An Expat Talks about Moving to London, UK

What is the name of the city or town that you are reporting on?

London

Name three things that you wish you had brought and three you wish you had left at home.

I wish we had brought.....

1) more of our CDs. New cds are much more expensive here and the selection of music on the radio is not as varied as in the States (ie, lots of dance music stations).

2) more summer clothes. Moving to London, we expected that we would be wearing jeans and sweaters almost year round. However, we forgot that we would be travelling to warmer destinations throughout the year. Clothes are more expensive here and it's hard to think about paying US $50 for a pair of plain khaki shorts!

I wish we had left....

1) some of the food that we brought. Before we left, we stocked up on some of the nonperishables (ie, salsa) that we thought we would not be able to get in London. As it turns out, we are able to get just about anything that we want. Whatever we can't get, we've found a tastier substitute! Kitchens are small and storage is limited, so don't bring anything unless you can't live without it and you're sure you can't get it here.

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What advice would you give someone preparing to move to your area about the actual move, choosing a neighborhood and finding a home?

Finding a place to live in London can be pretty overwhelming and I would recommend, if possible, waiting until you have arrived to find a place to live. If you can live in a serviced apartment for the first month or so that you are here, it will give you the opportunity to research the areas to determine the right one for you. Even with the internet and advice from others, it is very difficult to know what area best suits your needs until you arrive. If you are not able to get a serviced apartment and must find a place before you arrive, I would suggest that you allow at least four to five days to find a place. Many estate agents do not work on weekends, so be sure to plan these days during the week.

If you choose to live in a flat, be prepared for apartment living! Smaller quarters, noisy neighbors and a landlord! We moved from a 2700 sq ft house with a yard to a 700 sq ft flat with no garden - it's an adjustment! We are also living on the 5th floor of a period conversion (which is a house that has been converted to flats). The floors are uninsulated hardwoods and we can hear our neighbors' phone conversations at times. I would recommend 1) a flat in a mansion block (which has been purpose built for flats), 2) a flat on the top floor, or 3)a flat on the ground/lower ground floor of a period conversion (the ceilings are generally higher and have more insulation.)

Your landlord will have an inspection conducted prior to your move in. Be sure to attend this inspection and review the work being done. Generally, you will be held to maintain your flat in the same condition as when you moved in and many landlords are very particular about this. They have the ability to charge you for any damage, no matter how slight, that you may cause while you are living there. It is also important to report any and all problems to the letting agent or landlord during your tenancy. You can be held responsible for damage caused to the flat if you do not report a problem. For example, if you see water stains on the ceiling from a leak upstairs and you do not report it, you can be charged for it when you move out. I would recommend reporting and documenting all problems, no matter how minor it may seem.

What type of housing do you live in? Is this typical for most expats in your area?

We live in a 2 bed, 2 bath flat. We have minimal storage, small bathrooms and one of our bedrooms is a single - only a futon fits. However, since we have no children and are both working, this suits us. The area that we live in (Kensington) has a high population of expats with varied background and needs, so there are a wide variety of flats, from studios to five/six bedrooms.

How did you choose your neighborhood and find your home or apartment?

We chose our neighborhood based upon an area that a friend was already living in and recommendations from other US expats. About a month prior to our move, we came to London on a flat-hunting trip. With our relocation agent, we looked at about 20 flats in three different areas (St Johns Wood, Notting Hill/Holland Park, Kensington) over a two day period.

Are your housing costs higher or lower than they were in your home country? What is the average cost of housing there?

Not surprisingly, the housing costs in London are substantially higher than almost all places in the US. Our flat is 600 pounds per week = US$3600 per month. If you include council tax and utilities, it totals to about US $4000 per month. Fortunately, these costs are covered by the company. However, we do live in one of the more expensive areas of London. The majority of the areas around London are cheaper than this, but living in London is an expensive proposition, no matter where you live.