Finding houses for rent Archives - acasa Blog https://www.helloacasa.com/acasa-blog/category/houses-for-rent/ acasa - your home run Thu, 19 May 2022 11:42:17 +0000 en-GB hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.5.5 https://www.helloacasa.com/acasa-blog/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2017/05/cropped-Android-Production@1x-32x32.png Finding houses for rent Archives - acasa Blog https://www.helloacasa.com/acasa-blog/category/houses-for-rent/ 32 32 How to find the perfect flatmate https://www.helloacasa.com/acasa-blog/2022/05/23/find-perfect-flatmate/ https://www.helloacasa.com/acasa-blog/2022/05/23/find-perfect-flatmate/#comments Mon, 23 May 2022 07:00:28 +0000 http://home.splittable.co/?p=1783 The right flatmate can make a big difference in any flat or house share. The right mix of flatmates can be one of the biggest differences in making a house feel like a home. Unfortunately, when living together, there are a lot of things that can go wrong. This means knowing how to find the […]

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The right flatmate can make a big difference in any flat or house share. The right mix of flatmates can be one of the biggest differences in making a house feel like a home. Unfortunately, when living together, there are a lot of things that can go wrong. This means knowing how to find the perfect flatmate can be hard.

Here are a few of the best tricks to use during your search for the perfect flatmate.

Decide what makes a flatmate perfect for you

A perfect flatmate can mean very different things to different people. For some people, the perfect flatmate is someone who stays quietly in their room.

Others want someone to go to Wetherspoons with every night, or want to find someone who is as neurotically clean as they are.

If you really want to find the perfect flatmate, know what a good one looks like to you. Knowing the type of person you’re looking for will give you a much better shot at finding the right person.

Start your search with mutual friends

Be sure to let all of your close friends know you are looking to find a flatmate. Chances are your interests and living style will line up much better with someone you are already friends with, rather than taking your chances with the basic internet flatmate query.

Don’t underestimate the power of posting a Facebook status. Those slight acquaintances we call Facebook friends can be very helpful in a flatmate search. Your university lab partner that you are still connected to might just be able to give you an introduction to the perfect flatmate.

Meet in person

There’s no better way to feel the vibe of someone than to meet them in person. Lots of people can seem amazing via email or text messages but be completely different in person.

If you already live in the flat, have them come to the flat to visit. You can also attend flatmate search meetup events to meet a lot of potential flatmates at once.

Ask a lot of questions

You never really know someone until you’ve lived together. Even if you’re moving in with a friend, make sure you ask a lot of questions. Learn as much as you can about their living habits.

While there are many questions to consider, the most important ones are those that are specifically relevant to sharing a home:

  • Are they employed?
  • What time do they go to bed?
  • Do they like to have guests over?
  • When do they tend to shower?
  • What are their cleaning habits?

These are all important things to consider when living with someone else, and you can use this full list of questions to make sure you cover all ground.

Ask what a perfect flatmate looks like to them

Knowing what they would want in a perfect flatmate is also important to make sure you’ll be a good match.

If they’re hoping to find someone who wants to barbecue every night and you’re a vegetarian, that could be an early sign of a problem.

Make a lucky, right decision

Ok, this one isn’t really actionable, but sometimes you’ll just have to see how things go.

Even if you ask all the right questions, you can still get it wrong and end up living with the wrong person. Some people are great at introductions but turn out to be very different when you are actually interacting every day.

If you do end up living with someone who isn’t right, try to talk to them about the problems you have early on. The sooner you talk about the problems, the easier it is to get things resolved.

Plus, one final tip – living with flatmates will be even easier if you use acasa’s bill splitting app to track and split your shared expenses!

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5 expert hacks for finding houses or flats to rent in London https://www.helloacasa.com/acasa-blog/2022/03/21/flats-to-rent-in-london/ https://www.helloacasa.com/acasa-blog/2022/03/21/flats-to-rent-in-london/#respond Mon, 21 Mar 2022 08:05:01 +0000 http://home.splittable.co/?p=1717 Properties to rent in London are notoriously hard to find. After sending a dozen queries about flats to rent in London and a few flat tours later, you’ll realise why everyone finds it difficult to secure a place to rent in the capital. The market moves very quickly and is expensive in comparison to the […]

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Properties to rent in London are notoriously hard to find. After sending a dozen queries about flats to rent in London and a few flat tours later, you’ll realise why everyone finds it difficult to secure a place to rent in the capital.

