the bigger and popular cities will cost

more and substantially decrease as you go farther out. In greater London, it costs on average 1,700 GBP (2,142 USD) compared to the 1,000 GBP (1,300 USD) of the national average. A furnished flat will cost you 20% more, while a house in the higher end of the spectrum will set you back around 13,000 GBP (16,378 USD).

Rental Process and Rules

Most contracts are up for yearly renewal and you will be asked for a security deposit which is usually equivalent to a month’s rent. Make sure to read the fine print to prevent headaches down the line, suchas exorbitant penalties for late rent.

You may be also asked to provide the following:

• Proof of ID
• Proof of legal work permit/visa
• Proof of earnings
• Letter of confirmation of employment from your employer
• Copy of employment contract
• References from previous landlords
• Rental Contract and Deposit

Your rental contract should have the following information:

• your (and your landlord’s) name and contact details;
• address of rental property;
• beginning and ending dates of rental contract;
• rental fees with payment dates;
• dates and frequency of rental review;
• security deposit and conditions for getting it back;
• deposit protection scheme (your landlord is legally obligated to place your rental deposit in a
• DPS);
• extra fees, if any;
• who is responsible for which type of repairs; and
• subletting rules.

It’s best to make an inventory of the items in the house and their condition before moving in- you want to make sure that you don’t end up paying for something that’s already broken and that you get your deposit back in full.

As a tenant, you have certain rights that are protected by the government. Specifically, you have a right to live in a place that is safe and that you cannot be unjustly evicted. In turn, it is your responsibility to take care of the property and pay the rent you agreed upon on time. Do not be surprised if your landlord asks to see your visa or other documents. To know more about your rights as a tenant and the responsibilities of your landlord, check the legal guidelines here.

Paying for Utilities

It is common for tenants to pay their own utility bills. Some of them however, may be included in the monthly rent. Whichever the case may be, make sure to consider these payments in your monthly budget. For more information on UK utilities, read our dedicated section below.

Buying Property as a Foreigner

There are many things to consider for the expat looking to invest in property in the UK. You will need to have all the necessary documents ready and be prepared to go through some bureaucracy. That being said, being a foreigner and a cash buyer is a lot easier as you do not need to apply for a mortgage. Before you take the plunge, it would be best to know the different types of property available.

Types of Property in the UK

As with rentals, the types of property for sale are around eleven:

• Flats: i.e. apartments.
• Two-level flat: i.e. maisonette or duplex.
• Studio flats: combines a kitchen, bedroom, and living space in one open space.
• Converted flats: typically an older house, split into smaller flats.
• Detached houses: single houses which are not connected to another house or building.
• Semi-detached houses: coupled together with another dwelling via a wall on only one side.
• Terraced house: attached to other houses on both sides.
• End of terrace: at the end of a line of terraced houses. This has very similar properties and

features as a semi-detached house.

• Cottage: seen in more rural areas; on farms and in the countryside.
• Bungalow: single-storey house, also detached from other houses.
• Mansion: typically consists of multiple large rooms, many floors, a large garden, etc.

Types of Property Ownership

There are two types of legal ownership if you’re looking into buying a house in the UK. Freehold means that you own the building and the land it stands on forever. Leasehold is when you just have a lease from the freeholder to use the home for a number of years- anywhere from 90 years to 999 years.

Requirements to Buy a Property

The average price for a house in the UK is around 230,000 GBP (291,292 USD). London prices average around 475,000 (601,580 USD). Legally speaking, there are no restrictions for non-residents to get mortgages or buy property. However, doing so can get quite laborious and it would be wise to consider enlisting a specialized state agent and/or lawyer to help you through the process.

Steps for Buying a House in the UK

First, you will need to show proof of one of the following original identity documents:

• Your signed passport
• Driving license
• Freedom Pass (for disabled residents or those that are 60 or over)
• Residency permit or Alien Registration Card

You will also need to prove your residency by providing one of the following documents:

• Recent utility bill (three months old)
• Mortgage statement
• Credit card statement
• Phone bill dated within the last six months

Additional Costs when Buying Property in the UK

Some of the costs you will have to cover when buying a house include:

• Stamp Duty: for properties over 125,000 GBP (160,000 USD)
• Mortgage and mortgage deposit
• Legal fees
• Land registry fees
• Moving costs from abroad

How do I Find a Property to Buy in the UK?

How to sort the wheat from the chaff? You’ve got your work cut out for you in terms of sorting through the countless real estate websites, real estate agents and print advertisements. You can get lucky if you know the right people with the right connections. Ask around for a reputable agent so they can do the scouting for you. But first, decide on the kind of property you need (e.g. how many rooms, whether you want a garden, etc.) and align it with your budget to help your agent zero-in on your dream house.

The process of finding a home usually takes around two months:

• Know your budget and make sure you are not making offers out of your means.
• Once you make an offer, the seller will be responsible for writing the contract.
• Hire a solicitor or conveyance to represent you in the process.
• Arrange a property survey to make sure the asking price is fair (the average cost starts at 250
• GBP (300 USD)).
• Finalize your offer (adjust it and the mortgage if you find issues during the survey).
• Check the contract that the seller has drafted to make sure it includes all the important details.
• Once the contract is signed, the seller will receive payment and hand you the keys to your
• Your solicitor will register the sale with Land Registry and pay Stamp Duty if applicable.

