Renting in the UK

The United Kingdom is one of the more expensive European countries and renting a property in the UK is often an expensive process. You may be surprised at how little you can get for your money, especially in comparison to the rental possibilities and rental costs in other European cities. The UK has a huge population density with over sixty million people living in less than ninety-five thousand square miles: that's over six hundred people per square mile! Naturally, space is limited and living space costly.

In addition, the population is not spread out evenly across the Kingdom; most of the population is congregated around the main cities, such as London, Birmingham, Manchester, Glasgow, Cardiff and Belfast. Many people choose to live in the south-east of England, near London, for professional reasons. Property prices here are among the most expensive in the UK, and are expected to remain high. The relation of property size to price is usually very low: the price of property per square metre in the United Kingdom is high, and cities such as London often top lists of the world's most expensive areas to live. If you wish to rent a flat in London, be prepared to pay a lot of money, or compromise on size and quality.

However, the UK is currently in the throes of a 'credit crunch' which has seen house prices fall dramatically for the first time in many years. The effects of this crunch are not yet known, and so it is difficult to predict how prices of rented property will change. It is possible that a fall in property prices will result in lower rental costs, but it is also possible that the unstable housing market will encourage people to rent a property until they can be certain that the home they purchase will not depreciate in value. This would lead to higher demand for rental properties, and thus higher rental costs.

Areas such as London are likely to remain popular, so you should be aware that in all likelihood you will be paying a considerable monthly rent if you choose to live there. Other areas, perhaps outside the larger cities, tend to be much more affordable. You will usually get a much larger property for your money if you choose to live in the suburbs. For more details, see articles Regional Variation and Urban Location.


For more detailed information on renting in the UK, see:

• Regional Variation
• Urban Location
• UK Transport
• Renting in London
• Letting Agencies
• Rental Contract
• Deposit / Security Deposit
• Running Costs
• Tenancy Law
• Additional Rental Considerations