The market moves very quickly and is expensive in comparison to the rest of the UK. Flats you visit are often already leased within the day, so you have to be quick.

It’s only a lucky few who find a good flat for the right price through online portals. To help you join that group, here’s some advice to help your property search.

1. Large flat and house hunting sites are great to find areas that fit your price range

Two of the largest property sites in the UK are Zoopla and Rightmove and serve as great places to start your property search. These sites will give you a great ballpark figure of what it cost to stay in various parts of the city.

Most searches to find flats or houses for rent begin on these websites. The largest sites include Gumtree, Zoopla, and Rightmove. Other smaller players, especially for house sharing, include Spareroom and Open Rent.

That being said, many of the ads listed through these sites are outdated or have already been let. While it is possible to secure a property through these sites, it can be extremely difficult to find exactly what you are looking for – which is where estate and letting agents come in.

2. Agents in your ideal neighbourhoods can connect you to London properties before they’re listed online

If you’ve narrowed down what neighbourhood you want to live in, contact estate and letting agents in that area. Neighbourhood agents know as soon as properties hit the market. They can connect you with exactly the type of property you are looking for before it’s even listed online.

Remember to check estate agent fees as an additional cost when securing your property. Agents are required by law to publish their fees in full.

You should also remember that property tours tend to be during traditional working hours and letting agents will not do a tour later than 6:30. Be sure to let your work know you’ll need to leave early/arrive late while completing your property hunt.

3. Walk around the areas you’re interested in and look for “To let” signs

It may seem counter-intuitive but this can be a great way to find properties that are not listed online. It’s also wise to check newspaper classified ads and don’t shy away from adverts written in all caps.

It could be that the landlord has a great property but is slightly older and not used to listing their property online. Some of the best flats to rent in London can be found this way.

4. If you find a place you like, move fast!

High demand means you need to make a quick decision to get a good place. If you like a place, chances are someone else will like it too. Be ready to place a holding deposit within a few hours of your visit because the best places can easily go on the market in the morning and be gone by the afternoon. The holding deposit is typically the first month of rent in advance so make sure you have that money saved upfront.

5. Don’t give up hope when searching for your new home

As we said, finding flats to rent in London is hard but don’t give up hope. You can check out our guide to some of the best places to live in London to gain inspiration. There are plenty of great places to live around the city so keep a positive attitude and you will find the right place for you.

 

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5 top websites for finding the perfect houseshare https://www.helloacasa.com/acasa-blog/2022/03/07/5-top-websites-for-finding-the-perfect-houseshare/ https://www.helloacasa.com/acasa-blog/2022/03/07/5-top-websites-for-finding-the-perfect-houseshare/#comments Mon, 07 Mar 2022 08:00:57 +0000 http://home.splittable.co/?p=1201 House or flatsharing is become more and more common, given the state of the property market today. People are constantly looking for a room, or waiting for a special someone to fill it – and everyone wants to find the perfect houseshare. We’ve put together a few resources to help you in your flat-share search. […]

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House or flatsharing is become more and more common, given the state of the property market today. People are constantly looking for a room, or waiting for a special someone to fill it – and everyone wants to find the perfect houseshare. We’ve put together a few resources to help you in your flat-share search.

Top Websites for Finding a Flatmate

SpareRoom

SpareRoom is probably the most well-known housemate finding platform. Becoming a spare wheel for an existing houseshare might seem daunting but, with SpareRoom, you have the extra option of “buddy ups”, where you can find other people looking for accommodation.  You’ll have a greater say in building a house or flatshare from scratch with like-minded people.

SpareRoom is not only easy to use, but it has a focus on safety, regularly vetting property listings. It also encourages people to rent out rooms to increase the availability of affordable rental accommodation. Plus, it partners with Crisis to help support homelessness and has a competition for someone to win a month’s rent per month – so, if you’re feeling lucky, you might want to give it a try.

ideal flatmate

ideal flatmate’s focus is helping you find flatmates that have a strong chance of becoming your friends. It serves more as a social network for flat-hunters rather than just a flatmate hunting tool. You start by taking a survey about your living habits to help quickly connect you with the right new flatmate.

