Your first three months in London: where to stay and how to rent

Most people moving to London try to solve everything before they land: a flat, a commute, a neighbourhood they’ve only seen on a map. It rarely works. The easier route is to treat it as two moves. First somewhere to land, then somewhere to live, chosen once you’ve walked the streets and started work.

This guide covers what landlords will ask you for, how the rules changed in 2026, how your options compare, and a week by week plan. It’s written for anyone arriving for a new job, a research post, a placement or a family move. It covers England, and it’s general information rather than legal advice.

Why the first home is the hard one

London is the UK’s most expensive place to rent. The average private rent was £2,338 a month in September 2026, and good homes can go quickly. Landlords choosing between applicants tend to favour the one who is easiest to check, and that’s rarely someone who arrived last week.

Expect to be asked for most of the following, usually through a referencing company:

• Proof of income, such as a contract, an employer’s letter or recent payslips.
• A previous landlord’s reference, which is difficult if you’ve never rented in the UK.
• A UK credit history, which takes time to build.
• A guarantor, sometimes, if the other checks come up short. Often this has to be someone based in the UK.
• Your right to rent. Landlords must check every adult who will live there, British citizens included. If you hold an eVisa, you’ll share a code from the Home Office online service.

What changed for renters in May 2026

The Renters’ Rights Act changed private renting in England from 1 May 2026. Older advice for newcomers is often out of date, so check when anything you read was written. Four points matter most if you’re moving here:

• New tenancies have no end date. They roll on from month to month rather than running for a fixed six or twelve months.
• You can leave with two months’ notice, given in writing.
• Rent in advance is capped. A landlord can usually ask for one month’s rent at most, and only once you’ve both signed.
• Deposits haven’t changed. A tenancy deposit is capped at five weeks’ rent if the yearly rent is under £50,000 and six weeks’ if it’s more. A holding deposit can be up to one week’s rent.

The cap on rent in advance matters most for newcomers. Offering six months up front used to be the usual way to make up for having no references. The guidance now says you can complain about rent taken in advance even if you offered it, so don’t count on that route. Good paperwork counts for more than it did.

Your options for the first few weeks

Be honest with yourself about cost. Month for month, a tenancy is almost always the cheapest option, and a furnished stay costs more because you’re paying for the furniture, the flexibility and often the bills. It’s worth it as a short bridge, not a plan for two years.

Compare the full monthly figure, not the headline rate. A hotel at £150 a night is about £4,500 over 30 days, before you add meals and laundry. A home with a kitchen changes those extras, so add up what you’d really spend in each.

Why some homes won’t take your dates

In Greater London, an entire home can’t be let short term for more than 90 nights a year without planning permission. It’s one reason a home that looks free may have a minimum stay, or may suit a booking of a month or more better than a few nights. Ask before you plan around it.

A plan for your first 90 days

Before you arrive

• Book your first month somewhere with good transport, rather than in the area you think you’ll end up in.
• Collect your documents: passport, visa or eVisa details, employment contract or offer letter, and bank statements.
• Ask your employer or university whether they offer relocation help, and whether they’ll write a reference letter for landlords.
• If you have rented elsewhere, ask your landlord for a reference now. It’s harder from a distance later.

Weeks 1 to 2: get set up

• Open a UK bank account and get a UK phone number. Many applications ask for both.
• Register with a GP near where you’re staying.
• Do your real commute at the real time, more than once.

Weeks 3 to 6: learn the city

• Shortlist two or three areas and visit each on a weekday evening and at the weekend.
• Use TfL’s Journey Planner to test each area against your workplace, school or campus.
• Register with local agents and set alerts on the big property portals, so you see homes as they’re listed.

Weeks 7 to 12: apply and move

• Have your documents ready to send the same day you view. Good homes can go within days.
• Expect referencing to take a little time after your offer, then the right to rent check before you move in.
• Sign before you pay any rent. Nothing can be taken as rent until you’ve both signed.
• Check your deposit is protected in a government-approved scheme.
• If your search runs long, extend your stay rather than settling for the wrong flat. A few more weeks costs less than moving twice.

What to ask before booking a furnished stay

• Which bills does the price include: energy, water, wifi, council tax?
• Can I extend, and how much notice do I need to give?
• What happens if I need to leave early?
• Is a deposit needed, and when is it returned?
• Who do I call when something breaks, and how quickly will they answer?
• Is there a real desk, a washing machine and a full kitchen?

Sources

Checked in November 2026. Rules change, so confirm anything important with the official source.

• Renters’ Rights Act overview for tenants, GOV.UK
• Rent in advance and deposits, GOV.UK
• Private renting: deposits, GOV.UK
• Landlord’s guide to right to rent checks, 1 October 2026, GOV.UK
• Private rent and house prices, UK: October 2026, Office for National Statistics
• Guidance on short term and holiday lets in London, Greater London Authority