Rent/flat share in London?
Rent/flat share in London?
Author
Discussion

salsoul

Original Poster:

184 posts

251 months

Monday 26th January 2009
quotequote all
Hi guys,

I am currently looking for work and was sent details of a contract role in London today. The role is short term, 8-10 weeks, but it's working for a company who anybody would like on their CV so I really want to make it happen.

The problem I have is that I am based in South Yorkshire so I need to find somewhere to rent/share on a short term contract Monday-Friday. I have been looking on rentaroom.co.uk and rightmove but the vast majority of apartments and flat shares are 6+ month minimum terms which is no good to me. Is it possible to rent a place on a shorter term contract than 6 months, has anybody done the flat sharing thing before and are there any other alternatives?

Skipppy

1,136 posts

239 months

Monday 26th January 2009
quotequote all
Gumtree? You may be sharing with a gass mask wearing granny though!

okgo

42,078 posts

227 months

Monday 26th January 2009
quotequote all
salsoul said:
Hi guys,

I am currently looking for work and was sent details of a contract role in London today. The role is short term, 8-10 weeks, but it's working for a company who anybody would like on their CV so I really want to make it happen.

The problem I have is that I am based in South Yorkshire so I need to find somewhere to rent/share on a short term contract Monday-Friday. I have been looking on rentaroom.co.uk and rightmove but the vast majority of apartments and flat shares are 6+ month minimum terms which is no good to me. Is it possible to rent a place on a shorter term contract than 6 months, has anybody done the flat sharing thing before and are there any other alternatives?
You can contact agencies, they do shortlets. They are quite pricey but work out less than a hotel.

Neil_H

15,418 posts

280 months

Monday 26th January 2009
quotequote all
Have a look at Gumtree or one of the other classified sites, I reckon you'll have more luck finding a casual short-term arrangement on there. Lets through agencies etc will be minimum 6 months contracts usually.

Vee

3,109 posts

263 months

Monday 26th January 2009
quotequote all
Look at the value hotels - Travellodge for example.
If you book far enough in advance then it can be pretty cheap.
One of the guys working for me used to do this.

Mobile Chicane

21,983 posts

241 months

Monday 26th January 2009
quotequote all
Presuming you get the job, sent an email to the HR department of the company concerned asking them to post an 'accommodation wanted' ad on the company intranet, or send round an email to staff. Somebody might be prepared to put you up Monday - Friday.




Johnny

9,652 posts

313 months

Monday 26th January 2009
quotequote all
I have a large double room going at the moment... PM me if you want more info.

Cheers,

Johnny wavey

Welshbeef

49,633 posts

227 months

Monday 26th January 2009
quotequote all
First things first.

Find out what the hotel would charge you for the term you need they will give you a discount & it includes breckie - although clearly you have no kitchen so would have to arrange lunch & dinner which will add up but you'd never go to Tesco.

Next find out what the cost of a 6 month let is - this will probably be cheaper than the hotel even though its for a far longer period (you could always leave it empty for the remainder).

Next look on gumtree/flatshare etc as you will now have a price range from the 2 steps above. The Gumtree should be even cheaper but clearly you'll be sharing and that can be problematic - or could be great.

Next short term lets... these are going to be more than 6 months lets so do the maths how much will it really cost you vs the other.

Its all basically a find out the total cost of each option and there you go.

Remember to factor in council tax, water rates, landline, gas, electric & contents insurance for non hotels and with the hotel you need to factor in the additional home trips.

Failing all that see if any family member (even distant family member) lives in a commutable distance.