London flat

I'm working on getting a job in London and moving over with the wife. We just want to do it for a few years before coming back to the states and starting a family (doing lots of traveling while we're over there). I'm aware of the council taxes and I've been looking at flat rental sites and Craigslist for a while. Take this listing for example:

http://london.craigslist.co.uk/apa/2513644528.html

It seems like a good deal - central London, close to a major train/tube stop, furnished, and relatively cheap. Am I missing something? I feel like I should be suspicious of it.

Also, when ads like that say "Rent includes all bills" - is that all utilities plus the council tax? Or is the council tax extra? Basically, would that 150 pounds/week be the out-the-door cost (which would be 650 pounds/month, right?)?

Thanks guys! I've been reading a lot of posts and I'm sure I'll have more questions if the current job offer goes though. Great site!

That sounds like a scam to me.

I'm all too familiar with craigslist/gumtree scams and that is one I'm afraid!

If it says all bills included it should include council tax unless specified. Yeah... That flat sounds too good to be true... Unless it's not actually by kings cross. I have seen ads where they list it in paddington and its actually in southall I know someone who lives in surrey quay and she pays that much for a one bedroom without bills and she got a really good deal... If that room was a flatshare maybe I could believe it but definitely not a whole flat... No way.

Most of the people I have ever dealt with let a phone number to contact them.

I think it's a scam. Though the advert says studio, it looks like there's a separate bedroom/sleeping area and if it is indeed separate, there's no way the flat would rent for £150 per week.

If you decide to take a chance please d not send any money in advance without viewing the flat first and signing a contract.

If you decide to take a chance please d not send any money in advance without viewing the flat first and signing a contract.

This!

If it sounds too good to be true......  King's Cross while still a bit shabby, is in Central London and is going through some rejuvenation.  £650/month for a studio in Central London with all bills included just isn't reasonable.  In that area, £220-250/week or £975-1085/month for a studio is the very least you would pay with bills on top of that.

I kind of figured something seemed off. How do scams like this usually work? Are they hoping I'll send money or give away personal information without viewing it first? I mean, it's not like a lemon car they can sell and walk away... I need to give them money every month and obviously see everything when I move it.

Just curious.

They communicate with you for a while and then tell you they can't let you see it because the owner lives out of town but you should send a deposit to them to secure it.

That is cheaper than a studio in Cambridge by about 100/per month.

I kind of figured something seemed off. How do scams like this usually work? Are they hoping I'll send money or give away personal information without viewing it first? I mean, it's not like a lemon car they can sell and walk away... I need to give them money every month and obviously see everything when I move it.

Just curious.

Well the thing is, it doesn't get to the point where you will be moved in and paying rent. Usually the pictures you see are of some random place that's nice but is not theirs. Sometimes, they're just copied and pasted from an estate agency website. So they ask you to wire them some money and you never hear from them again.

Well the thing is, it doesn't get to the point where you will be moved in and paying rent. Usually the pictures you see are of some random place that's nice but is not theirs. Sometimes, they're just copied and pasted from an estate agency website. So they ask you to wire them some money and you never hear from them again.

That makes sense. I just assumed no body would be dumb enough to send money without checking it out first, so I guess I was over thinking it.

Can anyone recommend a good site/agency to go through for looking for a London flat? I've just been randomly searching through all that I've found so far.

Estate agents are very neighborhood specific so you need to know where want to live. 

Here are some property websites:

http://www.primelocation.com/

http://www.rightmove.co.uk/

http://www.findaproperty.com/

Not everything on gumtree or craigslist will be a scam, you just have to watch out.