From there, you can easily message other flat seekers from their profiles to ask them questions to see if you’d get on well together. You can then create a group and browse for your perfect home. You’re also able to list an empty room in your flat for flat hunters to discover.

Badi

Originally launched in Spain back in 2015, Badi offers a free app that uses AI to help you to find your next house or flatmate. You share some information about your age, gender, personality and other details, such as whether you’re a student or in full-time work.

Then, the algorithm filters through and matches you to housemates, rather than simply a property, as is normally the case. Once you’ve found a place and flatmates you like, you can pay your deposit securely through the app to reserve it.

Coliving.com 

Coliving.com leans on the “co-living” concept which puts the emphasis on finding a like-minded community of people to live with. An international platform, Coliving.com can help you find this type of accommodation all over the world. It’s a great way to meet new people, especially if you’ve relocated.

You’ll of course get your own space – sometimes with your own ensuite and private kitchen – but with larger shared spaces where everyone can come together to socialise. It’s all-inclusive too – plus, you can rent on an individual basis, rather than committing to a joint contract with people you don’t know.

Once you’ve found a room that looks good to you, you share some basic information, then reserve it. The Coliving team will then check your profile to make sure that it matches the community you’ve applied to join.

Cohabitas

There are some slightly more niche sites out there too – such as Cohabitas. Renting and house sharing can make financial and social sense at any age, and plenty of people may have a their own home with a spare room that they’d like to rent out. Cohabitas helps match over-40s with compatible potential housemates.

It’s free to register your details and have people contact you – but, to have full freedom to find the right home, you may need to upgrade to the Premium version of the service. This will allow you to contact anyone on the platform, rather than simply those that have already upgraded.

What’s next?

Once you’ve found the right property – and perfect housemate – for you, there are other ways to make sure that you make a success of living in your househare. You can look into how to set up some simple house rules, where you can save some money, and find out how to to split your bills in the best way so it’s fair for everyone. You could even get a free app like acasa to help you manage those bills or get some of the key services that you’ll need in your new home set up for everyone’s benefit.

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Everything you need to know about being referenced https://www.helloacasa.com/acasa-blog/2021/10/18/everything-you-need-to-know-about-being-referenced/ https://www.helloacasa.com/acasa-blog/2021/10/18/everything-you-need-to-know-about-being-referenced/#respond Mon, 18 Oct 2021 08:00:58 +0000 https://www.helloacasa.com/acasa-blog/?p=2647 You’ve found a property to rent, secured it with a holding deposit, and received your offer letter. Next up: referencing. Referencing is the process that letting agents or landlords go through to make sure you’ll be a good tenant and a suitable fit for the home you want to rent, before you sign the contract. […]

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You’ve found a property to rent, secured it with a holding deposit, and received your offer letter. Next up: referencing.

Referencing is the process that letting agents or landlords go through to make sure you’ll be a good tenant and a suitable fit for the home you want to rent, before you sign the contract. Many agencies use other companies to handle the referencing process.

There are several checks involved: to confirm your identity, and make sure you have enough funds to cover your tenancy, you have good credit, and your previous landlord thought you were a good tenant.

Collecting the relevant information can take anything from 24 hours to up to a week. You can help by being open and honest and providing as much detail as you can. Incorrect details could delay your move in date.

Documents and checks

Proof of identity

Your letting agent or landlord needs to confirm that you are who you say you are, so you’ll need to provide identification. In England, you’ll also have to show you have the right to rent. You can give this in the form of a passport, driver’s license, a UK birth certificate, or a permit card/visa. You can find the full list of valid forms of identification at gov.uk.

Proof of income and/or employment

Recent pay slips, bank statements, and/or proof from your employer of your current salary will determine if your funds can cover the rent for your new tenancy. Your salary would normally need to be 2.5 times your share of the rent for this to be accepted. You can let your employer know in advance that they may need to give this information to speed up the process.

If you are self employed, you will need to provide a tax return or reference from your accountant.

With certain online banking providers, you can also opt in to Open Banking, and grant permission for the relevant information on rental payments and income to be shared. You can learn more about open banking at openbanking.org.uk.

