Flatsharing where References required

OK so it getting down to it, 4 weeks to go before I head to London, so in a couple of weeks I am going to start emailing potential flatshares. I have noticed some of the ads say "references required".

How do references work for flatshares?

What would be considered a good reference?

Is a reference letter from my manager, or HR enough?

Since obviously I know no one in the UK, should I get references from apartments that I have lived in here in the States?

When I searched for roommates and wanted references, I was mainly looking to talk with people who had lived with the person...the main things I wanted to know were things like: did they pay rent on time, were they messy, did they come home drunk and mess up the house, did they have any annoying habits...basically, were they decent to live with, and were they responsible with rent (so I wouldn't have to pick up the slack for them if they skipped out on rent).

If you don't have anyone that fits that description (i.e. you've lived alone for a long time), I would recommend using a manager as a reference, as they can attest to similar things..you show up for work regularly, you haven't wandered in drunk, etc.

Good luck!

Usually references for a flat are from your most recent landlord and/or your bank and/or your boss. This is to show what sort of renter you are and that you have the money you say you have. It can be quite simple, e.g. 'chadwyckp has always been prompt with his rental payments and kept his apartment to the standard required,' and 'chadwyckp earns a sufficient salary to cover the rent of £x a month.'

Thanks all, I have lived by myself since college, only my folks could testify as to my roomie habits since I have been crashing there in preparation for my UK departure these last couple months since my last apartment lease ended. 

I guess a letter from my manager in the UK, and my last apartment in the states is about the best I can do as far as references.

I guess a letter from my manager in the UK, and my last apartment in the states is about the best I can do as far as references.

I think that's fine...when we first rented our current house here our references consisted of a letter from our previous landlord, my latest payslip, and a letter from my husband's employer stating what salary he made. No problems whatsoever