8 Top Tips for Finding a House Share in London

Moving to a big new city can be a daunting prospect, especially if you’re on your own. London especially can be a intimidating place due to its sheer size and general fast pace of life.

You’ll find everybody is full of moving to London advice all of a sudden and if you haven’t even visited before it’s difficult to know who to listen to!

One advantage that the size of London does give you is a wide choice of places to live. If you’re looking to find a flatmate in London then you won’t be short of options.

Here are some tips on how to find a flatmate in London.

Dedicate Plenty of Time to Finding Flatmates

If you’re only going to follow one piece of advice, make this it. This is going to be your haven, your safe space, the place you you come back to to relax after a hard day’s work. It is literally a massive deal, treat it as such.

Clear ample time in your diary for the search and relentlessly pursue perfection.

Make a List of Your Needs

In fact, make a few lists. Start with your primary list, the list of things that you must have both in accommodation and with regards to flatmates. Then make a secondary list, a tertiary list and so on.

Never compromise on your primary list. This is a list of things that ensure your day to day life is happy.

However, be prepared to compromise on something in the end. Ensure your compromises just come from the less important lists.

Use the Internet

It goes without saying in modern day life. The internet and its search engines are chock-a-block full of advertisements for house sharing. A great deal of these are well worth considering, some really and quite obviously aren’t. Some are posted by genuine people, others are posted by downright weirdos, the same as anything you find on-line.

Actual flat share websites exist and these can often be the best way to find a flatmate in London. However, it’s also difficult to know at first glance which ones of these to use too.

One of the best ones seems to be spareroom.co.uk. It’s easy to use, very popular and has a five star rating on Trustpilot. People renting out rooms and looking for rooms are vetted by real people to give you maximum peace of mind.

Consider Large House Shares

It’s a simple fact, the bigger the house, the more people sharing, the cheaper the rent and the other bills. If you’re new to the city then this can also be a great way to make new friends, find people to go to the pub or the gym with, or just people to watch telly with in the evenings.

It’s a simple fact, the bigger the house, the more people sharing, the cheaper the rent and the other bills. If you’re new to the city then this can also be a great way to make new friends, find people to go to the pub or the gym with, or just people to watch telly with in the evenings.

Remember to meet all of the people before you move in. Make sure you’re compatible ahead of time. Your final choice for group accommodation in London may be a bit too small, it may be overpriced and further away from your job than you would have liked, but if you live with what turn out to be a group of friends, you won’t care!

Be Prepared for An Interview

In the UK you will often be interviewed by the existing flatmates who will ask a range of questions that might even make your most awkward job interview seem comfortable.

Answer them as naturally as possible and ensure you have a list of questions to throw back at them.

Go Alone

Your potential flatmates want to meet you, not your boyfriend/girlfriend/best mates. Bringing along what you consider to be support may look like neediness to potential flatmates. It may also look like you’re intending to move these people into the single bed understairs cupboard that’s on offer.

With that said, stay safe. Tell someone where and when you are going to an interview. If anyone is available ask them to wait outside for you.

Be Quick

There is a lot of accommodation on offer in London but competition is fierce for the best rooms. You may be up against literally hundreds of applicants. If you like a room say so immediately. There are no points in this game for playing it cool. Any kind of delay could cost you your dream accommodation.

Prepare to be Rejected

At the interview you were as witty and charming as you’ve ever been in your life. You had your potential flatmates in stitches with your work anecdotes but still you’ve got an email rejecting your application.

Don’t take it personally, just crack on with the next one, your perfect room is just around the corner.