If there’s an issue at this stage, you may require a guarantor. They agree to pay the rent or any damages if you cannot and so will have to undergo a similar referencing process and credit check. These checks will require a higher salary to rent ratio, to demonstrate your guarantor’s ability to cover their own living costs, as well as any potential extras you may not be able to cover. You should keep in mind someone who could fulfil this role.

Previous landlord’s reference

Your last landlord may be asked to comment on your tenancy. You can let them know in advance that this information will be requested to get a speedy response. You may also be asked to provide a bank statement, showing your latest rent payment, and current tenancy agreement.

Credit checks

These checks require your permission to go ahead. Your agency or landlord will use a credit reference agency to do a ‘soft check’ of your credit history. This gives an overview using publicly available data, such as if you’re listed on the electoral roll, rather than the in-depth ‘hard check’ required for a full credit application, and so your credit score won’t be affected.

Once your letting agent or landlord is happy with all the information you’ve proved, they will send you the tenancy agreement to sign and you can start preparing to move in.

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3 ways to score a great deal on rent https://www.helloacasa.com/acasa-blog/2021/10/04/3-ways-to-score-a-great-deal-on-rent/ https://www.helloacasa.com/acasa-blog/2021/10/04/3-ways-to-score-a-great-deal-on-rent/#respond Mon, 04 Oct 2021 08:32:47 +0000 https://www.helloacasa.com/acasa-blog/?p=2636 Scoring a great deal on rent isn’t impossible. Using data gathered by lettings platform Goodlord from hundreds of letting agents and ten of thousands of rental agreements, and put together our top tips for getting the best deal on rent for your next move. Move during the winter months The rental market starts to slow […]

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Scoring a great deal on rent isn’t impossible. Using data gathered by lettings platform Goodlord from hundreds of letting agents and ten of thousands of rental agreements, and put together our top tips for getting the best deal on rent for your next move.

Move during the winter months

The rental market starts to slow down as soon as winter sets in. People delay decision making over Christmas and the New Year, meaning it’s the best time to get a great deal on rent. 

During August 2020, the average cost of renting a property in the South East was £1,204. But in the same region in November 2020, the average cost had dropped to £1,023 – a saving of 15%.

Likewise, in Wales, a rental property snapped up in February cost £629 on average. For those who waited until June, averages had jumped to £703 – an increase of 12%.

Live with as many people as you can

According to Goodlord’s data, those who live alone spend nearly 40% of their monthly income on rent. In London, solo renters fork out £1,250 per month, with those in the rest of the UK paying an average of £750.

However, if you buddy up with two housemates, the average cost for Londoners drops dramatically – from £1,250 to £623. For the rest of the UK, the cost drops from £750 to £469.

And if housemates really aren’t your thing, the North East is the cheapest area to be a solo-tenant in the UK, with average monthly rents standing at £618. This is followed by the West Midlands where the average cost is £699 per month.

Move to the North East

For the cheapest prices in the UK, renters should consider moving to the North East. Goodlord’s 12-month rolling average, shows the North East has the cheapest average rents throughout the year. The annual average for the region was £680 per property. This was a whopping 26% cheaper than the UK average of £920 per month.

The North West and Wales were the next two cheapest regions to be a renter. With the most expensive rents unsurprisingly found in London and the South East.

Your property search has paid off and you’ve e-signed on the dotted line for your new home: exciting times lie ahead. But before you plan your housewarming bash, some crucial admin needs to be dealt with. Here’s a guide to what you need to get done before, during and just after the big day to make sure your move goes off without a hitch.

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What you need to know about the tenant fee bill https://www.helloacasa.com/acasa-blog/2019/05/20/what-you-need-to-know-about-the-tenant-fee-bill/ https://www.helloacasa.com/acasa-blog/2019/05/20/what-you-need-to-know-about-the-tenant-fee-bill/#respond Mon, 20 May 2019 10:40:22 +0000 http://www.helloacasa.com/acasa-blog/?p=2397 As a tenant, you might have heard of the tenant fee bill, maybe you haven’t. The Tenant Fee Bill (aka tenant fee ban) is an act of parliament that has been shaking up the lettings industry and could change the way we do residential lettings in the UK. So what is it and what do […]

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As a tenant, you might have heard of the tenant fee bill, maybe you haven’t. The Tenant Fee Bill (aka tenant fee ban) is an act of parliament that has been shaking up the lettings industry and could change the way we do residential lettings in the UK.

