So, our lease renewal came through the post the other day and it sparked a few thoughts about moving to see if I can beat the price increase by finding a private landlord in London. Like I said, I had thoughts but they’re gone now as I have signed the lease agreement for another year and sent it back again.

Moving around in London can be a very stressful experience to go through and one I’d try to avoid as much as possible. It’s first finding a place that is affordable as well as in a good area. Each borough in London have their good side and their bad side, some are actually not as bad as the press makes it out to be. Then it’s the deposit and the estate agent fee’s all over again with their supposedly credit check fees which I think is bogus but you’re at their mercy so you’ll just go with it. If that is not bad enough you will have to make sure you leave the place in a suitable condition and move into the new place and sort out all the bills while you are at it.

People living in house shares have got it a bit easier as you only pack your bags and you’re off to the next best thing you find on Gumtree. So all in all, moving around in London can be a mission but if you plan it right and you’re not on a super tight budget, then it is very do-able.

The Moving Check List:

• Save enough or get a backup plan for the deposit, tenancy admin fee and first 4-6 weeks of rent.
• Change your address with everyone’s who’s got your address such as your bank.
• Move out at least two days before you should be out so that you will have enough time to clean the place properly and not rush into the new place.
• Take meter readings for any dispute that may follow.
• Double check your tenancy agreement to make sure you have complied with everything you signed up for at the beginning or before you enter a new agreement.