Flat sharing in London

Looking to share a flat in London?

More so than most other UK cities, a significant proportion of properties to rent in London involve sharing with others.

Fortunately, this abundance of options not only gives groups of prospective tenants looking for a flat share together the ability to shop around for a place that suits their location needs and budget, but it also means that individuals moving to the capital and looking to either save money or expand their social circle – or both – can choose to be more picky over who they live with.

As with property-hunting in London in general, the internet has emerged as the best place to find a flat share.

Sites such as Gumtree and, to a lesser extent, Craigslist, not only give details of a property's dimensions and all relevant money matters, but often also provide details on who a prospective tenant would be sharing with.

At the same time, traditional letting agencies, most of which are also normal estate agents – for example Winkworth and, at the bottom end of the market Black Katz – can also hook a single renter up with a flat share, though administration fees usually apply.

However, while there is a lot of supply, demand levels are also high, meaning the best flatshares are often snapped up within hours of being posted online.

Benefits of a flat share

Quite simply, the major driving force behind the abundance of flat shares in London is money.

Renting a one-bedroom flat, even between two, can take up a considerable proportion of an average monthly wage, while taking sole responsibility for a property's council tax or utilities bills can also be highly draining.

As such, opting to share can save a renter hundreds of pounds a month and offer them the opportunity to live in a more desirable location for the same price that they would be paying were they living out in Zone 6 on their own.

At the same time, flat shares also offer significant social benefits, either allowing young professionals to live with their friends or enabling them to meet new people and expand their circle of acquaintances.

Indeed, moving into a shared property can usually give renters the chance to meet people from different lines or work and, just as often as not, from other countries.


Choosing the right flat mate


While there are social advantages to living with other people, there can be a downside, particularly if flat mates do not get along.

As such, it is vital to take a considered approach when choosing who to live with, though fortunately, the usual system of flat sharing in London means most people won’t go into a new flat completely blind.

For existing tenants looking to fill a room, a number of prospective flat mates are usually shown round while simultaneously being subjected to an informal vetting process or interview, thereby giving an insight into their personality, interests and, just as importantly, financial reliability.

This works two ways, with would-be tenants allowed to make a more informed choices over who they live with.

Meanwhile, speed-dating-style events for prospective flat sharers are becoming increasingly common across London, with those tenants and homeowners brought together in an informal atmosphere, with the fees charged by organisers more often than not a price worth paying.

Things to watch out for

Moving into a flat share is never without its risks and it pays to take as many precautions as possible.

Before signing anything, it's wise to go over the contracts word-by-word, while also checking up on the financial reliability of likely flat mates to ensure that they won't fall behind on their rental commitments.

Likewise, contractual get-out clauses should also be well-scrutinised just in case things go wrong.

As for the properties themselves, though most landlords are above-board, it's worth investigating to see if a flat adheres to fire safety regulations, while insurance companies may insist on each door having its own lock.

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