So what is it and what do you need to know?

What is the tenant fee bill?

Up until now, letting agents and landlords have been able to charge pretty much whatever they like for admin charges, inventory checks and a whole host of other random fees. All that is set to change.

As of June 2019, most of these familiar charges will be ‘prohibited payments’. In fact, there will be only six permitted payments that landlords and letting agents will be allowed to charge. They are:

  • Rent
  • A deposit of no more than five weeks rent
  • A holding deposit of no more than one weeks rent
  • Reasonable charges for a lost key or security fob
  • Charges for defaulting on your rent payment (or other agreed payments)
  • Changes to tenancy agreement, such as adding a new tenant, or ending the tenancy early

Is there anything else I can be charged for?

As always, if you damage the property beyond normal wear and tear, the landlord or letting agent can bill you for the damage. So if you’re throwing a wild party, or you decide you quite fancy a more open plan kitchen (just get rid of that partition wall!) then you could end up footing the bill to put right any damage.

Your deposit should still be kept in a protected scheme, but the landlord has ten days before they have to refund you. So if there are any outstanding bills or other issues with the property, this can be deducted from your rent, although you need to agree to it first.

Savvy lettings agents are increasingly moving to a more all inclusive model, meaning that they’re bundling in extras such as utilities or frills such as gym membership. So long as you’re given the option to sign up and it’s not a required extra, it’s all good.

There is a bit of a grey area around providing a third party service and charging commission (basically it isn’t mentioned in the legal documentation). But, if a letting agent offers cleaning, removals or other services as part of their package, so long as you can choose to use it, they’re within their rights.

The key word here. Choice. Besides those ‘permitted payments’, anything else should be optional.

When does it come into effect?

The Tenant Fee Bill is due to go live on the 1st June 2019. After this date, any administration charges, inventory, credit checks or any other fees not under the ‘permitted charges’ section will become prohibited.

If you sign a tenancy agreement on the 31st May 2019, you could still be charged all of these fees legally. Maybe hold off for a few days…

If your tenancy started before the 1st June 2019 and you’ve been charged fees in advance, such as a check out fee, this isn’t due to be refunded. BUT… On the 1st June 2020, the fee ban will then apply to these older fees and they will need to be refunded to you.

What do I do if I get charged fees by a letting agent?

Most legit lettings agents are on the ball and started to operate under Tenant Fee Bill rules before the legislation went live. No fees and all inclusive are the buzzwords of the moment.

However, that’s not to say some unscrupulous landlord isn’t going to try and charge their tenants an underhand fee in the hope they can plead ignorance. If you think you’ve been charged then contact either your local authority or the Citizens Advice Bureau. Or, if they say they’re going to charge you for referencing, politely remind them they could be fined £5,000.

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3 easy tips on how to get more for your money when flat hunting https://www.helloacasa.com/acasa-blog/2018/02/22/flathunting-tips-london/ https://www.helloacasa.com/acasa-blog/2018/02/22/flathunting-tips-london/#respond Thu, 22 Feb 2018 16:58:33 +0000 http://www.helloacasa.com/acasa-blog/?p=2213 Renting is hard, the rental market moves fast! Plus, there are so many platforms to search for properties on… where do you start?! London itself is expensive and finding a flat that fits your budget can seem like an impossible task. homie.rent has put together the three biggest tips on how to make your flat […]

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Renting is hard, the rental market moves fast! Plus, there are so many platforms to search for properties on… where do you start?!

London itself is expensive and finding a flat that fits your budget can seem like an impossible task. homie.rent has put together the three biggest tips on how to make your flat hunt go smoother. Read on to ensure you get the most for your money out of your next flat hunt.

