Our Tips for Finding a Place to Live in England

You are Brit Bound! On your way to a new country, new city and new chapter in your life.

Enjoying relocating and settling into England can come down to your personal groundwork, research and understanding of the steps ahead. The ‘way things work’ in England will likely vary from your home country, so gear up and be prepared.

Money – Have your savings and bond available as the pace of securing a rental is fast. Expect to pay anywhere from 1 month to 6 months in advance. (£1800 -£3000 as a guide)

Location – Use the post code of your school to search within a commutable radius. Aim to walk/bike or bus to School, otherwise the underground Tube and train network is excellent if its within your budget. (Any distance under 1 hour door-to-door should be acceptable)

Housing – There’s a wide range of options depending on your situation. Make sure to use the filters on the various recommend online rental sites to limit your search. (Include type of home, budget per month, inclusion, number of rooms etc…)

Many teachers have used and recommend these useful sites:

  • SpareRoom – For Shared living – this website helps you find a room and a flatmate across England.
  • Rightmove – You can search for rentals across England and the filter helps with budget and distance.
  • Zoopla – A website to search and find a flat.
  • OpenRent – Another great website with many flats to rent.
  • Homes24.co.uk – A flat finding site connected to Zoopla.
  • Spotahome – A website that allows you to find, reserve and confirm online.
  • Portico – A modern website to find a flat to rent in London.

One of the most popular options is to book an Airbnb close to school so you can get familiar with your surroundings, transport links and amenities before locking in a more permanent rental agreement.

If you really want assistance, the best thing to do is work with local real estate agents by going into their offices and letting them know your circumstances and preferences, as they have the lay of the land and will be able to make additional recommendations.

#Tip

NEVER pay money in advance online without viewing a property. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
Have enough money to live in a temporary housing situation while you find your feet and sort out the best set up you can.

Get a move on – Move fast. If you find flat that you like and it ticks most of your boxes, get moving with a rental agreement and move in date. Properties don’t hang around, so decide and stick to it. You can expect to spend 2-8 weeks on the house hunt, so making a decision in a competitive market is really critical or you will miss out.

Don’t give up – You may not get the property that you really want and it’s likely you will have to go back to the drawing board if this happens. Network with fellow teachers, use Facebook community groups and put yourself out there. The right spot will be waiting for you.

Move to England with money in your savings. The most stressful situation you can find yourself in is running low on cash and not having found your home. Most teaching jobs pay monthly, and you will need to travel, eat and live. Be prepared and limit your stress in a new country so you get maximum enjoyment from your new lifestyle.