New to London? This guide introduces the city and explains how renting here works—from letting agents and Council Tax to transport, deposits and moving in. Along the way, we highlight the checks that help you rent safely.
For Canadians making London home · England guidance
Choose your home size and budget, then explore London’s boroughs on the map.
Select a borough on the map, set your preferences beside it, and explore neighbourhood costs using Movoro’s area data.
Choose your settings to start exploring.
Your London starting point · Powered by Movoro
Choose housing costs only, or add a journey to one of five destination hubs. Route estimates start from the area reference point, not an exact home address. Food and personal spending are extra.
Original map figures: Council Tax 2026/27 annual Band D area averages; rent based on ONS June 2026 monthly averages, as credited on the graphics. These are a dated comparison, not a quote for an individual home. Check the property’s band and current advertised rent.
Compare real routes across London. Enter a full postcode or station at each end, then choose how and when to travel.
Powered by the Transport for London Journey Planner API. Fares are shown only when supplied; they are not a ticket quote. Coverage is focused on London. For nationwide rail journeys and ticket options, check National Rail ↗.
Start with a part of London, then explore the neighbourhoods. Compare the actual commute and total cost before choosing.
These are starting points for exploring, not rent, school or safety rankings.
Explore CIL’s interactive map, local highlights and short neighbourhood films.
A London address is only part of the story. The borough, local neighbourhood, transport connections and everyday services all shape what it is like to live there.
London’s 32 boroughs are local-government areas; the City of London is a separate local authority. A neighbourhood name describes a smaller place and its identity. It does not necessarily tell you which council covers a particular property. Check the exact address for Council Tax and local services.
Find the council for an address ↗A fare zone is not a borough boundary or a neighbourhood rating. Two homes in the same zone can offer very different journeys. Look at the station, line, service and route you would actually use, then check the fare for that trip.
Understand fares and zones ↗“Central London” is not a single destination. Work, friends and everyday errands may take you to very different places. A local high street is the main shopping street; a town centre is the wider cluster of shops, services and transport. You may do much of your daily living locally.
Explore local neighbourhoods ↗North, south, east and west are useful starting points, but each contains many different places. Shortlist around the journeys you need, schools and healthcare, shopping, parks and the social life you want. Visit the actual streets as well as the nearest station.
Explore schools and family needs ↗When deciding where to live, think in travel time rather than distance.
A property may look close to central London on a map but involve several changes, an infrequent service or a long walk to the station. Conversely, somewhere farther out may have a fast direct train into central London.
Check the journey at the times you will actually travel. Look at Tube, Overground, Elizabeth line and National Rail connections, as well as buses, trams and river services where relevant.
The number of changes, evening and weekend services, and the walk to the station can matter just as much as the headline journey time.
Transport should also be part of your overall housing budget. Moving one or two zones farther out may save considerably on rent, but weigh that against the additional cost and time of your commute.
Before you start viewing properties, work out what you can realistically afford and where you need to be.
London has 32 boroughs, with significant differences in rents, Council Tax and transport. Look at the total cost of living in an area, rather than the advertised rent alone.
If you are arriving from Canada, having your banking, employment information, identification and rental documents ready can make a considerable difference when you find somewhere you like. Good properties can still be agreed very quickly, so preparation is important.
One important difference for Canadians is how rental agents work. In parts of Canada, notably Ontario, a renter can work with one real estate agent who searches across available listings, arranges viewings and is usually paid a commission through the transaction, even where another brokerage represents the landlord. In the UK, the rental market is much more fragmented. Letting agents generally market and manage their own landlords’ properties, so there is no single agent who will normally show you everything available across the market. If you are searching for a home in London, expect to contact and register with several different letting agents, as well as monitoring sites such as Rightmove, Zoopla and OpenRent.
Rent is only the starting point. Most London tenants will also need to budget separately for Council Tax, transport, gas and electricity, water, broadband, mobile phone, insurance and everyday subscriptions.
Council Tax is particularly unfamiliar to many Canadians. It is normally paid by the occupier, varies by borough and property band, and depends on who lives in the household.
Always establish which bills are included before comparing properties. A slightly higher rent with lower transport costs or some bills included can sometimes work out cheaper overall.
Council Tax is a local household charge that helps fund services including rubbish collection, policing, fire services and local government. Unlike Canadian property tax, tenants renting an entire property are normally responsible for paying it themselves.
Every property has a Council Tax band and each London borough sets its own rates, so two similarly priced homes can have quite different bills. A single adult can usually claim a 25% discount, while qualifying full-time students may be disregarded. In some shared houses and HMOs, Council Tax is included in the rent, so always check before signing.
If you are new to the UK, not having a UK credit record does not prevent you from renting, but you should be prepared to show that you can afford the property.
A UK guarantor, employment contract or job offer, proof of income or savings, previous landlord references and international credit information can all help strengthen your application.
Check the advance-rent and deposit limits before making a payment. Being new to the UK does not remove these protections.
A common problem for newcomers is being asked for a UK-based guarantor when they have only just arrived.
Our new partner RentGuarantor provides a professional UK guarantor service for tenants who may not have a suitable friend or family member here. New arrivals can apply using identification and evidence of regular income, such as an employment contract, subject to assessment and acceptance by the landlord or letting agent.
This is a paid service. Check the fee, eligibility and whether your landlord will accept it before applying.
Rightmove and Zoopla offer the broadest selection of rental properties. SpareRoom is particularly useful for rooms and flatshares, while OpenRent connects tenants directly with private landlords.
Set up alerts for the areas you are considering and contact local letting agents directly as well. Good properties can move quickly, particularly in popular parts of London.
Take time to check who you are dealing with and what you are paying for. Use the checks below before sending money or personal documents.
