Searching for rental properties can be exciting and overwhelming. It can be more of a challenge if you’re moving from a different area. Today, that task is much easier with the introduction of online websites. Before the introduction of Rightmove in 2000, it was a case of trawling the network for estate agents and requesting the details by post.
You’ve probably heard of the most popular sites. However, a few less well-known rental websites are an excellent place to try.
Best Rental Websites in London
1. Rightmove – The UKs No. One.
A concept born in 2000 by the four leading estate agents at the time, Rightmove’s explosive rise to the FTSE 100 and the position of the UK’s number one property portal were groundbreaking. By 2004 Rightmove had 50% of all estate agents signed up, and with the growth of the internet, Rightmove continued to expand.
So, what does this mean to the end user? No matter where you want to purchase or rent, most properties in your chosen area will likely be on Rightmove.
The Rightmove website lists properties for sale and rent and is an excellent resource. It details regular articles on price trends, buying and selling guides and what to look out for in an agent. Information for renters includes how to prepare for referencing and what to expect. The website overall is a goldmine of helpful information.
Ultimately the Rightmove website links you to the agents with the properties. The downside to its popularity is that you must act fast if something tempting appears.
The Rightmove platform is also available as an app.
2. Zoopla
Co-founders Alex Chesterman and Simon Kain were familiar with business when they founded Zoopla in 2007. The entrepreneurs had previously experienced success with LoveFilm, a UK-based DVD mail-order company, which they later sold to Amazon. They developed their achievements by quickly making Zoopla one of the leading property platforms.
Often compared with Rightmove, Zoopla comes in second place regarding viewing figures. On average, Rightmove says they attract over 141 million monthly visitors, whereas, according to HomeOwners Alliance, Zoopla attained over 120 million visits to its undisclosed number of properties.
Zoopla has an active blog, keeping renters up-to-date with the rental market, such as costs and new laws that affect rental agreements. It shows price and search trends for areas, including the London rental market, where London renters have been searching for smaller properties cheaper to heat.
Zoopla is a property sales and rental website and app that allows you to track a rental estimate for a particular property, if available, and looks at a property’s history.
3. On The Market
On The Market claims it lists properties for sale or rent on its website 24 hours before they appear on Rightmove or Zoopla. Their website and app enable you to search for commercial, private, and overseas properties. You can set an alert to be one of the first to view the property.
The property portal has an ‘Only with Us’ feature, which means agents choose to feature exclusively with On The Market before details go live with other property websites. How long the property remains solely with On The Market depends on the member agent’s wishes. As a general rule, it tends to be 24 hours. However, it can be longer.
A banner on the listed property determines which properties are exclusive to On The Market.
Their website is user-friendly, and it is easy to find houses or flats to rent in London or the rest of the UK.
On The Market has a helpful blog which lists articles about ‘How to secure a property with a pet’ and ‘Ten questions to ask a landlord before moving in.’
Robert Hunt is the founder of SpareRoom. The idea came from a flat-sharing website he built while living in London. After experiencing life as a flatmate in London, he returned to Manchester and realised the demand for flat sharing was not only a need in London. It was a UK thing, so SpareRoom was born in 2004.
SpareRoom is the UK’s number one flat-sharing website, with over two million visitors a month.
There are many reasons why people prefer to flat share, like costs, some people don’t like living alone, and sometimes it can be more straightforward short term than renting a property individually.
The flat-sharing website allows you to post a wanted or an offered advert. Let people know what type of flat or flatmate you are searching for. Add photos and a video to give people an idea. Once you find what you are looking for, contact potential flatmates directly.
SpareRoom is free to use, and you can access certain adverts older than seven days. There are several options for upgrading for higher visibility and early-bird viewings of adverts. These are,
- 7 days: £10.99
- 14 days: £19.99
- 28 days: £24.99
- 6 months: £99.00
There are plenty of articles with guides and tips for flat sharing, tenancy agreements, insurance, and the cheapest cities and areas to live in London.
SpareRoom rates highly on Trustpilot. Staff members are helpful and professional, and there have been numerous flat-sharing success stories.
5. Gumtree – All Classifieds
Gumtree was the brainwave of two friends. They wanted to create a platform that enabled people to find everything they needed, from finding a place to live, furnishing the property, buying a car, and even a job or a holiday. It aimed to work similarly to a community where people helped each other.
The online classified ads platform remains one of the biggest in the UK. The site has over 2.2 million listings, with over 62 million monthly visits.
There is a considerable property section where you can search to buy, rent, share, swap, international, and holiday rentals. Property and tenant-wanted sections are also available.
Gumtree is a free classified ad online service. However, there are some fees if you add certain features to your advert or want it to appear at the top of the listings.
The classified ads website currently displays 2,664 rental properties in London, and the list is constantly updating.
6. Open Rent – Fairer, Safer and Cheaper Rental
Open Rent’s founders aimed to make renting fairer, safer and cheaper for landlords and tenants. In 2012 they launched Open Rent and, by 2015, were the UK’s largest letting agent and remaining true to their mission statement.
The ethos of Open Rent is simple for landlords and tenants offering gimmick-free low-cost packages.
Three landlord service packages are,
- Free to advertise a property only on the Open Rent site.
- £29.00 will include advertising on Rightmove and Zoopla plus partner portals.
- £49.00 additionally comprises the Rent Now package. Rent Now includes contract drafting, digital signing, deposit registration, and initial rent collection.
Other landlord services include referencing, ongoing rent collection, EPC certificates, electrical and gas safety certificates and more.
Tenant services are also simple, with no admin fees. Through the Open Rent site, tenants arrange viewings, ask questions and reserve the property. In addition, Open Rent provides access to their concierge service that helps set up council tax and other bills and arrange broadband services.
7. Foxtons – London’s Largest Letting Agency
In 1981, Foxtons started as a two-person estate agency in Notting Hill. They have grown to London’s largest letting agency with over 27,500 tenancies, accounting for two-thirds of Foxton Group’s income. They take on approximately 11,000 new renters weekly at their 60 branches across London and the Home Counties.
Foxton’s also list properties on their website which do not feature on Rightmove or Zoopla. They offer short and long-term rentals. If you are looking for a Managed Property for peace of mind, Foxtons have a dedicated team on hand 24/7 should a problem arise.
Suppose you’re a potential landlord considering letting your property. In that case, Foxtons claim to be the number one best rental agency in London. They can assist you with the latest guidelines and regulations and offers a Property Management service. Their fees are,
- Lettings: 11% (13.2% incl VAT)
- Lettings & Property 17% (20.4%)
Foxtons receive an excellent rating on Trustpilot out of 12,447 reviews. They understand the London rental market’s highly-competitive nature and support landlords and tenants.
Key Considerations in the UK Rental Market
- What is the average rent PCM in the UK? According to Homelet, a specialist lettings insurance company, the average rent PCM is £993.00.
- What is the minimum EPC for renting in the UK? The minimum Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) for rental properties is an E or above.
More
- Savills Hampstead Estate Agents
- Property Divas Estate Agents
- Knight Frank Hampstead Estate Agents
- Dexters Estate Agents Hampstead
- Hamptons Estate and Letting Agents
