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The Red Guide to Renting in London

Are you new to renting in London? Finding looking for accommodation a bit daunting? Worried about getting ripped off? Don't know where to start? ...We can help!

Our highly experienced staff here at Red Residential have put together a FREE downloadable guide to renting in London! It is packed full of useful tips and helpful explanations to aid you in your property search, and should be essential reading for anyone new to renting in the city.

All you need to do is enter your email address below and we will send you your very own copy!

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Is Gumtree.com safe?

This is an important question that all flat searchers in London needs to ask. The short answer is "yes"... but you have to exercise a little caution.

Gumtree.com is arguably the best place to look for affordable rental accommodation in London. There are a huge number of properties advertised on the site from both agencies and from private landlords at all price levels and in all areas of the city. The problem is that due to it's success and popularity as the place to search for accommodation it has also attracted a good number of fraudsters who are basically looking to steal from unsuspecting flat hunters.

That is the bad news, the good news is that it is actually very easy to spot the criminals and to avoid getting ripped off. Just follow our Top 5 tips for staying safe on Gumtree below and you should be fine:

1. If the ad looks too good to be true... it probably is! Most of the ads posted by fraudsters offer very nice looking properties at very cheap prices. They use photos of very smart flats in great locations at bargain prices to lure you in. Always research other similar properties in the area. If the price looks ridiculous it is probably a scam.
2. You must always view a property before renting it. If you reply to an ad and the landlord responds asking for anything (money, documents etc.) before you actually see the place- walk away. You should be able to see a place without paying anything up front.
3. You must meet the landlord or agent in person. This seems to be a favourite ploy of the fraudsters- you email from the ad, they reply saying that they are overseas and just want to rent the flat quickly, but can't be there to show you. They say they want to be sure you can afford it, so ask for a bank statement or for you to pay something up front. This is a scam (also see rule 2)! You must meet the landlord or agent in person before renting anything.
4. Western Union & Money Gram are dodgy ways to pay. There is no reason why a landlord or agency should ask for payment by this method. You must meet the landlord or agent in person and you should be able to pay in cash, by cheque, by bank transfer or on card. 
5. Do some research and ask questions. If you are seeing a property with an agent or a private landlord you should ask questions about who they are, and the ownership of the property and make sure the answers add up. The internet is a great tool for checking out individuals and companies too! 

Gumtree themselves also have some very useful pages on staying safe here, and they are very keen for users to repost any suspicious activity. 

So if you follow these Top 5 tips you should have no problems staying safe on Gumtree and should have no problems finding your perfect place. 

We Love... Bayswater!

In this post we continue the Red Residential "We Love..." series and are going to cover one of our favourite areas of London- Bayswater W2.

Located just North of Hyde Park in the West of Central London, Bayswater is a very attractive, popular and cosmopolitan neighbourhood next to the other fashionable areas of Notting Hill and Marble Arch. Bayswater has a great mix of smart residential streets and excellent shopping areas, and of course direct access to the gorgeous Kensington Gardens.

Much of the housing in Bayswater is made up of smart and large white stucco fronted buildings, that are 4 or 5 stories high. These buildings are often split up into flats and many are arranged around very attractive garden squares such as this one below:

Queens Gardens, Bayswater W2

There are also a lot of hotels in the Bayswater area as it is a very popular place for tourists to base themselves when exploring London. This is because Bayswater is central, has good transport links to the rest of the city, and is a attractive and safe neighbourhood.

Most of the attractions, facilities, shops, cafe's, pubs and restaurants in Bayswater are found clustered around the street of Queensway and the area around Paddington Station. Queensway is a bustling thoroughfare with Kensington Gardens at one end, and boasts 2 tube stations (Queensway on the Central Line and Bayswater on the District Line), a huge variety of resturants, bars and cafe's and the large Whitleys shopping centre.

