Renting a home Finding a property to rent
The internet is a good place to start your property search
Before you start your search it’s important to think through some key questions.
For example, think about how much room you actually need versus how much you 'would like to have’.
This is especially the case if you want to get onto the property ladder in the future – if you can rent a room rather than a whole property, all your bills may be included and your rental costs could be half that of a full property. The money you save could then be put to one side to build your deposit.
Your property search criteria
Consider where you want to live. How important is it for you to get to work/college on foot? Do you need to be near public transport and, if you are travelling first thing in the morning or late at night, is the area safe and well lit?
If you have a car, a parking space could be vital. This kind of detail is important to know before you start to look for a home.
The letting market
Consider how busy the rental property market is. For example, are the local letting agents desperate for tenants to fill their landlord's properties, or do they have too many tenants and not enough properties to let?
If you can find a good area that has lots of property to rent, it means you can take your time choosing the right property and probably offer to rent at less than the advertised price.
If the local tenant demand is high, it's important to make sure you always turn up on time for viewings and have references and reservation fees ready. You could even have your own credit report ready to show prospective landlords/letting agents that you are well-organised and can afford the property.
Letting websites
There are various websites you can use to search online. Some are specific to renting whole properties, such as Rightmove.co.uk and Findaproperty.com, while others are more likely to concentrate on letting rooms, such as Spareroom.co.uk and Gumtree.com.
One problem with looking online is that, when demand is high and rooms or properties are moving quickly, many may not even reach the internet because they're let before the agents have had time to advertise. For this reason, it's important to also check:
- local letting agents
- any accommodation agencies, especially if you are a student, nurse or work for a large company that helps people find homes/rooms for rent
- local newspapers and specialist publications such as Hot Property, Loot and Daltons Weekly
- advertisements in local supermarkets or post offices/newsagents
- noticeboards at work/college/university.
If you receive state benefits and are struggling to afford a home yourself, you may be able to receive help from your local authority or housing association. Visit or phone your local authority for more information.
For more advice, see our book Renting & Letting which contains everything you need to know to navigate the rental market.