Take a look at ground floor flats

Although ground floor flats may not be everyone’s preference, this can make them great value for money due to them being slightly less in demand. Not only this, but ground floor spaces have a tendency to boast more space, higher ceilings and even a garden, meaning you get more for your monthly rent.

flathunting

Got an area in mind? Similar areas can be your saviour

London is costly, it’s a known fact. Your ideal area can feel unobtainable with rent. However, broadening your search to similar areas can really help. For example, you may have your heart set on West London and the likes of Notting Hill and Earl’s Court, yet Shepherds Bush and Hammersmith are great alternatives where you can get more for your money, better connections and an area which is just as vibrant as the former.

save money flatsPersonalise your offer

This is such a simple thing to do yet not many renters do it. Sending over a short bio about yourself is a really easy way to differentiate yourself from other renters, it also allows the landlord to get a sense of who you are and can be the difference between your offer being accepted and the landlord choosing another renter. This is extremely important if offering below the asking price, as it could make all the difference between your offer of £425pw on a £450pw asking price being accepted.

housing offer

 

Moving to London for the first time? Need to find a place to rent?

Be wise. Get help from a Homie!

homie homie.rent

 

 

homie.rent can help you find the perfect home for you. You get a Homie who deals with all the hard stuff, gives you friendly advice and ensures you get the best deal on your rent… and much, much more. Use code acasa50 when signing up to homie.rent to get 50% off – you could find your next home in as little as 3 days.

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Best Cities for Millennials in the U.S. https://www.helloacasa.com/acasa-blog/2016/10/04/best-cities-millennials-us/ https://www.helloacasa.com/acasa-blog/2016/10/04/best-cities-millennials-us/#respond Tue, 04 Oct 2016 08:04:35 +0000 http://home.splittable.co/?p=1918 Numerous factors come into play when finding the best place to live, especially when jumpstarting a career or moving around as a young professional. Housing affordability, income growth, jobs, neighborhood amenities, transportation and weather all help determine your quality of life. But, most cities don’t offer everything simultaneously, so the key is finding balance. This […]

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Numerous factors come into play when finding the best place to live, especially when jumpstarting a career or moving around as a young professional. Housing affordability, income growth, jobs, neighborhood amenities, transportation and weather all help determine your quality of life. But, most cities don’t offer everything simultaneously, so the key is finding balance.

This post will consider how some of the biggest cities in the US stack up in terms of employment, Generation Y population and cost of living. You can discover which city matches your millennial tastes best.

Jennifer Riner from HotPads shares with us her findings.

San Francisco

Best cities millennials

Recently ranked no. 4 best city for millennials by Niche.com, the City by the Bay offers a vibrant nightlife scene, top notch restaurants, culture and diversity. Plus, San Francisco holds a large percentage of millennials at 21.8 percent of the total population. However, the cost of housing is arguably exorbitant. The median rent in the San Francisco metro is currently $3,406 per month, up 4.8 percent since last year. Unemployment is slightly over the national rate of 5 percent at 5.3 percent.

NYC

Millennial City

New York City may be the largest city in the U.S. with 8.6 million residents, but only 17.4 percent of Big Apple residents are in the millennial generation. New York City’s unemployment rate is currently 6.6 percent, slightly higher than the national rate. The New York City metro rent costs a median $2,399 per month, an increase of 2.5 percent year-over-year. However, you can’t argue with the quality of life in the city that never sleeps (even during the cold winter) .

Chicago

Best cities millennials
While Chicago is one of the top five largest cities in the U.S., just over 19 percent of the total population are between 25 and 34 years old, with 1.4 percent moving into the area over the past year. The unemployment rate is moderately higher at 8.8 percent. Nonetheless, Chicago’s median rent is $1,643 per month, making the Windy City a relatively affordable locale. Cost of rent in Chicago is down 0.2 percent annually.

Boston

best cities millennials

Over the past year, 3.6 percent of residents ages 25 to 34 moved into Boston within the past year, pushing the total millennial population to 22 percent. Boston’s unemployment rate is 6.9 percent and the median rent in Boston is $2,310 per month, up 3.9 percent year-over-year.

Austin

best cities millennials

The city that “keeps it weird” is known as a creative and cultural haven within the Lone Star State, ranking no. 10 in the best cities for young people. Austin millennials make up 21.4 percent of the population, with 3.3 percent new millennials moving in over the past year. Within the Austin metro, the median rent is $1,713 per month, up 2 percent since 2015. For independent young professionals, Austin is a top choice. Over 13 percent of Austin millennials live solo, according to a recent Zillow study. Meanwhile, the unemployment rate hovers around 5 percent, matching the national average.

