When going to London/ECBM –and maybe considering staying there for a longer period of time or even for good – there are a lot of things that need to be managed. Aspects such as accommodation and finding a place to work or study must be adjusted as well as matters of insurance, residence permits, opening a British account, and labour permit.

Accommodation

It depends on how long someone is going to stay in London when looking for an appropriate accommodation. Many people offer rooms on internet platforms but if it is just for a weekend it is also attractive to book a room in a hotel as they are often situated in the centre of London and provide a better service as well as half board, full board or at least breakfast. On websites like www.visitlondon.com there are also current special offers to book.

On websites such as www.loot.com or www.gumtree.com it is possible to choose between a range of different offers for accommodation. Personal preferences concerning price, amount of rooms/beds, distance to the centre, pets, furniture and home entertainment, and a proper car can be selected there to find the most suitable place to live in London. The longer the stay is, the better it is to consider accommodation in such a rented room or flat as hotels are quiet expensive, especially when they are situated in traffic zone 1.

When considering relocating to London for a longer period of time, e.g. for a year or for good, it is smart to think about renting a proper flat. Many of them are already furnished. In boroughs such as Mayfair and Belgravia one has to pay some of the highest rents of the whole world but London in general is not a cheap place to live and to pay rent. Standard rental contracts are designed to protect the lodger’s interests as well as those of the landlord. As it is usually the landlord who provides the contract, it is important that lodgers, especially when they do not speak English as their mother tongue, completely understand its implications.