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Guide to Renting

Guide to Renting

Renting is a in popular way of getting a home in central London. It is ideal especially for short term stays or if your future plans are fluid.

The standard form of tenure is the Assured Shorthold Tenancy, which lasts normally for a minimum six months before it needs to be renewed.

The main factor when choosing a location to rent is travel, with proximity to a tube station being top of most people's priority list. Next comes local amenities such as shops, sporting facilities, gyms, restaurants.

Now consider what accommodation you require. How many bedrooms? Do they need to be single or double? Are any of the bedrooms lacking ensuites? How important is outside space such as a garden or terrace?

If you are looking for a flat, some period buildings are attractive but lack lifts.

When you have identified the place you want, make an offer. If it is accepted, you will be sent a copy of the Tenancy Agreement and any other necessary forms and we advise tenants to read these carefully.

Make sure the agreement is clear about which bills are included in the rent. Energy bills (heating and hot water) may be included but if not the Energy Performance Certificate will give an idea of their likely size. Council Tax is usually payable by the tenant - though somewhat surprisingly the City of Westminster has one of the cheapest tax rates in London.

The landlord will want to take references at this point - you will need your bank account details, plus contact details for your previous landlord and your employers.

You will now get an invoice for the various charges due, including the first month's rent, a deposit (usually equivalent to six week's rent) and the letting agency's fee for drawing up the contract and taking references. There will also be a charge for taking the initial inventory (the landlord will pay for the departure inventory).

You should also be ready to inform the utility companies of the new tenancy.

Wellbelove Quested is a member of the Tenancy Deposit Scheme, which is administered by:

Deposit Protection Service

The DPS

The Pavilions

Bridgwater Road

Bristol

BS99 6AA

Phone: 0330 303 0030

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Website: www.depositprotection.com

"We have known Grant Wellbelove for several years and he has always been extremely well informed about the very specialist market in which his firm operates- Belgravia and surrounding villages. He seems to have detailed notes on every house on his patch! We looked at several houses with him and discussed many others-his advice was objective, encouraging but not pushy and always cheerfully given. We actually did not buy a house through Grant this time, but he did pop over and have a look at the house we did buy (another agent was selling it)and he told us to buy it. We will certainly talk to Grant first when we come to buy and sell in the near future."

Bruce and Sarah Westbrook

"Wellbelove Quested - A Bespoke Boutique Real Estate Agency Offering Exceptional Customer Service

Investing in an apartment in London can be an incredibly complex, time-consuming, stressful, and expensive process. With property values varying dramatically every few hundred meters, assessing the future potential of an area is no easy task. The process is further complicated by the need to coordinate solicitors and surveyors, not to mention fierce competition from other buyers and sellers—some of whom may back out even after a handshake agreement. It requires significant time, effort, and patience to navigate the property market and make a smart purchase, something I didn’t have in abundance.

Fortunately, I had the privilege of working with Grant Wellbelove and his team at Wellbelove Quested. After communicating my budget and preferred areas, Grant provided invaluable insights into which neighborhoods were worth considering and which streets offered the best investment opportunities. He quickly curated a list of properties that matched my criteria and, using historical pricing data, suggested optimal negotiation strategies.

Once we agreed on a shortlist, we spent two days negotiating and narrowing down options, and within 48 hours, we submitted an offer on a property in St. John’s Wood. From that point on, Grant expertly managed the process, mobilizing and coordinating a highly professional surveyor and solicitor’s office to ensure everything proceeded smoothly until the completion of the sale.

I cannot imagine successfully making this purchase without Grant’s expertise, professional approach, and around-the-clock support. We are incredibly grateful and wholeheartedly recommend his services.

Dimitrios Moulavasilis"

CEO, Diaverum

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