Seattle

best cities millennials

Seattle is the seventh best city for young people, with 3 percent of incoming residents falling between ages 25 to 34. In total, millennials make up 21.5 percent of the city’s population. The unemployment rate is impressively low at 4.7 percent. However, the cost of living in Emerald City is rising – fast. Leasing a Seattle apartment costs a median $2,067 per month, illustrating a steep 9.7 percent year-over-year climb.

No matter where you decide to settle, aim to spend no more than 30 percent of your income on rent each month, even if you have to find a roommate or two. This way, you’ll have enough to balance student loan debt, accumulate savings and sustain a fulfilling lifestyle.

 

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Everything you need to know about a short term lease https://www.helloacasa.com/acasa-blog/2016/09/20/short-term-lease/ https://www.helloacasa.com/acasa-blog/2016/09/20/short-term-lease/#respond Tue, 20 Sep 2016 15:09:17 +0000 http://home.splittable.co/?p=1895 Unlease is a platform for renting rooms for 1-4 months in Oxford and London. We sat down with Jack Crewe, Unlease’s digital marketer to learn more about what having a short-term lease really entails. How does a short-term lease differ from a traditional lease? Time. Traditionally leases take the form of a 12-month contract, which […]

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short-term-lease

Unlease is a platform for renting rooms for 1-4 months in Oxford and London. We sat down with Jack Crewe, Unlease’s digital marketer to learn more about what having a short-term lease really entails.

How does a short-term lease differ from a traditional lease?

Time. Traditionally leases take the form of a 12-month contract, which gives little flexibility for people who might not want to be in one place for a whole year. It’s a fairly out-dated way of organising the rental market, especially considering the fact that people are moving around more than ever – thanks gig economy!

Short-term, and medium-term, leases represent a completely different attitude when it comes to renting. They offer renters the opportunity to experience new places, and follow opportunities, in places they otherwise might not. The low commitment means that you are freed up to embrace interests on a global scale. It’s the best way to live!

What should you look for in a short-term lease contract?

There are a few things to keep in mind. Understanding the type of contract you have is very important, as this affects the nature of your relationship with your landlord. For instance are housemates jointly liable, or individually?

There are then certain things that your landlord cannot put in their contract, which you need to be aware of eg changing it’s terms whenever they like.

I’m going away for 2 months – am I allowed to sublet my room?

There’s controversy surrounding subletting, some landlords don’t have a problem with it, while others really do. It depends on your agreement with them.

Subletting is a growing phenomenon in the rental market, and if you’re going to do it, it’s best to do it safely. So keep safe with Unlease!

Where can I look to find a short-term lease/post my own?

If you’re looking for somewhere a little more up market to rent, and just for a few days, AirBnb is your best bet. If you’re hosting then you’ll have to put some effort into fulfilling an AirBnb hosting standard.

For longer term Spareroom is a good option, and a very relaxed atmosphere. Move flat is another that can sometimes yield some good options.

However, for that sweet middle spot there’s no place like Unlease. We look after all those that can’t make a lengthy commitment, and those that want to actually somewhere new.

Any other important things to consider when finding a short-term lease?

Find out if they take a deposit, and how it’s protected, as well as any other additional charges. For London location is everything, particularly with respect to transport links, so it’s best to imagine where you’ll be travelling to frequently on CityMapper.

Most importantly for any short-term adventure is the people you meet, so try and get a sense of the kind of person they are. If they are excited to share their lifestyle with you then you know you’re heading for a formative experience. Unlease is a platform that is built around this possibility.

Short term lease

<- Thanks for the tips Jack!

 

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How to find a new housemate in Australia https://www.helloacasa.com/acasa-blog/2016/08/15/housemate-australia/ https://www.helloacasa.com/acasa-blog/2016/08/15/housemate-australia/#respond Mon, 15 Aug 2016 11:23:32 +0000 http://home.splittable.co/?p=1806 We’ve teamed up with Homely from Australia to share tips anyone looking to find a flatshare in Australia. You can also check out our comprehensive list of best questions to ask a flatmate. If can also check out our resources on finding a room in London by following this link. — How to find a […]

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We’ve teamed up with Homely from Australia to share tips anyone looking to find a flatshare in Australia. You can also check out our comprehensive list of best questions to ask a flatmate.

