Moving to London? What to know before renting your first home

Look beyond the rent price: check what's actually inside the flat

One of the first surprises for many newcomers is that two apartments listed at the same monthly rent can offer completely different experiences. One might come fully furnished, with a bed, sofa, kitchen basics and bedding already in place. The other might be four empty walls and a shopping list, and you won't always know which you're getting until you ask directly.

Before signing, make sure the furniture shown in the listing is actually included. Photos can sometimes show staged interiors, or furniture belonging to a previous tenant that won't be there when you move in.

Questions to ask before you sign

Is the flat furnished, or will you need to buy everything yourself? Could you realistically move in and function from day one, or will it take a few weeks before the place feels liveable?

For anyone arriving with a couple of suitcases and not much else, renting a fully furnished apartment, even for the first three or six months, can make a real difference. It means those first few weeks can be spent settling into London rather than assembling flat-pack furniture and waiting for a broadband engineer.

The rent is only part of the cost of living in London

It's natural to focus on the headline rent when comparing properties, but that figure rarely tells the whole story. On top of rent, budget for a security deposit (usually up to five weeks' rent), plus electricity, water, heating and internet. Transport adds up too. And don't forget the TV Licence.

Council Tax can catch newcomers off guard

Every property sits in a specific Council Tax band, and what's owed depends on the borough. It's worth double-checking, as it's rarely obvious from the listing itself. Full-time students are usually exempt, and if everyone in the property is a full-time student, the household is exempt from Council Tax.

Before committing to a property, ask the landlord or agent for a realistic picture of the monthly costs, rather than looking at the rent alone. It takes five minutes to ask, but it can save an unpleasant surprise later, particularly in older buildings where an ageing heating system can quietly push winter bills beyond what you expected.

Understand how the UK guarantor system works

This is usually where things get stuck for international renters. Landlords and letting agents may ask for a UK-based guarantor: someone living in the UK with a stable income who can cover the rent if payments are missed. If you're arriving from abroad, you can have more than enough money to afford the property and still have no one who meets that requirement.

There are a few ways around it. Some renters pay several months' rent upfront, while others use a paid guarantor service. Some providers, including Student Luxe, don't require a UK guarantor for serviced apartments in London.

Whichever route you take, it's better to understand the requirements early. Finding a flat you love only to discover that the application can't move forward because you don't have a guarantor is frustrating and, by that point, easily avoidable.

Choose a neighbourhood that fits your lifestyle, not just your commute

London is enormous, and where you live shapes everyday life more than you might expect. Marylebone and Mayfair are the obvious picks if being central matters to you; shops and restaurants right outside, though you'll pay for the privilege. South Kensington and Bloomsbury are popular with students, while Canary Wharf is a natural choice for those working in finance. Battersea and Nine Elms are newer areas that offer good transport connections and, in some cases, more space for your money. King's Cross and Stratford can also work well if easy connections across London are a priority.

But don't just look at the map. Think about the ordinary details too: how long the commute really takes once changing lines is factored in, whether there's a supermarket nearby, and whether you'll feel comfortable walking home after dark.

Sometimes living ten minutes further out can mean a noticeably bigger flat without making much difference to your day-to-day routine.

Make sure the tenancy fits your plans

Rental arrangements in London vary depending on the type of accommodation you choose. Standard private rentals in England are now generally rolling rather than fixed-term, following changes introduced in May 2026, while serviced apartments and student accommodation may operate under different arrangements.

Think about how long you'll actually need the place, whether your plans might shift, and how much notice you'd need to give if they do. For anyone on an exchange programme, internship or temporary work assignment, choosing accommodation that matches your actual plans can save a lot of hassle later.

Find out what happens after you move in

Finding a flat is only half the job. Once you're actually living there, it matters who you can call when something breaks, how maintenance requests are handled and how quickly problems tend to be resolved.

None of it seems important while you're scrolling listings comparing photos. It becomes very important the first time the boiler dies in January and you can't get hold of anyone.

Response times can vary significantly between landlords, and knowing who to contact isn't always straightforward. Sometimes it's the letting agency, sometimes the landlord directly, and sometimes responsibility depends on what's actually broken.

One way to avoid this uncertainty, particularly during your first few months in a new city, is to choose a provider that manages the property and maintenance directly.

Watch out for rental scams

Rental scams are, unfortunately, part of the London rental market, and international renters can be particularly vulnerable when they can't view a property in person. If you're arranging everything from abroad, take a little extra time to check who you're dealing with before sending any money.

Ask to see the property on a live video call, check that the landlord or agency is legitimate, and be wary of listings that seem unusually cheap or come with pressure to decide quickly. If something doesn't feel right, don't be afraid to step back and check.

One last thing worth saying: none of this is as complicated as it feels in week one. Most people who've been through it end up wondering, a few months later, what they were so stressed about.

If you're unsure where to start, Student Luxe offers free, no-obligation consultations to help expats find fully furnished, all-inclusive apartments in London and across the UK, the USA and Europe. Bills, amenities and hotel-style services are included, and there's a single point of contact throughout the process and during your stay.