Comments on: how do I find a cheap place in london quickly?

Question: how do I find a cheap place in london quickly?

krautland — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 15:27:00 -0800

how do I find a cheap place in london quickly?

I touched down in london last friday and got myself scammed. (the person who should have put me up did not but kept the money. my fault but there's nothing I can do about it now.)

so, being suddenly tighter with money than expected, I found myself a hostel while doing job interviews. I'm trying to find a decent flatshare somewhere in the northern part of the city that doesn't require me to put down a massive deposit at once (I can swing a month's rent of up to 400 GBP but that's about it right now) but obviously that's kind of tough. I've been through gumtree and up and down craigslist.

hivemind, do you know where I could find a room in london? even a temporary place is okay, so please do share those resourses as well.

(btw: I'll be working a lot in the shoreditch area...)

By: krautland

krautland — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 15:38:37 -0800

also: I'm considering accommodationlondon.net ... anyone know if they are legit?

By: luciaisdada

lucia__is__dada — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 15:59:27 -0800

Try Easyroommate (or google flasthare london for similar services). Loads of rooms on your price range but I guess their availability will depend on how long you're willing to stay. I've used it before but it was kind of hard to find one in the area I wanted for only a couple of months - which was all I needed. I'm guessing your requirements are a bit looser than mine were given the situation you're in...

By: patricio

patricio — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 16:26:02 -0800

you could try the accommodation offered board at www.rollonfriday.com if you don't mind sharing with a lawyer!

By: kanuck

kanuck — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 17:25:33 -0800

I've used accommodationlondon.net and had a middling experience; be aware they will typically want the full amount for your stay on arrival, no refunds partial or otherwise. The rooms/houses were mediocre and probably not a place you want to stay more than a few days to a week -- mid-range hostel level. Their checkin/out process is pretty efficient, cleanliness about what you'd expect for a place that turns over every few days. The kitchen is typically a mess, but individual rooms are OK, shower/toilet facilities are pretty junky if you're used to American plumbing. Since you're in London already, definitely ask to take a look at what you'd get before signing up.

By: randomstriker

randomstriker — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 20:33:45 -0800

surprised that no-one has mentioned Loot.com

By: sagwalla

sagwalla — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 01:20:06 -0800

MoveFlat

By: tallus

tallus — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 01:54:20 -0800

I have a page on my personal wiki that has lots of info on finding housing in London. It includes links to many sites that people on various London based forums recommended (and that I used) as well as links to information on the legal situation. There's a South London bias on it, because thats where I live, but the sites will be good for North London as well.

By: wayward vagabond

wayward vagabond — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 03:19:44 -0800

gumtree.com

more flatshares than you can shake a stick at (mostly with working holidaymakers from Oz and NZ)

By: wayward vagabond

wayward vagabond — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 03:20:50 -0800

oops, missed that you'd already checked that one - ignore!!

By: bifter

bifter — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 04:40:40 -0800

Best way to do it always used to be to get a copy of Loot early in the morning, and a wad of cash for deposit. Ring round and visit places that seem suitable, and if it hits the spot, put the deposit down straight away (good places go fast in london). I think you'll struggle to get somewhere that doesn't require two months rent in advance though (1 month deposit, 1 month rent).

By: krautland

krautland — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 06:21:41 -0800

yeah, just to drive the point home once more: I can't put down a month's deposit. no can do right now.

By: genghis

genghis — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 15:31:26 -0800

You're screwed, then.

This hostel is very cheap and very central. Stay there and save up for a deposit, or go home now and cut your losses. You are very unlikely to find any other options barring if you can't stay on someone's couch for a month.

I assume you've reported the crime to the local fuzz. You get no points of any kind if you haven't.

By: tallus

tallus — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 16:29:40 -0800

No deposit makes a lot of difference and sadly Genghis probably has it right. Squatting might be an option in your situation -- its legal in the UK, doesn't cost anything, and is one of the few ways you have of putting a roof over your head when all else fails and you are not entitled to other help. You can give the Advisory Service for Squatters (www.squatter.org.uk) a ring:
office hours are 2-6 Monday to Friday, as usual. Please ring first.
Phone:- 020 3216 0099 ( or 0845 644 5814 land lines outside of London )

The ASS don't keep empties list, and you will need someone else to squat with but they may be able to put you in contact with local groups who can provide these things and/or other possible options. I'm out of touch with the London squatting scene now, but I squatted for years. Feel free to Mefi Mail me with any questions. It might not be for you, but its certainly worth considering.

By: krautland

krautland — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 07:53:56 -0800

okay, I set everything based on your advise in motion and found enough to cover one month's rent and a similar deposit. phew.

I am getting a lot of requests through easyroommate from people to first send my scanned id and make a payment to "show I can pay the rent" before even seeing the place. when prompted, these people insist it's the law and they cannot let me see the place without doing this first. I assume those are scammers, right? (if so -- I found a bunch of them)

By: krautland

krautland — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 07:54:58 -0800

I assume you've reported the crime to the local fuzz. You get no points of any kind if you haven't.

yeah. and boy, did they care. I have few hoped the douchenozzle is gonna get caught.

By: krautland

krautland — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 11:56:37 -0800

for the record: easy roommate is filled to the brim with nigerian scammers trying to get you to western-union money to them. very weird. moveflat seems to be solid.

By: tallus

tallus — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 15:00:44 -0800

Actually it's illegal in the UK to demand up front payment for finding or renting rooms.

Comments on: how do I find a cheap place in london quickly?

Question: how do I find a cheap place in london quickly?

By: krautland

By: lucia__is__dada

By: patricio

By: kanuck

By: randomstriker

By: sagwalla

By: tallus

By: wayward vagabond

By: wayward vagabond

By: bifter

By: krautland

By: genghis

By: tallus

By: krautland

By: krautland

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By: luciaisdada