Queensway, Bayswater W2

The excellent transport links of Queensway are only beaten by Paddington Station which is one of London's main train stations. Here there are several tube lines, overland trains to the suburbs and beyond to the West of England and Wales, and the very useful Heathrow Express which is the fastest way to get to London's main airport. The station offers everything you would expect form a large terminus and there is a good choice of Hotels and restaurants etc. in the surrounding streets.

So, now for the famous Red Residential Top 5! Here, after a long and detailed survey, we choose our 5 favourite places and things in Bayswater!

1. Whiteleys- large shopping centre with everything you could need. There is a cinema, M&S, internet access, lots of cafe's and restaurants, lots and lots of shops and even a bowling alley. 
2. Kensington Gardens (Hyde Park)- one of the best parks in any city anywhere in the world! A wonderful place to relax and unwind at any time of the year. 
3. Some of the best restaurants in London- The Royal China and Mandarin Kitchen in Queensway (Chinese), Khans in Westbourne Grove (Indian), Helepi in Leinster Terrace (Greek), Satay House in Sale Place (Malaysian), Rodizio Rico in Westbourne Grove (Brazilian), Le Cafe Anglais in Whiteleys (French)... the list goes on...
4. Beautiful architecture- the grand white buildings of Bayswater are very smart, particularly when arranged around a well maintained garden square.
5. Great transport links- with tube stations at Queensway (Central Line), Bayswater (District & Circle Line), Paddington (District & Circle Line, Bakerloo Line, Hammersmith & City Line) the area must be one of the best connected in the whole of London. In addition there is overland services and the Heathrow Express form Paddington and a huge number of buses to every corner of the capital. 

Please feel free to make comments and add your own favourite things and places in Bayswater. Of course if you are looking for a place to rent in the area no better place to look than our website- www.redresidential.com

How is monthly rent calculated in London?

One of the questions we are most often asked when going about our business letting studio and 1 bed flats in Central London is " how is monthly rent calculated?", so in this post we will explain...

Rent in London is usually quoted as a price per week (pw) e.g. £200pw, and tenants are often surprised when they are informed that this does not equate to £800 per month. This is because there are not always 4 weeks in every month. Some months are 31 days long, others 30, 29 and even 28.

So to simplify things landlords charge rent per calendar month (pcm) which means that you pay the same amount every month regardless of the length of the month. This is calculated as follows:

weekly rent x 52 weeks = rent per annum (pa, or per year)

annual rent / 12 months = monthly rent 

So the monthly rent for the above example of £200pw is:

£200pw x 52 = £10,400pa 

£10,400 / 12 = £866pcm

We hope that this clears up some of your questions. Please feel free to comment or email us at mail@redresidential.com if you have any other queries.

We Love... Fulham!

Here at Red Residential we have a very long association with Fulham having worked and lived in the area for many years. So perhaps we are biased but we do love this leafy corner of West London, and we are blogging about it now as we have 2 excellent 2 double bedroom flats available in the heart of this smart area:

Bishops Road, Fulham SW6

2x 2 double bed flats £340pw (one with garden)

Fulham is very central and is in walking distance of Chelsea, Earls Court, Hammersmith and Putney and has good transport links with tube stations at Fulham Broadway, Parsons Green, Putney Bridge and West Brompton. There is a very wide range of accommodation in the area from large family houses to a good selection of flats and flat shares, and the prices are significantly lower than neighbouring areas such as Chelsea. 