The pressure of the London market creates opportunities for fraud.
Be particularly cautious where a property is considerably cheaper than comparable homes, you cannot view it, the person advertising it is vague about their identity or you are being pressured to transfer money immediately.
Scammers can copy photographs and descriptions from genuine listings, so a professional-looking advert is not proof that the property exists or that the person advertising it has the right to rent it.
View the property wherever possible, establish who you are dealing with and understand exactly what any payment is for before transferring money.
A bank transfer or an overseas landlord is not proof of fraud on its own. Verify identity, authority to let and payment details independently.
London properties can move quickly, but urgency should never replace proper checks. Confirm who you are dealing with, view the property and receive written details before transferring money.
Most London properties are rented either directly from a private landlord or through a letting agent.
Remember that the letting agent is normally acting for the landlord. Some simply arrange the tenancy, while others manage the property throughout your stay and become your contact for repairs and other issues.
A legitimate agent should be able to explain who manages the property, where your money is going and which approved redress and deposit-protection arrangements apply.
A holding deposit used to reserve a property is different from the tenancy deposit held during your tenancy.
Your tenancy deposit should normally be protected through a government-approved scheme, and you should receive information telling you where it is protected and how it can be recovered or disputed.
Keep all receipts, confirmations and correspondence relating to deposits.
Read the tenancy documentation before signing and keep your own copies.
When you collect the keys, photograph or video the condition of the property and check the inventory carefully. Record existing marks, damage, furniture, appliances and meter readings and raise discrepancies in writing immediately.
This can be extremely valuable when the tenancy ends and the deposit is being returned.
If you rent a room from another tenant rather than directly from the landlord or authorised agent, establish exactly what the arrangement is.
An informal or unauthorised sublet may give you fewer protections and can create problems with deposits or your right to remain if the principal tenancy ends.
Shared properties can also fall within House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) rules. Licensing requirements vary, and some London boroughs operate additional licensing schemes beyond the national requirements.
If you are bringing a pet from Canada, make it part of your property search from the beginning rather than raising it after you have moved in.
Since 1 May 2026, tenants with an assured private tenancy in England can request a pet in writing, describing the animal. A landlord must not unreasonably refuse and must usually respond in writing within 28 days. The deadline can be extended in specified circumstances, including requests for more information or superior-landlord consent. A refusal can be challenged in court; seek advice before taking action. These rights apply to existing tenants, not people still applying for a home. Read the GOV.UK pets guidance.
Get any permission in writing and check the tenancy conditions carefully.
A serviced apartment can be a sensible option for the first few weeks after arriving.
It gives you somewhere furnished to live while you start work, establish banking, explore neighbourhoods and attend property viewings without committing to a long-term tenancy from Canada.
The headline nightly or weekly cost may look higher, but utilities, broadband and furnishings are usually included, so compare it with the total cost of temporary alternatives rather than rent alone.
Thinking beyond renting? Check your total budget, mortgage eligibility, deposit, stamp duty and ongoing ownership costs before choosing a property.
Consider leasehold terms and service charges, survey findings, legal fees, mortgage affordability, and the total commuting cost. A conveyancer and independent mortgage adviser can help you assess the risks.
For assured private tenancies in England. Lodgers, social housing and some other arrangements have different rules.
For monthly tenancies, normally the maximum after signing and before the tenancy starts. Rent cannot be taken before both parties sign.
Five weeks where annual rent is below £50,000; six weeks at £50,000 or above. A holding deposit is capped at one week.
The new regime uses periodic tenancies. Check the notice requirements when you want to leave.
Landlords and agents cannot encourage or accept offers above the advertised rent.
Rules checked 22 October 2026: GOV.UK tenant overview · Advance rent and deposits. General information; check advice for your particular tenancy.
Private renting in England changed significantly in May 2026. Deposits, advance rent and the fees landlords or agents can charge are restricted, while most tenancies now operate on a rolling basis.
Rental bidding is also banned. Landlords and agents must advertise a specific rent and cannot ask for, encourage or accept offers above it. Rent can normally be increased only once a year, not during the first 12 months of a new tenancy, with at least two months’ notice.
Before paying anything, understand exactly what the payment is for and make sure you have the appropriate written paperwork.
Before transferring money, confirm that the letting agent is an established business and belongs to a government-approved redress scheme. Agents holding client money must also belong to a client money protection scheme.
Client money protection schemes
Your landlord or agent should identify which government-approved scheme protects your deposit. It must generally be protected within 30 days, and you should receive information explaining how it is held and how disputes are handled
Keep copies of every document and photograph the property before moving in. Record existing damage, appliances and meter readings, then report any inventory corrections in writing. Your landlord should also provide the required safety and energy documents.
Shared homes, pets and local licensing rules can add another layer to your property search. Check the position before agreeing to a tenancy, particularly where you are renting a room, moving with a pet or considering a House in Multiple Occupation.
For up-to-date advice, confirm your tenancy position through an independent source rather than relying on an advertisement.
Explore the partners featured in CIL’s property guide. Check eligibility, fees and terms directly with each provider.
CIL may receive a commission or other benefit from partner links. CIL’s organiser, Mark Sultana, is a co-founder of Movoro.
Flights between Canada and the UK
Explore support ↗CIL partnerHelp finding and settling into your home
Explore support ↗CIL partnerProfessional guarantor service, subject to approval
Explore support ↗CIL partnerSupport moving your pet
Explore support ↗CIL partnerExplore banking before you move
Explore support ↗CIL partnerSpeak to Pas about a UK mortgage
Email Doctor Mortgage ↗CIL supports Shelter’s work helping people facing homelessness and housing insecurity. Our community has raised more than £1,000 through events and fundraising in 2026.