Best way to find a short let?

cloo

Anyone know the best way to find a short let in London? I know some people who may have to move out of rented accommodation while completing a house sale, so they'd only need a couple of months elsewhere, but short lets seem to be like hen's teeth online.

My other thought was whether there might be community discussion forums for their local area where they could ask. Are there any lively London forums where they might be able to ask (and be answered by someone other than scammers!)? Landlord will vouch for them very strongly for them as tenants to someone who would like to have trustworthy people in their house if they need to be away for a while.

PasturesNew

I'd take a look at airbnb.com

e.g. I just keyed in London, beginning July to end of August .... "entire property" and came up with a multitude of options, including this one (example) at £1166/month https://www.airbnb.co.uk/rooms/3159225?checkin=05-07-2014&checkout=30-08-2014&guests=2&s=Miwj

Remember: this type of "let" is fee free and usually bills inclusive.

Take a fiddle round with the locations/dates/prices.

I wish they were that available/cheap where I am..... cheapest I can find within 10 miles of where I am right now is more like £2k/month.

cloo

Thanks, hadn't thought of that, it could be helpful for them.

etak23

If you do use airbnb then if you use this referral code we both get £15 off our bookings. Every little helps

airbnb .co.uk/c/lashton6

cloo

Asking on Gumtree's not going to be much use is it? I presume one just gets 2.3zillion replies from scammers offering a miraculously suitable and cheap place that you can secure if you just show them a Western Union receipt to prove you have the funds for a deposit...

Pixie5740

If it's over the summer then some of the London based universities let out the halls of residence to joe public.

cloo

Pixie5740 wrote: »

If it's over the summer then some of the London based universities let out the halls of residence to joe public.

Funnily enough I've *just* been looking into that.

People in question live just down the road from a massive new student housing development and I've found out the summer lets number and I'll suggest they give them a call. Whether they take non students or not isn't clear, or whether they might take a family. I think inner London place offer non students, but maybe it's different with outer London.

paddyrg

cloo wrote: »

Funnily enough I've *just* been looking into that.

People in question live just down the road from a massive new student housing development and I've found out the summer lets number and I'll suggest they give them a call. Whether they take non students or not isn't clear, or whether they might take a family. I think inner London place offer non students, but maybe it's different with outer London.

Over summer there's not much student business, I'll imagine you'll be fine. Otherwise try Camelot Properties - they do short *licenses to occupy* as opposed to rentals, and in some pretty impressive and unusual buildings. The plus side is that you can stay for a short time (a few months, say), and very economically

cloo

The people in question have kids, so I don't think they can do Camelot type arrangements, but thanks for the thought.