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For short-term accommodation there are backpacker hostels, bed and breakfasts, hotels and friends' couches. These will be expensive (except for the couch) and not suitable for long periods of time. The Internet is a good tool for accessing this type of accommodation. Some useful websites are detailed below:
www.gumtree.com
www.TNTmagazine.com
www.timeout.co.uk
www.welcomehomes.co.uk
www.yha.org.uk
Finding more permanent accommodation will depend on what your budget is and where in the country you want to live. London is more expensive than the rest of the country but generally the nearer you live to the cities the more expensive accommodation becomes.
You will be able to choose from a wide range of agents and companies who can help with renting and/or buying a property. Renting a flat before you arrive is not recommended so it may be necessary to book into temporary accommodation for a couple of days to find your feet and take it from there. Rented accommodation is very common. Apartments, flats, studios and houses of different descriptions are available countrywide either for an individual or shared occupancy.
A 3 bed flat in London could cost up to £1000+ a month although it does depend where you live. In rental situations, it is customary that credit checks and references are carried out before a tenancy agreement is signed. Once you are successful, the initial rental period will be for approximately 6 months and then it is extended if needs be. On signing this agreement, a deposit will be necessary which usually comprises of 4-6 weeks rent. This deposit is refundable on leaving the property and used by landlords to safeguard the property against damages and breakages. A month's rent in advance is also standard procedure. This is an expensive process so you must ensure that you have enough money to cover your initial costs. Additional to this, you will have household bills. These will include council tax, gas, electricity, water and telephone accounts. When sharing a property, the bills will be shared by each tenant and this will keep your expenses down.