Apartment in London — overview
London (Greater London) has ~9 million residents, a huge rental market. The Polish community in London is ~200k people (the densest Polish community in the UK).
Most popular Polish neighborhoods
- Ealing (W5, W7, W13) — historic Polish hub, Polish church (Notting Hill), Polish shops
- Hammersmith (W6, W12) — Polish presence
- Acton (W3) — growing Polish
- Hounslow (TW3-TW5) — large Polish community
- Wimbledon (SW19) — Polish + Hindu community
- Streatham (SW16) — affordable, Polish
- Walthamstow (E17) — east, affordable
- Tooting (SW17) — Polish + multicultural
Prices 2026 (typically per month, unfurnished/part-furnished)
| Location | Studio | 1-bed | 2-bed | 3-bed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 1 (city center) | £1,600-2,200 | £2,200-3,500 | £3,200-5,500 | £5,000-9,000+ |
| Zone 2 (inner London) | £1,200-1,700 | £1,600-2,300 | £2,400-3,500 | £3,500-5,500 |
| Zone 3 | £1,100-1,500 | £1,400-1,900 | £2,000-2,700 | £2,800-4,000 |
| Zone 4 | £1,000-1,300 | £1,250-1,700 | £1,700-2,400 | £2,400-3,200 |
| Zone 5-6 (outer) | £900-1,200 | £1,100-1,500 | £1,500-2,100 | £2,000-2,800 |
Prices are continually rising in 2024-26. Check current listings: Zoopla, Rightmove.
Rental process — step by step
Step 1: Determine your budget
Rule of thumb: rent < 30-40% of net income. Sum up:
- Monthly rent
- Council Tax
- Utilities (gas, electricity, water): £100-200/month
- Internet/TV: £30-60
- Transport
Step 2: Choose a neighborhood
- Proximity to work (commute time)
- Transport links (Tube, Overground, bus)
- Polish community (if important)
- Safety (check local statistics)
- Schools (if with children)
- Polish shops, church (if important)
Step 3: Apartment search
- Rightmove.co.uk — largest
- Zoopla.co.uk
- OnTheMarket.com
- SpareRoom.co.uk — for flat shares
- OpenRent.co.uk — landlords directly
- Gumtree — beware of scams
- Facebook Polish groups — "Poles in London", "Polish London"
Step 4: Viewings
- Schedule through an agent
- 10-30 min per viewing
- Check:
- Condition of the apartment, damp, mold
- Heating, hot water, appliances
- Safety (lock, intercom)
- Noise (evening time)
- Internet/cell coverage
- Storage, drying space
- Neighbors
- Ask about utilities cost from previous tenant
Step 5: Making an offer + documents
Required:
- Passport / EU ID / BRP card — Right to Rent check
- Proof of address (utility bill, bank statement)
- Proof of income — payslips for 3 months, bank statements
- References:
- Previous landlord (if any)
- Employer
- Sometimes character reference
- Guarantor — if income < 3x rent (UK-based, typically owns property)
- Holding deposit — 1 week rent (max under law)
Right to Rent check
Landlords MUST check right to rent (immigration status). Accepted:
- British passport / British citizen ID
- EU/EEA/Swiss passport (with pre-settled or settled status)
- BRP (Biometric Residence Permit)
- Polish passport (with EU Settlement Scheme status)
Without right to rent — landlord cannot legally rent.
Step 6: Rental agreement (AST)
Assured Shorthold Tenancy — standard type:
- Term: typically 6 or 12 months fixed
- After fixed term: rolling monthly tenancy
- Notice from landlord: 2 months minimum (Section 21) — being phased out 2026+
- Notice from tenant: typically 1 month
Read carefully:
- Rent amount + due date
- Deposit amount + protection scheme
- Inventory + check-in report
- Inclusions (furniture, appliances)
- Repairs responsibility
- Allowed alterations
- Pets policy
- Smoking policy
- Subletting rules
- End-of-tenancy cleaning
Step 7: Deposit + first month rent
- Deposit: max 5 weeks rent (under Tenant Fees Act 2019)
- First month rent
- Total upfront: ~6 weeks rent = £2,500-5,000 typically
Step 8: Deposit Protection
Landlord MUST deposit in a protected scheme within 30 days:
- DPS (Deposit Protection Service) — custodial or insurance
- MyDeposits
- TDS (Tenancy Deposit Scheme)
You receive a protection certificate. Without protection — you can claim 1-3x deposit + cannot use Section 21.
Step 9: Move-in + inventory
- Check check-in inventory carefully
- Take photos of the apartment's condition
- Note all defects in writing
- Report utilities providers (gas, electricity, water)
- Report to council about move-in (Council Tax)
Tenant Fees Act 2019
Since 2019, fees charged to tenants are prohibited:
Prohibited
- Agency fees
- Referencing fees
- Credit check fees
- Inventory fees
- Cleaning fees (upon move-out, unless contract conditions)
- Renewal fees
Allowed
- Rent
- Deposit (max 5 weeks rent)
- Holding deposit (max 1 week)
- Default fees (e.g. late rent, lost keys)
- Council Tax, utilities
Common pitfalls
Scams
- Pay only after viewing
- NEVER full payment before signing
- Verify landlord owns property (Land Registry £3)
- Check agent with trade association (ARLA Propertymark, NRLA)
- Beware of "too good to be true" deals
Inventory disputes
- Take comprehensive photos upon move-in
- Note defects in writing
- End-of-tenancy — request inventory check
- Disputes through deposit scheme arbitration
Repairs
- Landlord: structural, heating, water, electric
- Tenant: minor things, light bulbs
- Major issues — request repair in writing
- Right to Repair scheme
Polish services in London
- Polish Property Centre (Ealing)
- Polish-speaking estate agents
- Polish letting agents
- Polish builders/handymen in Polish neighborhoods
Practical tips
- Zoopla, Rightmove — main search
- Right to Rent check with passport + status
- Max 5 weeks deposit + 1 month rent upfront
- Deposit protection mandatory within 30 days
- Photo everything upon move-in
- AST standard tenancy 6-12 months
- Polish neighborhoods for community
- Council Tax mandatory from move-in
- Tenant Fees Act 2019 — protects against fees
- Citizens Advice for dispute help
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