Renting is difficult in the best of times, and with the onset of the Pandemic and the government’s restrictions, it’s become even trickier.
Last summer I was looking to move out in anticipation of starting university in September. With two other friends, I looked for housing in the private sector. Some of the websites I used to look were Spareroom, Zoopla, RightMove and PrimeLocation. When beginning my search, it was important to have a few key considerations in mind.
Firstly, what is your budget, and remember this must take account of the rent price, utilities, transport and food. Once these are accounted for you must have some disposable income (defined as the money left over after essentials are covered) otherwise you’ll be left struggling at the end of the month. Secondly, location matters. I needed to be close to uni, specifically the central line. Proximity to the right underground station or bus stop is very important. Thirdly, do you need the flat/house to be furnished or unfurnished (preferably the former since it saves you having to move your furniture in or buying anything). Finally, either through a virtual or physical tour, where permitted, make sure to see the property. Images can look different online and some websites may not have images or videos for every property listed. Visiting the flats weren’t always easy to get to and particular places were often disappointing in person.
In the end, this unexpected development prevented me from moving out. Due to the lockdown, one of my friends could not move to London. Sadly, this meant my other friend and I could not afford to live out with only two of us paying rent. Although we looked for cheaper two-bedroom places these are not necessarily easy to find, especially at short notice. In my situation, I was lucky to be able to live with my parents in London.
Zwan Mahmod
King’s Student Money Mentor
Part of Money & Housing Advice
Studying Modern History MA (PGT)
Need to speak to a Money Adviser? Call the Student Advice Line.
For more information on private sector housing, take a look at the following video workshops: Beginning your search, Viewing a Property, Signing a Contract 2020, Moving In!
The King’s Student Money Mentors blog shares our students’ personal experiences and thoughts on money-related topics. Any reference, opinions or recommendations on a particular company/brand are only the views of the student(s) who wrote the blog post. King’s College London, the Money & Housing Advice service and the Money Mentor project do not share the views in the blogs nor endorse any of the companies mentioned. Readers should conduct their own research before using any companies mentioned in our blog posts.