There is a huge amount to do in Fulham, and here is the official Red Residential Top 5:

1. The Union Market- a farmers market right in the centre of Fulham Broadway! Gorgeous produce at not outrageous prices in the old tube station. There is a nice cafe too which does a good sausage sandwich too!
2. Chelsea Football Club- love them or hate them, no one can deny that having possibly the biggest football club in the world in the centre of the district gives the area a real buzz. If Chelsea win the whole area knows about it!
3. Pubs and Bars- Fulham has a huge number of places to get a drink including some of the best in London: The Harwood Arms- gained a Michelin star in 2010; The White Horse- the "Sloaney Pony" is the legendary hang out of London's original Sloane Rangers; The Rose- down a quiet backstreet and has a nice garden.
4. Parks: Fulham is very green: Parsons Green- very popular spot for summer sunbathing; Eel Brook Common- an oasis moments from Fulham Broadway; Bishops Park- beautiful park on the river with boating pond and it's own palace...; South Park- large park with lots of sporting facilities; Hurlingham Park- athletics, rugby and football venue.
5. Shopping- Fulham has it all! Smart antique shops on the New Kings Road, quirky independent shops on Fulham Road, high street stores in the Fulham Broadway Centre and the famous street market on North End Road.

We will be producing a more in depth guide to the area soon, but in the meantime please feel free to comment and add your own favourite places in Fulham.

Renting a studio in London- glossary of terms

Here at Red Residential the most of our tenants are new to London and renting in the city. We specialise in renting studio flats in West and Central London, and when it comes to renting a studio there is a whole new language that flat searchers need to learn.

We always try to guide prospective tenants through the process as smoothly as possible (please feel free to email us with any questions and check out our useful guide to lettings) so here are some definitions of the terms you will come across whilst looking for a studio flat on our website and on other flat listing websites:

• Flat (lets start at the beginning!)- apartment.
• Studio- a self contained room with a bed and an en-suite bathroom or shower room. Usually there will be a kitchenette in the room too unless it is specifically states that the kitchen is separate. 
• Single Studio- a studio with a single bed that is suitable for one person only. Usually there will be a single bed as the room isn't big enough for a double bed.
• Double Studio- a studio flat with a double bed and suitable for two people. Sometimes it is possible to change a double bed for two single beds. 
• Bedsit- a room with a bed and with some shared facilities. Often a bedsit will have its own kitchenette in the room and a shared bathroom.
• Single bedsit- a bedsit with a single bed and suitable for one person only.
• Double bedsit- a bedsit with a double bed and suitable for two people. 
• Kitchenette- a mini kitchen. Usually a kitchenette will include a fridge, an oven and/or a microwave, a sink, a hob and some storage space. Often kitchenettes in studio flats come equipped with plates, glasses, pots and pans etc.
• Shower room- a room with a shower and a toilet.
• Bathroom- a room with a bath and a toilet. Studio flats in London rarely have baths. 
• Fully furnished- all furniture is included in the flat.
• Part furnished- some furniture is included. 
• All bills included- this should mean that ALL bills are included but always check!
• Council Tax- this is a local tax that varies from area to area but is often around £50-100 per month. Council Tax payment is strictly enforced by local authorities but sometimes this bill is included in the rent. Full time students are exempt from paying Council Tax but have to provide documentation to the local authority to prove that they are studying. 
• TV Licence- if you have a TV, or even if you watch live TV on another device,  in the UK you have to have a TV licence which pays for the BBC and other services. This currently costs £145.50 per year and can be paid annually, quarterly, monthly and even weekly. Usually this bill is not included in the price of a flat even if a TV is provided.
• Tenancy Agreement or Contract- a legal contract or agreement between a tenant and a landlord. This sets out your rights and responsibilities, the rental price and the length of the tenancy.
• Deposit- A sum of money that is given to the landlord which is held as security for the duration of the tenancy. Legally it must be registered by the landlord in a Deposit Protection Scheme this ensures that it is returned to you in full at the end of the tenancy assuming that you have been paying the rent and there is no damage to the property. A deposit is usually 1 months or 6 weeks rent.

We hope that this helps demystify some of the ads you will come across and make your search quicker and easier. For more information on the renting process in London please check out our guide for tenants where there is a very helpful 10 step guide to walk you through the process. 

So now you are ready to start searching for a studio flat in London and the best place to start of course is the Red Residential studio flat listings! Browse through our current offerings and send us an email if you have any questions or to arrange some viewings.

