Furnished or unfurnished flat?

The lettings industry in the UK has grown substantially in the past year alone. It is said approximately 80% of home owners have moved in to London rental flats.

The lettings industry in the UK has grown substantially in the past year alone. It is said approximately 80% of home owners have moved in to London rental flats. The main reason being that many are not able to keep up with mortgage payments along side inflation prices that you are facing on a daily basis due to the current financial crisis. Finding a flat in London to rent, isn't a walk in the park, which is why we have provided some key points that you should take in to consideration when looking for a flat in London to rent.

The first thing you must always remember is that there are various types of flats available in London today which vary depending on the designated area. Flats range from 1-2 bedroom flats to studio apartments and penthouses. With the current financial crisis, it is fair to say that you can strike studio apartments and penthouses out from your list. Your main focus should be towards finding a 1 to 2 bedroom flat, more ideally in a semi-detached or detached house. It is common to find both unfurnished and furnished flats. If you are the type of person that wishes to make changes in the flat you plan to move in, we recommend looking for an unfurnished flat. Furnished flats are charged at slightly higher prices as they are already in good working condition for you to move in immediately. Unfurnished flats in London to rent on the other hand require you to do some work on before you can move in, which is why the price is much cheaper.

So if you are the type that plans to choose your own paint, furniture, room colour etc there really is no point going for a furnished flat. Do keep in mind though with high inflation prices, you could be better of opting for a furnished flat.

If you do finally decide to opt for a furnished flat do make sure that all house appliances are in working order. Have a look to see if the appliances provided such as fridge/freezer, oven, washing machine etc are all working fine. London can become a very cold place to live in during the winters. Check to see that the central heating system is in good order and whether or not the flat has adequate insulation. This will affect your heating bill drastically.