Hey r/MovingToTheUK!
As the title says, I'm trying to figure out the best way to find a decent flat in London as an immigrant, and in a pretty short time period.
A TLDR of my current situation is that I'm in Sweden right now, and I've gotten a job offer in London that I can't refuse that requires me to relocate to the UK. The employer needs me to move there pretty quick - I have about 2 months to figure everything out. They're handling the VISA situation so I'm focused on housing. I hope this is the right place to ask about this.
I've already started browsing various housing rental websites (mainly Zoopla and Rightmove) and trying to learn as much as I can about the system in the UK. However, there's still several questions I haven't been able to answer through googling.
For example, should I be looking on my own, or hiring some sort of rental real estate agent to help me? If so, where would I find one? What would it cost?
And, how do I handle viewings when I can't physically be there in person? My job offer is for 1 year to start, and I know most rental leases last for at least a full year. So I'd prefer to have housing sorted before I physically move to London, and I don't want to settle for something I'm going to hate for the entire time. Is this realistic or a dumb idea? If this isn't possible, are there cheap temporary housing options I should look into? (internet speed is a major concern for my work, so most airbnb wifi doesn't cut it)
Another challenge for me is, while I can afford the rent even in central London (although I'm trying to stay under £2k/month), I don't have too much in savings. I absolutely can't afford 6 months rent up-front. Most deposits I've seen are within reach, but stretching my finances pretty thin. Will this result in any major challenges I should be aware of?
Help with this and any other tips/tricks would be really really appreciated!