Renting in the private sector
Finding private rented accommodation
Which location?
Living in Kingston is highly sought after with the excellent schools, a thriving town centre and being in a close proximity to London. These factors make it a popular place to reside. However, the rent here is higher than boroughs out of London and if it is an option, a move away from London could get you more for your money.
Where can I look for properties to rent?
There are many platforms to search for properties in the private sector including looking at newspaper adverts, enquiring in lettings agents, contacting landlords directly and checking advertisement boards in newsagents.
The below websites are good places to start looking for accommodation and you will be able to identify local letting agents in your searches:
Looking for Room Shares
If you are searching for accommodation as a single person, a more affordable option is to search for rooms to rent. This could also enable you to stay in the Borough and keep costs down.
The below websites are where roomshares are advertised:
Kingston Churches
We also work closely with Kingston Churches who might be able to help accommodate you if there is a risk of homelessness and you have a local connection with the area.
Using a letting agency
What they can charge you for
- a tenancy agreement
- an inventory
- credit checks and references
- negotiating with the landlord on your behalf
- renewal of tenancies
What they can’t charge you for
- taking your details and housing requirements
- giving you the addresses and details of available properties
Holding fees
If you pay a ‘holding fee’ to a landlord or agent to have first call on a property, they’re under no obligation to reserve it for you – or return the fee.
You can only guarantee a property is yours once you and the landlord have signed a contract and you’ve paid the rent.