Best time to look for housing?

Hello,
I'm brand new here and making the big move to the UK in September when my job starts. I'm not sure when would be the best time to look for a place to live. I have two thoughts:

1. I'll be in Europe in June, so considered popping by then to start looking. However, I wouldn't yet have started my job and places may not yet be advertised for a Sept. move-in.

2. Move two weeks earlier than my job start date, likely around August 15. My visa would permit this, but I worry that two weeks may not be enough time to secure a place. I'm moving to a university town and students may be looking at the same time. But, I'm able to afford a higher rent than them, so maybe I won't have much competition.

I think the second option sounds better, but wondered if that was cutting it too short?

Thank you!

Z.A.

Hi Zen anew,

Firstly, welcome to UKY! this is a fantastic Resource/Community and you really will get alot of answers to any questions you have and post!

Do you mind mentioning which Uni town you'll be moving to? chances are a UKY regular poster lives nearby and can give you some specific advice.

Else, from the two scenarios you've put forward is to look online now, and speak to a couple of agents etc to clear the basics - things such as registering with them, working out any paperwork you may need for them, what kind of rental schemes they're on and if they're signed up to the various regulatory bodies (the deposit protection scheme) then also look in the area you're thinking of moving to and cross reference here and with the estate agents and anyone else you may know and of course on upmystreet website. By the time you pop over in June, you may have an idea of what's in your budget and can shortlist to see some places. If you can negotiate them holding it till you arrive if you find a great place all the better! If that doesn't happen, then when you get back 2 weeks before starting work, you'll know alot more and be better prepared than if you don't do anything and start from scratch at that time !

Cheers! DtM! West London & Slough UK!

looking in June could be a tad early for a September move, I'd say.  We started looking in late April last year and had a lease signed 2 weeks later so it's certainly doable in a short amount of time! (the house we rented had sitting tenants, though so we had to wait a few weeks to actually move in.)  Also, as a new arrival, it'll probably be easier to get a house/flat the closer you are to your job start date.

Personally, I'd choose option #2.

If it is a Uni town then I would say June wouldn't be too early to look for a September move. My daughter has already signed her lease for September 2010 in Durham.

If it is a Uni town then I would say June wouldn't be too early to look for a September move. My daughter has already signed her lease for September 2010 in Durham.

But she's a student, right?  Student lettings are a completely different world to the general rental market.

It is a different world, but then that's also good for the OP because he/she will not be competing with many students for housing. Most students will have already secured their 2009/10 housing by now and any that haven't will be looking for specifically student housing, not professional housing, so Zen_anew likely won't lose out on housing opportunities to students in August.

hiya

Student lettings and rentals are generally a separate sector of the local rental market. You tend to find 'certain' areas near to the university campus which seem to mostly be rented to students and you tend not to find too many normal lettings to worker types etc.

Of course, some of the usual worker, young family, younger professionals will choose to live in a studenty area for the fact it's more buzzing of an atmosphere etc. How they feel when said students come back at 3am on a worknight and make lots of noise is another matter!

(to the various families, professional workers and people who lived near me and my lot during university, I'm still so sorry for turning up my DJ mate's 1kW PA Sound system at 4am on a weekday night and causing the windows to rattle and putty to fall out in houses ACROSS the Street that night!  )

Cheers! DtM! West London & Slough UK!

Hi!

I moved to a Uni town (Cambridge) about 6 weeks ago and I found a flat and signed the lease with in 1 week.  Although I did have help from my employer..they hired an agency to help me search.  Will you have something like this?  If not, I still think 2 weeks is plenty of time, but it is still a bit stressful because your time is limited.

Stef

I usually start looking a month in advance.

Vicky

But she's a student, right?  Student lettings are a completely different world to the general rental market.

yup she is. You are right- wasn't thinking

Thank you for the helpful responses and the nice welcome. I'm feeling a little less daunted about moving now that I have this resource and people to talk to.

Don't know if I quite want to disclose the area (as yet), but it is in East England. I want to avoid the studenty area, but I may not be able to do so as I want to be in the town centre and close to the 'action': restaurants and life in general. Still, I don't want to deal with the drunken noise and blaring music late at night. Been there, done that. So, I guess my point is that I may actually be competing with students for housing although I initially said not as my budget is bigger and I do want to have a nice (modern) place. With a dryer, please!

So, it sounds like either option may work, but the latter (August) seems better. I have started to look on line and seen some places that appeal to me, but I was warned that UK property agents are not to be trusted so I hesistated about contacting them. My employer will help with temp. housing and I imagine assist with helping me find a place, so perhaps I`ll be okay.

I may go the route and contact agents as that may provide some peace of mind (or not!)

Thank you!

It's daft to say that letting agents can't be trusted.  Some are good, some are not.

If you are looking for a one bedroom flat then you won't be competing with students, who will be looking for shared housing.

Edited to add - if you are going to be in Norwich then you have lots of options, and lots of people on this board who can help.


Vicky

Don't know if I quite want to disclose the area (as yet), but it is in East England. I want to avoid the studenty area, but I may not be able to do so as I want to be in the town centre and close to the 'action': restaurants and life in general. Still, I don't want to deal with the drunken noise and blaring music late at night. Been there, done that. So, I guess my point is that I may actually be competing with students for housing although I initially said not as my budget is bigger and I do want to have a nice (modern) place. With a dryer, please!

So, it sounds like either option may work, but the latter (August) seems better. I have started to look on line and seen some places that appeal to me, but I was warned that UK property agents are not to be trusted so I hesistated about contacting them. My employer will help with temp. housing and I imagine assist with helping me find a place, so perhaps I`ll be okay.

my boyfriend and i just secured an apartment in cambridge for june last week after only a week of searching.  we worked with a property agent (there was actually no choice) and found the experience to be really helpful.  there was A LOT of competition for the flat we wanted...so much so that a bidding war broke out and another couple offered to pay more rent than the landlord was charging.  the agent we were working with liked us better and recommended the landlord go with us over the other couple, which was the only reason we ended up getting the place. 

unfortunately, i had to give up my dream of having a dryer.  not one apartment out of all the listings we viewed had one. 

The Cambridge area can be crazy.  We looked at a house after hours and when my dh went to put the application in at 9:30 the next morning it was gone.  Someone must have been waiting when the doors open.