Settling In — Finding a Place to Live & Getting Around

Finding a Place to Live

Realistic Timeline

Situation	Expected Timeframe	Notes
London flatshare	1~3 weeks	Good rooms go within the same day or 2 days
Cities outside London	1~2 weeks	Less competition
Peak season (Sep~Oct)	Longer than usual	Overlaps with university term start — fierce competition

Flatshare Platforms

Platform	What it's for	Recommendation
SpareRoom	The go-to flatshare site. Largest selection of rooms	Essential
Rightmove	All-purpose property site (rent & buy)	Good for studios / 1-beds
Zoopla	Similar to Rightmove	Use as a backup
OpenRent	Direct from landlords — no agency	Saves on fees
CrystalRoof	Neighbourhood data (crime, schools, noise, etc.) at a glance	Check before signing a contract
Facebook Marketplace	Occasional last-minute deals	Watch out for scams
Korean community group chats	Sublets and room takeovers from fellow Koreans	Handy when you first arrive

Viewing Checklist

Questions To Ask During a Viewing

• Who actually lives there — Ads do not always match reality. Ask how many people live there in total and how many share each bathroom.
• Whether the landlord lives there — If the landlord lives in the property, you may be a lodger/licensee rather than an AST tenant, which means weaker protection.
• How heating works in winter — Ask if heating hours are restricted and what typical winter bills look like.
• Exact move-in date and current occupier status — Do not rely on "it should be available soon". Get the date in writing.
• How bills are settled — Included, capped, or reconciled later? Ask before you commit.

Scam Tactics & Red Flags

• Pressure to send money before a viewing
• Refusing to show the contract or full address while insisting you pay "today"
• Rent that is dramatically below market without a credible explanation
• Unclear whether the person showing the room is the real landlord, a legitimate agent, or an authorised current tenant
• "Sublet is fine, the landlord said yes" with nothing in writing
• Taking a holding deposit while keeping the ad live and shopping around for other applicants

Contracts, Deposits & Notice: What Matters

• Check whether it should be an AST — In England, if you are renting from a private landlord who does not live with you, it will usually be an AST. If the document says licence, lodger, or excluded occupier, ask exactly why. Sometimes that label is used to water down tenant rights.
• Fixed term vs early exit — Check whether it is a fixed term or rolling agreement, whether there is a break clause, and the first date you are actually allowed to leave.
• Notice period — Do not rely on verbal promises like "just give a month's notice". Check the written notice rules for both tenant and landlord.
• Tenancy deposit — In England this is usually capped at 5 weeks' rent (6 weeks for high-rent cases). You should receive deposit protection details within 30 days.
• Holding deposit — Usually capped at 1 week's rent. Get written confirmation of whether it will be credited toward your rent/deposit and when it is refundable.
• No job / weak income proof often means upfront rent — If you are unemployed or cannot yet show payslips, references, or UK income, some landlords or agents ask for 3~6 months' rent upfront and may loosely describe it as an "extra deposit". Make sure the contract clearly distinguishes tenancy deposit from rent in advance, and get refund / offset terms in writing.
• Extra fees — In England, admin, reference, check-out, and renewal fees are a warning sign. Go line by line on every payment the contract asks for.
• Council Tax — It can easily add £100~200+ (approx. ₩200,737~₩401,474+) per month depending on the area. Confirm whether it is included and who is legally responsible.
• Inventory evidence — On move-in day, take photos and videos of the room, furniture, walls, windows, and mattress. Report defects immediately in writing or deposit disputes get much harder.

Transport

Oyster vs Contactless

We recommend using contactless (debit/credit card tap). The fares are the same as Oyster, and you don't need a separate card — much more convenient.

Daily & Weekly Caps

Zone	Daily cap	Weekly cap
Zone 1-2	£8.10 (approx. ₩16,260)	£40.70 (approx. ₩81,700)

No matter how many journeys you make, you'll never pay more than the cap. (Based on 2025 fares — these change every year.)

Make the Most of Off-Peak

Weekdays after 09:30 and all day on weekends/bank holidays count as off-peak. Avoid rush hour and you'll save on fares.

Railcard

• 16-25 Railcard or 26-30 Railcard (£30 (approx. ₩60,221)/year)
• 1/3 off all rail fares
• Link it to your Oyster card for 1/3 off off-peak Tube fares too
• Just a few train trips a year and it pays for itself

Settlement Checklist