Apartment Hunting In London, UK | Prices & Flat Tours | Lucy Moon

How I found my apartment in London during a pandemic! Tours of the flats we viewed, rent prices and locations. Enjoy! 💕
New Flat Tour: • We Moved In Together! ...
Previous Flat Tour: • My London Flat Tour | ...
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[@caaaaats9890]

Only clarification is that London does not have a housing shortage. a crisis yes, but there's definitely enough houses to go around - the thing is, they're all laying empty because of the wealthy and the landlords pricing people out. London does have a council house shortage though - they haven't been building nearly enough, but they love taking them down. Other than that, this video is a nice insight into what housing is like in London atm, even outside of the pandemic.

[@deniseg812]

The US too.

[@gabriellas]

omg i love the flat with the raised space and the circular window, so cute!

[@Katherout]

that first one 🤯🤯🤯

[@stargirl114]

The last space was definitely my favorite bc of the raised study/ library area. I enjoyed this video!

[@yesdnilring]

It’s wild to me that a leasing offer can fall through because they’re not willing to paint or let *you* paint at no expense to them?! This seems like the actual bare minimum a landlord could do between tenants, lmao. I’m in the US, but I think “paint everything white again” is generally standard operating procedure when someone moves out.

[@copykat3971]

UK landlords will literally do the BARE MINIMUM because they know somebody will take it, absolute joke.

[@yesdnilring]

@@copykat3971 Ugh!! There oughta be a law!

[@lara_xy]

I know! I was super shocked, I have never heard that! Usually you do not even have to tell the landlord you want to paint it, as long as you move out and walls are white and holes are filled you are good to go

[@senaaileigh]

This seems really common in the US, but I can vouch that it absolutely is not common place to paint rentals before/after leasing - from tenants or landlords! It’s just not a thing here! I wish we had the same rules as you guys in the US - would make it so much easier to make a rental feel like a home!

[@copykat3971]

@@senaaileigh yeah and the fact that pets are straight out NOT ALLOWED. If you can get away with sneaking in a hamster cage then hats off to you 😭😭

[@cynicalcenobia]

London: *over 2K monthly rents for half-decent looking flats.* Me: *yup, we're staying in Stoke.*

[@MerciCitron]

I can't believe landlords are so uptight about repainting. Here in France you wouldn't even need to ask, you can do what you want with your interiors as long as you leave the place exactly how it was rented in the first place.

[@lucymoon]

I wish it was like that here! The whole rental market is so poorly regulated it’s actually grim

[@bashfulnath]

this boggles my mind as well, the current place we live in, has like yellow/light orange walls I hate but we have not even tried to ask if we could re-paint because of this.. can't wait to move to our next place with fresh white walls. I mean I'm sure it helps the landlord as well when the place looks better kept with a fresh coat of paint

[@imathumb]

@@bashfulnath ughh i feel for u, i tried to endure yellow walls for a year, until i repainted them white and lost my whole deposit 😅 (...worth it) some landlords are just total scumbags, they charged us because we did a soft taupe feature wall in the living room, so the walls "didnt match"....despite the fact that the whole house was frickin multicoloured before 🙄

[@Claudia_K.]

Same in Germany! We can also hang pictures/drill holes and even do dry wall building if we remove it when moving out. And since a few years we don’t even have to paint everything again when moving out. So handy!

[@Georgiecarr]

My dad is a landlord and he doesn't let tenants paint anything because based on past experience their standard of painting is not good enough and they would often make a huge mess. He is more than happy to paint when it needs doing but if it's just because someone doesn't like the colour, that is silly. He owns the property so it's his choice.

[@_charlotte24]

i don't live in london and nor do i plan to but this was so fascinating to watch!!! i really liked how honest and candid you were about everything. i know these topics are sort of taboo to tall about, especially prices etc but i really loved this and it was super informative 💕💕

[@TheAnnaEdit]

LOVE THIS VIDEO! So happy you found you home xxx

[@lucymoon]

Thank you love! Post June 21st come over for a coffee when you’re in london xx

[@jessread4297]

it cracks me up that people are telling you to 'just buy!" like yes obvs you've both got £50k+ in the bank just ready to go 😂😂

[@lucymoon]

Been saving since I was 21 and we’ve still got a few years to go yet 😭😂

[@jessread4297]

​@@lucymoon honestly its so difficult to do especially in London those prices are insane 😯 I hope you get to buy the perfect place soon 😊

[@Georgiecarr]

@@jessread4297 I know! My monthly rent including bills is £500 (i'm not in London) and that gives me so much money to save much quicker!

[@HEROS9GIRL]

Wow London prices are mad! Wow

[@toplock4046]

Average deposit in london is 20% plus - more like £100k needed to buy a standard two bed (1.5 bed really) flat at £500k... crazy

[@dunjader2774]

The last place was beautiful! So unique and I really don't see the clash in colours at all? But the one you ended up getting is lovely too! Can't believe some of the other ones, London is mad.

