"Renting in the UK - Best web site?" Topic

My daughter got accepted into a masters program in the UK and will need an apartment. What's the best site for searching for apartments to let?

Try the university web site. They will probably have links to local landlords that specialise in renting to students.

Good tip, thanks.

Whereabouts?

She's still waiting to hear, but she was accepted at U of Leeds.

link
University of Leeds guarantees an offer of accommodation to international postgraduates (paying international rate fees), so worth checking them out unless she'd prefer to have accommodation in the private sector.
link has a link to advice on private sector accommodation

Take whatever the amount budgeted, double it and expect to use it all. Then have half again as much in reserve. Don't buy into any garbage anyone tells you about how you are squared away – investigate and check off list yourself.

The UK has a ridiculous number of hidden fees, taxes, and charges that will pop up and is very expensive living for US personnel and make absolutely sure she has her medical squared away – the NHS might as well not exist.

Do not count on trains or any public transport. Be prepared to pay $130.00 USD for typical train out of Heathrow or taxi around $300.00 USD – for Leeds a care hire wouldn't be an option unless one is closer range. A car here is a whole different kettle of fish. MOT, road tax work more like a yearly license plate reg and run somewhere around additional $350.00 USD

For renting, work through school to begin with. I would strongly advise this as charges and contracts here are not in favor of the renter and running through school should mean she will have some leverage. Utilities are going to be very expensive, $350.00 USD each per month is what I would budget if you are paying yourself. Also with the recent and foreseeable weather changing, invest in a portable air conditioner – July/August are now going to badass temps and no where here as internal ac.

Lastly, don't expect 1st world anything when it comes to infrastructure. Roads (off M# or A# roads, expect goatpath), bridges, power grids, cell networks (probably EE where she will be), and internet (out of cities) is almost completely wrecked and in need of massive overhaul. Pot holes here make Chicago look positively glass smooth.

Wow, Augustus. How did the UK hurt you?

NHS provides world class healthcare free at point of provision for everybody. She may have to pay for prescription charges, but they are fixed fees of around £9.60 GBP per medicine. Your daughter should sign on to a Doctor as soon as she can, but the University will have a health centre that can advise.

A train from Heathrow to Leeds is around £50.00 GBP-100, depending on how far in advance and when you book it. There are plenty of discount travel websites like Trainline. A bus (AKA a coach in the UK) is about half that (National Express, like Greyhound, is an institution over here). I wouldn't get a cab from Heathrow to Leeds without pre-booking it. If you book a journey you get a much better rate than just hailing a cab.

Our roads, bridges(????) power grid (WTF, Augustsus, power grid??) and cell networks are indeed 1st world, with 99.7% 4G coverage by population and 93% coverage by land area. Just like any country, rural internet speeds are dependent on distance from your POP, but fast broadband (100 MBps+) is available in most areas – I have gigabit broadband, for instance.

Renting is a little bit of a minefield, but there are many reputable letting agents you can use that won't rip you off. Utilities should NOT be $350 USD per month – for a three bedroom house I don't spend that on utilities, and if renting you can find deals where utilities are included. Don't rent anywhere with a pay as you go, electronic key or coin meter for utilities.

Hi Extra Crispy, some good advice from Goober. As regards accommodation, I think that your best bet is to work through the University initially. Once your daughter is established, she will find that there will be opportunities to rent off campus and house share with friends. The other link worth exploring is the Student union:

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It's also worth noting that there is more than one airport in the UK. I have no idea of flights inbound but I have flown to the US from East Midlands and Birmingham, albeit on tourist holiday flights. There's also an airport at Leeds/Bradford and at Manchester. I'm not sure if they have direct flights to and from the USA but it might be worth checking whether it is economical to fly to, say Amsterdam and then connect to Leeds. I'll leave you to explore that…

As for Augustus, that's the funniest post I have read on TMP for some time – are you Donald in disguise?

An airconditioner in July/August, we had four hot days and that was 2 years ago. As for the cold, we have had a bit of snow for the odd day but if your are a student, it's mandatory in Leeds to wear a tee shirt and jeans on a night out, if that:

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By the way, that report was in 2018 – we haven't seen snow like that since. Mark Twain had about right, if you don't like the weather in the UK, wait a minute.

Your daughter will have a lovely time over here.

Donald in disguise?

I was very confused at the discussion until I realized it didn't say "ranting"…