Hi there - I am planning to relocate to the UK from Australia later this year and am interested in renting in the Sydenham area but need some advice on renting there.
For example, are there certain agencies that specialise in renting for this area? I've looked at a few websites but there seem to be quite a few so any advice to narrow this down would be appreciated. Or is it possible to rent privately without going through agents?
Also, will I need references to show to an agency/landlord? I am a home owner in Oz so don't really have any tenant type references...if I need them, would personal / work references do??
The agencies which first come to mind are UNIPLAN, ACORN, and PROPERTY WORLD, all based in the High Street. I would think its best to use an agency rather than rent privately, you get more protection that way, your Landlord will have to make sure the property has a current gas safety certificate, you can't be turfed-out at a moments notice and agencies are great at nagging landlords for repairs and upkeep. You will need to provide proof of income and a reference from your bank.
Hi Savvy - thanks for that advice - I think I will go through an agency for greater protection as you say.
I am slightly worried about providing a letter from an employer etc as evidence though as I am initially planning to live off my savings + income from my long service leave fund in Aust while I look for work & have a short break between jobs! I will have money in a UK bank account though & I can organise personal references from Aust if necessary but do you think this will be enough to get going?
Yes, if you can provide a bank statement showing you are solvent that should be ok. They might ask you to pay three months rent in advance if you're not working, if you can afford to pay even more in advance that would be even better.