[@imathumb]

yeah not enough to reject it outright? 🤔 ...then again i had to live in a flat with multicoloured walls and it drove me crazy enough to repaint them and lose my whole deposit 😂

[@dodgethis_]

I found this whole video and attitude quite weird tbh. Complaining about how stressful and difficult the process was and then rejecting a perfectly fine property because of cabinet color? It's not like it was a red and green polka-dot cabinet with 80s wallpaper. I find this a bit pretentious, maybe it's just me :)

[@melaniemurphyofficial]

I absolutely LOVED this!

[@1trinder]

My god that first flat is beautiful.

[@sunrisesunset301]

I know this was filmed in February but the vibe feels so now... everything is changing and transitioning! Wow... so happy for your move! It looks like a great space you two can share 💕

[@ranawulan]

This is such a useful and transparent video! As a young person it’s so helpful to hear about what you can get for your money

[@emmairwin581]

I’m 30 seconds into this video and already loving it because of that outfit it’s sO CUTE

[@IndienRouge8]

I actually moved in to the first flat you went to go see! We also got the call about the price being hiked up when we were en route which was disheartening, but thought we would try putting in an offer around the original asking price anyways and it was accepted. So glad you found a flat you love!

[@lucymoon]

No way! So happy you moved in, congrats on getting the place!

[@rosianna]

That flat is so dreaaamy!

[@fuego5532]

Flat tour please!!!

[@hannahleach8615]

currently flat hunting for the forth time since living in London and found this video so helpful - reassuring know we aren't the only ones having these difficulties! 🤣🤦🏼‍♀️

[@itsRebeccaRayne]

These places are so nice! I've lived in London for a few years now and I like my place, but it's absolute shit compared haha. I can't afford anything more though as I'm a single working student. I think a lot of people think of London like the places in this video but it's just not the reality for most people who live here. Like. The way you talk about how run down some of the places are and mine is so much worse but it's actually nice compared to what I looked at before. Landlords don't care, we had to go to the council for ours as there was a massive hole in the floor he wouldn't fix. This is the reality for most London renters.

[@lucymoon]

I’ve lived in places like this before in the city, it was terrible. So sorry you’re dealing with this now. Something has to change

[@rosiehampton]

hey all in the comments (& lucy too 💜) lamenting about how shit the rented sector can be - I agree!! Consider joining ur local tenants union - London renters union / Acorn / living rent (for Scotland). I organise with living rent & putting power back in tenants hands and away from unfair landlords is where it’s at x

[@velvetgh0st]

I can relate to the window expense 😰 I’ve just had a quote to replace mine in a listed flat and it’s £37,000.. that would be why people don’t do it haha! I loved this video, love a nosey around flats 😍

[@lucymoon]

£37k, my goodness I feel a bit hot just reading that 🥵 thanks for watching my love xx

[@randallsonny1503]

sorry to be offtopic but does someone know of a way to log back into an Instagram account?? I was dumb lost the password. I would appreciate any tricks you can give me

[@colbybenton1988]

@Randall Sonny instablaster =)

[@randallsonny1503]

@Colby Benton thanks for your reply. I found the site thru google and im in the hacking process atm. I see it takes a while so I will get back to you later with my results.

[@randallsonny1503]

@Colby Benton it did the trick and I finally got access to my account again. Im so happy:D Thanks so much, you really help me out :D

[@carlottar7337]

Gosh I didn't realise how expensive east london is! I live in South East and there are some crazy rents but I'd say most nice 2 beds are in the 1400-1800 range. You'd really be getting something special for over 2000

[@lucymoon]

East London has been gentrified to the Nth degree but a lot of jack’s friend’s live here and we love the area so we stay 😂😭

[@emipowered]

I have lived in East London before, and now I am in West. West is currently cheaper than what I was paying before in East ahah

[@jessjh7181]

I think South East London is beginning to have crazy rents too. I live in SE1, I pay £2300 a month for my 1-Bed flat, which is sometimes even higher than some Mayfair flats.

[@imsk6729]

@@jessjh7181 can u find a way to buy a home? That is a Landlord's dream to collect a rent like that...

[@aaliyahhhhhhh335]

Omg yesss I asked for this video - it’s crazy how much flats and houses cost in London 😭

[@CarloPavan]

Lovely vlog! And so relatable :) I've been living in London for 8 years now, changed house three times and I was really shocked on how ran down apartments are... and for absurd prices!

[@_dearsharon]

your background with the plant is the ideal minimalist zoom background!💚

[@dariadavay]

So nice to see somebody looking in East London for a change. Girl, with your price range you can get a lovely place right on the canal/one of the basins in the area (for next time;)

[@jessxscarlett]

love the outfit so much!! and this was so interesting to watch as someone who is also renting in london (albeit on a much lower budget lol)

[@nishaisamazing]

Oh my gosh we need more people sharing videos like this! So useful and interesting! Thanks for sharing :)

[@proteinbarqueen]

I am in love with that adorable sweater vest and collared top - absolutely adorable!!!💕 you look lovely!