To learn more about buying or renting property, check the comprehensive UK government website. You may also use the Government Property Finder to learn about government-owned buildings, land, orproperty in the UK that you could acquire.

Does Buying a House in the UK Give the Right to Citizenship or Permanent Residency?

Buying a house or property in the UK will not guarantee you permanent residence or citizenship, ever. Nonetheless, investing 2 million GBP (2.5 million USD) into the UK economy secures you a UK Tier 1 investor visa that can eventually lead to British citizenship.

Utilities

Most rentals will have its own utilities associated with it and it is your duty as the new tenant to transferthe utility services to your name after the previous occupant has left. If you are looking into becoming a homeowner in the UK, then you will have to arrange your own utilities. The easiest way to go about this is to use a free utilities connection service, such as pleaseconnectme.co.uk.

Utility Companies

Your main concerns when moving to a new home would be Electricity, Gas and Water.

Electricity and Gas

The UK market has around 70 different energy companies; up to a few years ago, only six major

companies supplied the majority of homes. These were:

• British Gas
• Scottish Power
• Npower
• ON
• EDF Energy
• SSE

Ofgem, the energy regulator, encouraged new entrants to compete against the “big six”. The aim was togive consumers more choices and promote healthy competition.

Some of the new companies are:

• Ovo Energy
• Shell Energy
• Octopus Energy
• Bulb Energy
• Ecotricity

In the UK, there are two types of meters:

• A standard meter that displays numbers in dial or digital form. You will be billed either monthlyor quarterly.

• A prepayment meter: it is a ‘pay-as-you-go’ system often found in rental properties. Basically, you pre-pay for your energy, usually by inserting money or a smart key/card that you will need to top up with credit.
• Having a standard meter means taking a meter reading and submitting it to the supplier of your chosen provider.

Water

Setting up your water utility is the easiest since the UK only has one supplier. The water industry is privatized in England and Wales, but public in Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Here are the basic steps to follow:

• Find your supplier.
• Contact your supplier.
• Verify if you are on a metered or standard tariff.
• Choose your payment option.

Required Documents for Utilities

There are no specific documents required for your utilities in general, but you will need to provide the

following information to your supplier:

• your name and address;
• moving date;
• new address,
• telephone number;
• email address;
• your bank details; and
• meter reading – if applicable.

Things to Know:

• Compatibility when it comes to output voltage would be your main concern if you brought in appliances from your home country. The standard voltage in the UK is 230V and the frequency is 50Hz. Your device will require a step-down transformer if it runs on a lower voltage to prevent damage. It’s also a good idea to check all your devices if it runs on dual voltage. A 110-240v label or sticker means that there is no need to buy a converter.
• Plugs have three flat rectangle pronged outlets, unique to the UK and Ireland, meaning that you will probably have to get adaptors.
• The market is privatized and there are six main utility companies (and several smaller ones).
• Combining gas and electricity accounts guarantees lower rates. You can use sites dedicated to compare rates, such as ukpower.co.uk
• Water is privatized in some areas of the UK and public in others. You will have to use your local water company. You can find your supplier here.
• Water in the UK is potable but still, most people still choose to filtrate. This is simply because hard water has a high number of dissolved minerals, specifically magnesium and calcium. This doesn’t bode well in the taste department, as any Londoner will tell you.

Internet and Cell Phones

Moving abroad while staying connected is one of the priorities of any expat. Know how to secure an internet provider and when to buy a SIM card.

How to Get a SIM card?

Phones in the UK use the GSM standard. If your cellphone is compatible with the GSM standard all you will have to do is switch your SIM card for a British one. Otherwise, you will have to get your phoneunlocked or purchase a new one in the UK. You can buy SIM cards in any shopping center.

Main Cell Phone Companies

• Carphone Warehouse
• O2
• T-Mobile
• Vodafone
• Orange

Once you’ve decided on a service provider, you will have to decide on either a contract or a pay-as-you-go deal. Remember, not all expats are entitled to get contracts as one has to provide proof ofemployment, proof of residence, and pass a basic credit check. Here’s a list of providers and what they are known for:

• Virgin Media Broadband: Speedy internet.
• Plusnet: Reliable.
• EE Broadband: Competitive packages.
• BT Broadband: Added extras.
• Sky Broadband: Consistent performance.

Watching TV in the UK

As for watching TV, there are several providers in the UK. Before deciding on a subscription, check their availability as some services are not countrywide. This can be done by checking the TV postcode.

If you miss your home country’s TV programs, you may want to use a VPN (virtual private network) service to stream shows from abroad. If you want to embrace the culture and watch UK Television, you will have to get a TV license.

You must have a UK TV License if you:

• watch or record programs on a TV, computer or other device as they’re broadcast
• download or watch BBC programmes on iPlayer – live, catch up or on demand

A TV License costs 154.50 GBP (200 USD) for both homes and businesses