Renting in the UK

I have read alot about renting in the UK but haven't really found out what to expect size wise. Are the homes and flats very small. This is going to sound crazy but I watch changing rooms often is that about the average home or flat to live in or have they taken the best of the best for the show and put those on tv. With never having gone to England I really don't know what to expect.    

                                                      Thanks
                                                       Cad

We were looking for a 3 bedroom house and many of the ones we looked at were pretty small, especially compared to the average US suburban house.  The house we found is a bit larger than the averageUK home, I think.  We love it, though, and found it in only a couple of days of looking with at rental agent.  We used Townends and were pleased with them.  Walk down the High Street of the town/village where you'll be living and you'll find lots of estate agents and rental agents.  Best to plan on spending a few days looking, I think.

Stephanie

It really depends on where you are in the UK.

Here in London, yes I'd say most homes are smaller than you would expect.  There's a serious lack of closet and cupboard space in most flats that I've been in and looked at.  

The problem is price.  Rents are amazingly high.  And places are generally measured by rooms....not footage.  What they get away with calling a bedroom here is amazing.  We looked at one place that boasted of three bedrooms but I know we would have had trouble fitting even a single bed in the room.

That is, of course, unless you are pretty wealthy....I expect there are some very nice, larger than average homes even here in London if you can afford it.

We have been using the web site rightmove.uk.co to get an idea of rentals in areas in which we are looking into. Is this generally a good site to use and are there always so many rental homes available. Can anyone give advice as to any other sites to look into as well.                   Thanks

www.findaproperty.com is also a good site.  You can pinpoint specific areas, and it often has areas information.  

Stephanie

My wife has an appointment with Foxtons tomorrow to go look at flats. They told her most places come furnished, and that because we have cats these furnished places require 8 weeks deposit instead of 6.

Does this sound accurate? Why do most places come furnished?

Yes, the deposit of 8 weeks with pets is standard (at least it is where I am located).  Are you looking in London?  Then yes, most places are furnished because its what the market demands.  Flats can be tricky to move furniture into so once furniture is in, it's easier to leave it.

Hi there.

Another good site is Zoopla.  The estate agents here always work for the landlord, so they aren't going to be much help finding somewhere unless you want to see one of their places.  I found my place on Zoopla and if I remember correctly it also shows you what the place has been let or listed for in the past.

Good luck!