It's so complicated that there are flatmatting speed dating events. I've been to 5 or 6 now and the ratio is like 15:1.
There are even ads on the tube for websites with that purpose.
I've spent more than 2 weeks as a full time job! trying to find a place is at walking distance (0-15m) from a tube station. Any! tube station. And there are a lot of them.
Finally settled with long term Airbnb room. Which was what I should have done in the first place!
750£ for a room, which is on par with what is being offered in non-Airbnb sites.
To put it in perspective the average salary in London is £35k, which gives ~ £2,240 liquid per month. A studio costs you between 1k and 1.5k. Add bills, council tax, transportation (which is quite expensive), and you don't end up with much at the end of the month.
If you're emigrating to London and don't have a job and no friend to help you – despite having money – go with Airbnb.
If you insist on ignoring that advice, then please avoid agents like the plague! They'll ditch appointments making you waste 2h, ask for 12 months upfront, and leech their 250£ commission from you for basically doing nothing.
In the recent years there has been more people moving into London and fewer houses being built. London has a housing problem and the Mayor should fix it.
Right now we have a generation of young people in their 20s to early 30s living in houses of 3 to 6 people. This is just nonsensical to me.
If you are unable to have your own life in order then how are you supposed to go further and do things like constitute a family. Hence the birth rate decline and the need for a crazy influx of immigrants. In the name of what? Banks and real estate?
https://www.london.gov.uk/sites/default/files/Housing%20in%2...