Guide to renting in London

The Red Residential Guide to Renting in London

Most of our prospective tenants at Red Residential are from overseas or outside London, and finding a place to stay in such a big and bustling city can be a daunting prospect. To help you with your search we have put together this helpful 10 step guide to ease you through the process. If you have any questions or would like any more advice please feel free to contact us any time by email- mail@redresidential.com

1. Where do I start?

The best place to start looking for accommodation in London is on the internet. There are a huge number of lettings websites with lettings listings but below are some of the most popular and useful:

• Gumtree - very good for cheaper flats in all areas of London. Both agents and private landlords advertise on this site, but some criminals do too so be cautious! (Please read our Staying Safe section for more on this)
• Findaproperty - an agents only website for mid-range properties
• Primelocation - an agents only website for higher end properties in more central areas of town
• Rightmove - an agents only website for mid-range properties. Have more in less central areas of the city and outside London.
• Craigslist - very popular in the US but less so in the UK. Good for cheaper properties from both agents and private landlords, but also some scammers too. (Please read our Staying Safe section for more on this)
• Loot - can be good for some cheaper flats but most of what is here is on Gumtree too. 
• www.redresidential.com - don't forget to check us out too!

2. What areas should I consider?

London is a big city which means there is a huge range of property to rent, but with it's creaking transport system it can take a long time to get around and prices vary hugely from area to area. The things you need to consider when deciding where you want to live are:

• Budget! This is the most important consideration. We would all like to live in Mayfair but it isn't realistic for most people. Generally the more central the neighbourhood the more expensive it will be. Use the search facilities on the websites above to get an idea of average prices in each area. 
• Transport. Were do you need to get to? Are you expecting to work in Kensington? Are you going to School in Bayswater? Travel in London is generally quite slow and expensive so most people like to live as close to their work or school as they can afford to. 
• Space. How much space do you need? If you must have a garden and a spare bedroom then you will probably need to be looking further out. If you are happy with just the basics then you may be able to afford to live more centrally.

3. How can I view properties?

Contact the agents or the landlords through their on-line adverts, check if the property they are advertising is available, and if you can arrange a "viewing". You must always view any property you are interested in before agreeing to rent it (Please read our Staying Safe section for more on this).

The lettings market in London moves extremely quickly so sometime the property you enquire about will have gone already. Don't worry- if it is an agency you speak to they will probably have something similar to show you or they will take your details and call as soon as they do.

When you view a property ask the agent or landlord as many questions a possible such as:

• availability- when is it available?
• contract- what is the minimum contract?
• deposit- what kind of deposit dose the landlord require? Will it be held in the Tenancy Deposit Scheme?
• documentation & references- what does the landlord require?
• furniture & equipment- what exactly (if anything) is included?
• bills- what bills are you responsible for?
• neighbours- who are the neighbours (any noisy students, any noise sensitive families with babies, etc.)?
• neighbourhood- what is it like?
• etc...

4. I want that one! What do I do?

Once you have seen a property that you like, you have asked all the questions above and more, and you have decided to take it, you need to make an offer. Any price that you have seen a property advertised for is, in theory, negotiable however by how much depends on many factors. If the market is busy (e.g. in the Spring, Summer and Autumn months) then landlords are less likely to negotiate on the price than when the market is quiet in November and December. So you can try offering the landlord less than the asking price but they may well say no.

When you make your offer you also need to be absolutely clear about the following things too:

• contract - what contract length do you want?
• move in date - when do you want to start your contract and move in?
• furniture & equipment - what precisely is included? Will there be an inventory (record of the exact contents of the flat)?
• documentation- what exactly does the landlord require and when?

Once you have made your offer the landlord may agree immediately or may want to negotiate the price or terms.

5. How do I reserve a property?

Once a landlord has accepted an offer the property you will need to pay a holding deposit. This is usually 1 weeks rent and is not refundable. If you change your mind and decide not to take the property then you will loose it. 

