14 Essential Tips: How To Find Short Term Accommodation In London
Are you moving to London and need a temporary place to stay while you find permanent housing? Or are you coming to London for a month or two for work, or on an extended holiday?
If you need to rent a short term apartment in London, it can seem daunting – but it doesn’t have to be.
I’ve moved to London twice from America, and suffered many short term rental headaches. Here are my best tips so your trip (or move!) can go smoothly.
First, Learn the Lingo
Before we get into how to rent a short term apartment in London, let’s go over some terminology you need to know.
Depending on what country you’re coming from, terms for things things may be different in Britain.
- Flats = Apartments (houses are also sometimes called flats…yes, it’s confusing)
- Lets = Rentals (short term rental = ‘short term lets’ or ‘short lets’)
- PPM = Pounds Per Month
- PPW = Pounds per week
- Estate agent = Real estate agent (estate agents handle most rentals here)
- “90 day rule” = limits on flatshares like Airbnb (explained further below)
Tips: How to Find Short Term Accommodation in London
To rent an apartment in London short term is generally harder than renting long term (which is also hard).
Keep in mind that unless you have an unlimited budget, your options to rent apartments in London short term will be limited. Here are my best tips for securing a temporary place to stay.
1. Be flexible with your dates
Flexibility is key. Consider shifting your travel dates a few days earlier or later to take advantage of better deals and availability.
If you can’t shift your travel dates, consider bunking up in a hotel for a few days on either end. It’ll be cheaper – and easier – than waiting for the perfect dates to become available, or waiting until the last minute and losing out.
2. Be flexible with your location
While it’s tempting to focus on one specific neighborhood, branching out to different areas can increase your options and potentially save you money.
You might find a more affordable rentals that are farther outside the city than you’d like, or in an area you weren’t considering.
Unfortunately, you don’t always get to be picky about location. It’s temporary, after all!
3. Network
Use any and all contacts you have.
Reach out to friends, family, and colleagues to see if they know of any short-term rental options. You never know what connections they may have, and it’s always worth asking.
If you’re moving for work, ask around your new office. Your colleagues may know someone who will sublet or who is going out of town you could house sit for. This is an especially good idea in summer, as many Europeans vacation for the month of August and may let out their houses.
4. Call Around
Don’t rely solely on online listings – call property management companies and real estate agents to inquire about short-term accommodation options.
Short term lets are not always offered by agents, but it’s worth asking! They may have exclusive listings not available online.
5. Start Early…Very Early
The earlier you start your search, the more likely you are to find a great place. Don’t wait until the last minute to start looking. London short lets get snatched up really fast.
Summer is especially tricky, as it’s both the high tourist season and the high relocation season. Plan ahead as far as you can.
6. Be Prepared to Pay More
Short-term rentals in London are always more expensive than long-term rentals, so be prepared to pay a premium for the convenience and flexibility of a short-term lease.
However, don’t be afraid to negotiate the price if you’re booking for an extended stay.
7. Split up Your Dates
Be willing to split up your time between different flats.
You may not find one block of availability for your dates, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t piece it together from different apartments. You’re just moving a few suitcases (hopefully!), so it’s not that big of a deal, and you can find better deals this way.
Try different combinations of flats, hotels, Airbnb, VRBO, and whatever else you can. It’s annoying to piece it together like this, but it may be your only option for the length of your stay.
Places to Look For Short Term Rentals
I’ve found all my short term rentals using these methods, and you can too.
1. Airbnb, HomeAway & VRBO
Flatshare sites like Airbnb are a great place to look for London short term rentals. Keep in mind that most flatshares will have a maximum booking, and they book out far in advance.
Additionally, a larger flatshare (technically, ⅔ of the owners’ home) in London cannot be rented out for longer than 90 days per calendar year.
This is the ‘90 day rule’ meant to prevent properties being purchased solely for the purpose of becoming an Airbnb. This will make it harder for you to find a short term rental in London for a longer length of time, especially if you need 2-3 bedrooms.
2. Gumtree
This classifieds website is a popular option for housing: it’s essentially the British version of Craigslist.
While it may require a bit more legwork than the other options on this list, you can often find great deals and negotiate directly with the landlord or owner.
As in every other arena, be aware of scams. If it seems too good to be true (i.e. too cheap), it probably is.
3. Serviced Apartments
If you’re looking for a more hotel-like experience with the privacy of an apartment, consider a serviced apartment. Many of these properties offer short-term rentals and come fully furnished with amenities like housekeeping and concierge services.
Find these through google or on hotel booking sites.
4. Sublet
You can find subletting options in Facebook groups, on sites like Gumtree, and on sites like Sublet.com.
5. Estate Agents
Estate agents, whom you’ll get to know whilst you’re searching for your perfect London home, also sometimes list short term rentals.
They may not be listed on their websites or advertised in the same way that long term lets are (they’re rarely listed at all).
Call around or email agents in advance to see if they have anything available for your dates. Spread your net far and wide, emailing every agent from Hamptons to Foxtons to Saville’s.
6. Stay in a Hostel or Guesthouse
Though not as cozy or family-friendly as the above options, hostels and guesthouses are cheaper ways to find short term rentals.
They won’t have the amenities of an Airbnb or serviced apartment, but if you’re moving solo or are a young couple, they can do just fine temporarily. Find these through google, as they’re not always available on hotel booking sites.
7. House Sitting
The most difficult but most affordable way to rent a short term apartment in London is house sitting.
There are plenty of house sitting websites that connect homeowners with housesitters. You may have to piece together dates and hop to different places, but it can be done.
Check out websites like Trusted Housesitters and House Sitters UK.
Final Tips
When choosing a temporary accommodation in London, it’s important to read reviews carefully to make sure it’s a legitimate property.
Keep in mind that some options may come with hidden fees or restrictions, so make sure to read the fine print before booking.
By starting your search early, being flexible, and researching every option, you can rent an apartment in London short term for exactly when you need it.
You can do this, and it’ll make your transition to the city as smooth and stress-free as possible!
More on Moving to London:
First time Renting in London: How to and tips
Posh vs. Practical: 31 Best Areas to Live in London for You (2024)
The Ultimate Moving Abroad Packing Checklist: 7 Do’s and Don’ts
