Moving to London can be an exciting, yet daunting, prospect. If you’re looking for a short or medium-term tenancy of around 3-6 months, it can be incredibly challenging to rent a traditional flat. A better, and often more affordable option (compared to a hotel), is to stay in a serviced apartment. This article will give you an insight into how simple and straightforward it can be to book a serviced apartment in London on a 3-6 month contract, when you are moving to London.
Alternatives to traditional rentals in London
Finding a traditional rental tenancy for 3-6 months is not easy, as most landlords demand a minimum 12-month commitment. So often the easiest solution is to check into a hotel for a 3-6 month stay. However, for a variety of reason this is not usually the best option.
Hotels
Hotels can be enjoyable to stay in for a short period of time, but they are rarely suited to longer stays. They limit you to just one private room and, although they often offer other facilities, they are unable to provide the space and the residential feel of a serviced apartment. When moving to London and needing accommodation for a number of months, you probably want to stay somewhere that feels like your home.
Serviced apartments
Staying in a serviced apartment has many added benefits to a traditional rental or hotel.
Typically, serviced apartments offer:
- Weekly house cleaning
- Weekly linen and towel changing
- Concierge/reception or 24/7 contact number
- Laundry facilities
- Smart TV and WiFi
There are also a variety of other facilities you may be looking for and that we can help you with, for example properties with balconies or luxury serviced apartments.
Serviced apartments combine the convenience of a well-maintained hotel with with the comfort of having a private space, where you can cook your own meals and enjoy a quiet night in after a long day in the office. That’s especially important if you are moving and need a place to stay while sorting your permanent living arrangements.
Depending on the length of stay some property operators offer an assured shorthold tenancy, which can be a great solution for your medium-term stay as the rate can be much lower than normal serviced apartment rates and still provide all the benefits of a serviced apartment.
Aparthotels are also an available option. Perfect for 7-28 day stays, Aparthotels tend to be more compact and include kitchenettes rather than kitchens.
Comparing hotels to serviced apartments
Importantly, hotels demand a nightly rate. Currently many hotels are offering dynamic rates which vary according to availability and can make the rates higher, whereas serviced apartments tend to offer weekly or monthly rates depending on the length of stay. Some properties on ASTs (assured shorthold tenancies) are exempt from VAT.
- On accommodation – 20% VAT is usually applied for 28 nights and reduced to 4% thereafter.
Some serviced apartment properties are exempt of VAT, which can also help you if you come from overseas.
Remember personal service – we do!
Here at Find London Apartments we pride ourselves on our independent, personal and reliable service, sourcing serviced apartments for customers relocating to London either from abroad or within the UK. We listen to our clients to ensure that your needs are met, whether you want advice on properties near to where you work or in a more residential area with good transport links to your office.
The apartments we offer span the breadth of London, with featured locations including the City, Mayfair, Liverpool Street, West End and more. If you’re looking for short-medium term accommodation in London, get in touch today.
You may also be interested in our Moving to London Survival Kit.