Generally a property is not taken off the market until  a holding deposit is paid and in theory another tenant could take the property even if the landlord has accepted your offer. So a property is not reserved for you until the holding deposit is paid. Things to remember when paying a holding deposit:

• make sure you have agreed and are clear on exactly how long the flat will be held for you
• holding deposits are not refundable. If you change your mind and no longer want to rent the property the landlord will keep it.
• make sure you get a receipt from the landlord or agent, showing the property address, the amount you have paid, the date, the rent agreed, the move in date agreed and all the other details that you have agreed on. 

Your holding deposit is then subtracted from your first rent payment.

6. What do I need to provide to the landlord?

Once a holding deposit is paid you will then need to provide the documentation that you agreed on when you made your offer. This may include all or some of the following:

• reference from employer- a letter or email from your work confirming your employment with them. Sometimes landlords will ask them to confirm your salary too.
• reference from your current landlord- if you have been living in the UK.
• bank statements- the landlord may want to see 3 months of bank statements to check that you are being paid your wages and are not in debt.
• bank reference- some landlords ask for a letter from your bank confirming that you can afford the rent. 
• ID- all landlords will require photo identification to check that you are who you say you are!
• credit check- some landlords will require you to be credit checked to make sure that you are not in serious debt.

If you have just arrived in London it will be impossible for you to provide many of these items so make sure that you ask the landlord or agent what is required when you view the property. 

7. What do I sign?

Before the move in date ask to see a copy of the contract or Tenancy Agreement that you will be signing. Have a good look through it and check that the terms that you agreed when you made your offer are in there. If there is anything you are unsure or unhappy about speak to the agent or landlord immediately as this is a legally binding document and you must not sign anything you don't understand or aren't happy with. 

8. What and when do I need to pay?

This will be made clear to you when you negotiate your offer with the landlord/agent. Most landlords will ask for 1 month or 6 weeks rent as a deposit and the first months rent in advance. This will need to be paid before or at the time of signing the contract and checking in. If you are using an agent the landlord may ask you to pay the agent in advance then the agent will pay this to the landlord once the contract is signed. 

The deposit that you pay must be registered by the landlord or the agent in the Tenancy Deposit Scheme. This is a government run scheme that will deal with any disputes over the deposit when you tenancy comes to an end. As long as you have paid your rent throughout your tenancy and have not caused any damage to the property you should get your deposit back in full. 

Remember that when you pay your deposit and first months rent the landlord will require "cleared funds" before you can move in . Some transfers, especially from abroad, can take several days to clear so make sure that they are cleared in the landlords or agents account by the time you sign the contract. 

9. When do I get the keys?!

On the day that you have agreed to start your contract you will meet with the landlord and/or the agent to sign the contract and check in. Your references will have been checked and your money will have cleared. The landlord or agent may carry out an inventory of the property making a note of the contents and condition, but this will have been agreed when you make your offer. 

That's it- you will now be able to enjoy your new property!

10. How do I pay my rent?

This will be agreed when you check in but generally it will be monthly and you will pay by standing order from your bank account directly to the landlord or to the agency. 

What happens if I have any maintenance problems?

Call your landlord or agency. You will have discussed this when you make your offer and it should be clear in your contract who is responsible. 

Staying Safe

Renting in London is usually a safe business however there are criminals operating that will try and take advantage of a few unlucky people. To stay safe when looking for a rental property in London follow these points:

•  you must always view any property before you pay any money at all
• never pay any money at all to view a property or to reserve it before you have seen it
• never pay any money at all to someone you haven't met
• satisfy yourself that the person showing you has the right to rent this property to you. Are they an agent or the landlord- if so prove it 
• ask as many questions as you can about the property and the individual showing it to you
• ask for receipts for everything that you pay (holding deposit, deposit, rent etc.)
• use your common sense. If it sounds too good to be true- it is!

Check out our website for all our latest properties- www.redresidential.com or send us an email- mail@redresidential.com