 | London Hotels and Accommodations | Tips 1621 - 1624 of 1624 |  |
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i only stayed in one self catering cottage, but i must say, for someone who is planning an extended stay (like three weeks) a self catering cottage is definitely the way to go! most cottages are family run, with no corporate shenanigans, of course, the lodgings are expected to meet accomodation standards! many cottages charge weekly, which is where you save loads of money, especially by sharing with friends or family, and some even give deals if you stay for extended periods! check out: www.cottageguide.co.uk for great cottages in the united kingdom! in all im very impressed with the self catering idea, just remember to budget for food as well!
some self catering cottages will require you to bring your own linens (such as towels, bed sheets, etc) so be prepared to look into this if you plan to stay in one. all cottages are equipped with fridge, stove, microwaves and semi private or fully private baths. it depends on the cottage, so be sure to read up on the amenities in full. because cottages are family run as well, the family is usually more than willing to help you find your way around, some provide booklets and maps of the area, and many will assist you in planning itineraries. cottages are a great idea if youre staying with children, seniors, people with disabilities, and even pets!! (pets and disability access vary from cottage to cottage, so be sure to keep an eye out for those that meet these requirements should you need them!) Theme: Pension/GuesthousePrice: US$180 and up » Currency ConverterComparison: less expensive than averageDirections: located variously through the uk.Website: www.cottageguide.co.uk
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| | | | your landlord's name: Shared House with a Landlord | Satisfaction:  | | | | |
The cheapest way to stay in London for a long period is to share a house with a landlord. Many britons let their houses to students and overseas visitors. Sometimes they live in the premises, others let it fully to tenants. If the landlord lives in the premise, you gotta check several things before you sign a contract. First, ask if the rent is inclusive of bills, ie, water, gas, council tax, electricity, broadband. Second, check the heating system, if there's any leak, fire/smoke/robbery alarms Third, rent is usually calculated per week, so 4 weeks does not mean 1 month. If you're asked to pay monthly, then you must be aware to pay for 30/31 days. This can be done like this...multiply the weekly rent by 12 months, then divide the yearly cost by 12 months again, this will equal your monthly rental. Usually minimum stay is 3 , 6, or 12 months. Fourth, some landlords require holding deposit and damage deposit. The holding deposit is either to cover the days you're holding the room, or to hold the room while it's also included in the first month rent. The damage deposit is refundable and it comprises 4-6 weeks of the weekly rental, depending on how long you want to stay. For example, if the weekly rent is £100, then you'll pay £400/£600 as a damage deposit which you can receive back after you finish your rental period. Note some landlords usually deduct one week rent for general maintenance. Make sure that's mentioned in the contract, so sign.
Con'd... Fifth, ask about the house rules, if overnight guests are allowed, if so any additional costs involved, if somking, drinking, playing musical instruments allowed...etc, if you can bring a TV as some ask you to pay your own TV licence which may cost up to £126 per year. So your landlord must have one already and you shouldn't pay for it. Sixths, some landlords put some conditions that the tenant must be vegetarian, kosher/halal observant. So do ask about this too. Seventh, some landlords have big families live in the premise, like 3 children or 2 teenagers. If you don't like this or do accept it, just make it clear and ask. Eigth, some families serve meals, 1 or 2 included in the rent but usually not. Ninth, single room, single occupant, shared bathroom and kitchen, usually costs, inclusive of all bills, around £65-£150 depending on the area, NOT more than that. Try to bargain as some are open to bargaining. The cheapest rate can be found in zone 1, 2 but not in nice areas, but you gotta look for them. The most expensive are scattered across London, they're the expensive ones. Usually you can apply for this kind of accommodation from websites where the landlords directly advertise for their property, or through a real estate agency who usually charge an admission fee ranging from £65-£100. Tenth, you see I'm trying to make a list of the Ten Commandment here,lol Pros: - Affordable and cheapest rate in London - Can save transportation costs if living in zone 1, 2 - Have a sense of Londoners'/Britons' lifestyle - Can make good friends Cons: - No privacy - Very small, over economic! - Not luxurious Leave a Comment Theme: OtherComparison: least expensiveAddress: Anywhere in LondonDirections: Try gumtree the below website. It's the most popular website for direct advertisements by landlords.Website: www.gumtree.com
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