Advice for moving to London

It’s a dream that many have when starting out in a career. Move out of the house and to The Big Smoke to make a living for your independent self. It’s an exciting time for most young professionals, but mastering the first 90 days of moving to London is crucial and requires a clear, strategic plan. Here, we’ve put together some practical advice for moving to London so that you can get the best head start as a young professional. 

We’ll look at how to secure your first flat-share, how to avoid upfront rental pitfalls, whether you’re taking up a finance role in the City or joining a creative team in Shoreditch. Whatever your goal is, we’ll look at the things you need to consider when moving to a new area like London.

Days 1–30: The Landing Phase and Property Search

Whether you’re moving to London to live out your Bridget Jones dream or become a finance bro, there are other things to consider when moving to a new city, too, like being clear on how things work logistically. You’ll need to know how local transport, holding fees and borough choices align with your goals and lifestyle. Let’s take a deeper look at what you need to consider during your first month of moving to London. 

Living space

During your first month, you’ll need to secure a safe and convenient living space. If you’re a first-time renter in London, you can expect to come face to face with high holding fees or big deposit traps. As part of the many things you need to consider when moving to a new city, you’ll also need to take into account that your holding deposit will be capped at one week’s rent and your security deposit can’t exceed five weeks’ worth of rent. 

Seeking trusted advice for moving to London is always the best thing to do before viewing any property because there are specific things to consider when moving to a new area, for example:

• Looking at the proximity of the property to public transport and getting familiar with the peak commuting times. 
• Looking at the condition of the property you’re viewing while visiting it. Make sure you also test the water pressure, heating systems and the mobile service at the property. 

As part of our expert moving to London advice, becoming aware of specific lease terms will help you make a more informed choice so that you don’t end up being tied into a restrictive contract. 

You might be staying in temporary accommodation while searching for your new home, which means that being able to manage your luggage and oversized belongings can be inconvenient. Having somewhere to store your belongings securely and conveniently is crucial in a place like London. At Extra Space Self Storage, we have locations in Cricklewood and Kilburn that you can access, allowing you to view flats to rent without having to drag your belongings with you. Both locations are easy to access – get in touch with our friendly team to enquire today!

Financial obligations 

Another crucial thing to consider when moving to a new city is the finances. Setting a budget will give you a clear picture of what it will cost you to move to London. How much will it cost to stay at an Airbnb when looking for a new apartment or flat-share? How much will it cost to store your belongings in a short-term self-storage unit? How much will it cost to commute to and from work each day? These are all things you’ll need to consider when moving to a new area. 

Days 31–60: Settling into Accommodation

During your second month of living in London, you’ll likely be on your way to moving into a shared flat or, if you can afford it, your own apartment. House sharing is the most common choice amongst young professionals because it is cheaper. It is also a great way to meet new people and start a social life. 

Another thing to consider when moving to London is the limited space you’ll most likely have for storage. Choosing self storage is a great solution to this because you’ll be able to rest assured that your personal belongings are kept safe and secure. The great thing about self storage at Extra Space is that you can choose either short-term self storage or long-term self storage, depending on your storage needs. 

As well as the many other things you need to consider when moving to a new area, you’ll need to think about where exactly in London you want to settle. Neighbourhood personalities vary significantly across zones, for example:

• Central and East London (King’s Cross, Bow, Shoreditch): Expect vibrant and energetic neighbourhoods with easy transport routes into the more corporate areas of London. 
• South and West London (Wandsworth, Chiswick, Clapham): Expect a more relaxed lifestyle with green spaces.

As part of our advice for moving to London, we recommend that you evaluate the amount of money you’ll be spending on travel alongside your rent costs. You’ll also need to consider the council tax variations across the different boroughs; for example, Wandsworth offers some of the lowest Band D tax rates in the country, whereas neighbouring boroughs will charge higher rates.

Days 61–90: Transport, Budgeting, and Long-Term Lifestyle

When you get to the 90-day mark, your focus will most likely shift to looking at how to make your daily routine work for you and the lifestyle you want to live. This will include looking at things like the Transport for London (TfL) fare system and looking at things like pay-as-you-go capping on Oyster and contactless cards. This makes sure that you don’t ever pay more than the daily cap amount across Zones 1-4. You could also look into the £1.75 bus Hopper fare, as this will help massively with monthly savings. 

Being able to manage your finances properly is one of the main things to consider when moving to a new city. You’ll also need to take into account utilities, broadband and your social life, as well as savings for a rainy day. These are all the things that you need to keep in mind so that you can make your transition to a new city like London sustainable. 

Extra Things to Consider When Moving to a New City

Besides ensuring you get the right place to live in and navigating the infamous tube system, you’ll also need to look at things like: 

• Registering with a local GP
• Updating your electoral roll status 
• Opening a UK bank account (if moving from abroad). This should be completed within your first two weeks in the UK. 
• Registering with your local gym (if this is something you’re interested in)

Remember that your environment will have an impact on your wellbeing and day-to-day life, so you want to make sure that you do as much research as possible before choosing one specific area to move to. 

If you’re looking for a reliable self storage facility in North London, be sure to get in touch with our friendly team at Extra Space Self Storage.