Sharing accommodation (in London)
If you are single and on a tight budget, then an option is sharing. This will involve either having a room to yourself or to share a room with one or more people in either a house or flat. Such arrangements are usually paid for on a weekly basis and in advance. They start at about £50 a week and that is for accommodation only. Bills and taxes are usually extra and you provide your own food. Sharing a two or three bedroom house or flat with two to ten (or more!) other people will be trying at times, but will never be dull. Flat-mates tend to share in everything and lifelong friendships can be made. On the other side of the spectrum, a bunch of individuals sharing with all intent on keeping to themselves may work for some people too. Visit any prospective accommodation first to gauge the personalities involved.
The best way to find suitable sharing arrangements is through the Loot newspaper. It is available through newsagents every second day and over the Internet on a delayed basis. TNT magazine and other similar magazines are also useful in this regard. The London Evening Standard newspaper carries classified adverts for people looking to share properties. The various universities in London (and other cities) often have students advertising on the campus bulletin boards for others to share property. You don’t necessarily have to be a student, just be of similar age and interests.