If can also check out our resources on finding a room in London by following this link.

finding a house share in london

How to find a new housemate in Australia.

 

More and more people in Australia are opting to live in share houses due to housing and rental unaffordability, low rental vacancy rates, the soaring cost of living and as an avenue to save for a home of their own.

Australia’s largest share accommodation site flatmates.com.au, reports a record number of Aussies seeking rooms in shared accommodation.

Early in 2016 flatmates.com.au CEO, Thomas Clement reported a 60 per cent increase in site traffic compared to 2015, which equated to a 54 per cent increase in users.

When living in shared accommodation it’s so important to be able to find a new housemate quickly when someone decides to move on from your shared living arrangement, ideally in time to cover the shared cost of your next rent and utility payments.

Here’s some advice about the best ways to go about finding a good housemate that will fit seamlessly into your share house.

Flatshare Australia

Where to look:

Friends and family- The best place to start out is by talking to the people you already know and trust and seeing if they can recommend or know of anyone looking for a room to rent in your area.

Get social- Share your room for rent with your social network on Facebook and Twitter. Try creating a Facebook event including photos, the cost of rent and other details of the home, and asking your friends to invite others who may be interested.

Online classifieds- If you have no luck with family members and your social peeps, try using online classifieds and matching systems. There are a number of great free portals where you can post housemate wanted ads, such as flatmates.com.au, flatmatefinders.com.au and au.easyroommate.com.

Local universities- If your home is close to a university or college you could also try posting on that particular institution’s student Facebook page or check their website for a student accommodation listing service.

Remember to always be honest about your house, fellow housemates and the type of housemate you’re looking for in the advertisement. If you can’t stand cigarette smoke, cats and loud parties, save yourself the time and the headache of dealing with it later and say so from the get go.

Key questions to ask:

Once you have a short list of candidates, the next thing you’ll need to do is set up inspections of the home and interview your prospective roomies.

What do they do for a living? What hours do they work? From these questions you’ll be able to suss out how a person will fit into you and your housemates’ day-to-day schedules, this is especially important if you’re sharing a bathroom. You’ll also get an idea of their income, whether they’ll be able to make rent each month and whether or not the rent will be a stretch or well within their means.

How long do they plan on staying? Are they willing to co-sign the lease? These questions will help you to make sure the candidate is committed to staying for the duration of the lease. It’s also a good sign if they’re willing to co-sign the lease to protect you and the other housemates from a sudden exit.

Do they have any pets or plan on getting a pet? For many landlords having pets in their property is a non-negotiable. If you’re in this situation, it’s very important to make sure your potential housemate is aware of the no pets policy. Also some other people may simply prefer not to live with pets in their home due to allergies, cleanliness or noise.

Will they be having overnight guests? This can be a slightly awkward one to talk about with someone you’ve just met, but it’s a very important to establish a policy on sleepovers from the outset. You need to find out if someone plans on having their partner stay over more than 5 nights a week or if they’re single and intend on bringing different people back to stay frequently, which can be a safety concern.

What do they like to do to have fun/ relax/ socialise? This is a delicate way to check whether your prospective housemate will be throwing wild parties, and whether smoking, drinking or drugs are a part of their life. It’s also a good way to see if they’ll fit into the culture of your share house and if they have any things in common with yourself and other roommates, like cooking, TV shows, musical instruments, sports and hobbies.

Do they have references? Checking in with your candidate’s references will be one of the best things you can do to protect yourself from a housemate from hell. Ask them for references from past living arrangements and give them a call asking for honest feedback about the candidate. If a potential housemate has no references that’s a big red flag.

Always pay your due diligence before settling on a new housemate, as at the end of the day you will literally have to live with your decision every day. We hope our tips put you on the right path to finding the ideal housemate for your shared living arrangement.

Author bio:

Larissa Gardner is a blogger, social media strategist and marketing coordinator at arguably Australia’s best looking real estate website Homely.com.au. With over 340K listings and 500K local reviews and insights, Homely is a faster and easier way to search for property to buy and rent in Australia.

This article was originally published on the Homely Advisor Blog. Read the original article here.

 

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