[@ClaraSchnitzel]

Thank you for sharing! I can't stop fantasizing about moving to London and scrolling through RightMove! This is exactly the kind of spec and price range I'd be interested in too

[@AliceOfAnotherWorld]

Hey Lucy! Sorry to be a pain, I was hoping you could update your 'what I'm wearing' section. I'm loving your shirt and vest combo xxx

[@lucyelizabethanderson]

I wish I could be picky enough about wall colour when finding somewhere to live in London haha

[@noraadt]

I live in Saudi Arabia yet I’m watching and enjoying this ♥️♥️💁🏻‍♀️

[@smz93]

Me too. Originally from Greenwich in SE London but working here to save for a deposit for a house. Wish me luck xx

[@maddiefoulsham5271]

Loved this video so much Lucy! Can relate so much to looking round flats in London. They really can get away with ripping people off so much. Your new flat looks gorgeous :)

[@FeedbyAutumn]

We viewed flat 5 last summer!!!!! SUCH a catfish - from the photos we thought we had found “the one” - nowhere near the industrial loft vibes in the advertisement 🐍🐍

[@lucymoon]

Omg! Sounds like they’re having trouble filling it

[@nakymatonlapsiN]

wild that you're not allowed to repaint! in Berlin you often get the opposite - half finished flats are being rented out and you have to do your own painting/wallpaper :') but the rental market is so competitive that landlords can get away with it

[@katesmortimer]

Rent costing more than my monthly wage 😭 I love being from Yorkshire, can get so much more living space

[@lizrob92]

I’m really surprised by the prices you looked at for 2beds. We left our one bed in London after the first lockdown because we were paying £1550. We moved to a 2 bed for £75 more pm and we got outside space. But I’ve seen other 2beds which are really nice for even cheaper than £1600. I’m sure you could get something really decent for under £2,000...

[@imsk6729]

It is sad as many will rent for decades to come.. rent never ends... it is wise to find a way to buy.. in later life...the time comes when its paid off...rent never ends...

[@samee22k]

Hi, could you please help me with the 2beds that you were talking about? Where can I find them?

[@aliceconroy2475]

We were completely the same looking around in June! It was so much easier to find a nice place which we’re living in now but it was deffo a struggle- I think in the end we viewed about 12 properties and must have looked at close to 100 online I reckon I think it is worth it in London when you find the right place but the amount of effort you have to go to is ridiculous! We were lucky in how much we could take advantage of the pandemic though- our property was initially £750 a month more than what we’re paying now!

[@Sirdeln]

Thanks for sharing! It's super interesting to see how different hunting for a place can be in different cities.

[@rociog.6118]

I arrived here for learn English and find that beautiful places 😍 Love London ❤️

[@anonymous-do5bs]

These prices are eye watering.

[@imsk6729]

Agree... i could never do it!!!

[@iqranawaz7991]

love u bro, thank u for working so hard, so proud of the content u're putting out.

[@seenazee479]

I found a flat very quickly during in february! it was 1 bed flat for £1500 in bethnal green. Really stresful but worth it.

[@paigeconnelly4244]

Wtf do you do for a job?! Your rent is almost my entire take home salary (minus tax and NI).

[@seenazee479]

@@paigeconnelly4244 so sorry, I should also mentioned I'm renting with my husband which makes the rent bearable. Also we have a conservatory which will be turn into an office, that's why its a bit pricey. but to answer your question, I'm a software engineer :)

[@lucymoon]

For £1500 you’ve smashed it! Congrats on your new home xxx

[@lara_xy]

I am currently apartment hunting in Amsterdam and it is very difficult considering that most apartments are rented through agencies and they expect you to earn 4x or 5x the rent (excl.) per month per person... It is tough since I am on a zero-hour contract and my boyfriend is self-employed.......... seems impossible

[@theuncommonviewer]

If anyone else is curious about South London I'm renting South East and managed to negotiate a 1 bed south facing garden flat near parks and transport links for £1200 a month. It was negotiated down from the advertised price. Highly highly recommend negotiating (and looking south 👀)

[@theuncommonviewer]

Basically I'm saying that for London renters it is totally possible to get something desirable and negotiate it at the moment.

[@Beglozano]

@@theuncommonviewer Where south though, Brixton, Crodyon, Battersea?

[@theuncommonviewer]

@@Beglozano no that is a totally valid question. In Dulwich, but I have friends in Camberwell, Streatham, Peckham and Tooting who have negotiated in the past 8 months as well, although by massively varying degrees admittedly. Still, it's something that probably wouldn't have been possible previously as Lucy said and tbh it will probably change again very quickly.

[@Beglozano]

@@theuncommonviewer Thanks for replying. I'm looking to move and this is very helpful!

[@theuncommonviewer]

@@Beglozano sorry it took me so long. Good luck! It's a jungle but there's gems to be found.

[@elliee2154]

love this so much!! also the edit 🤩🤩 so gorge! ✨

[@singleplantparent]

Hey you forgot to blur one of the windows in your flat 2 clips? Just in case you want to alter that for privacy reasons- love your videos!

[@lucymoon]

It’s all good as that window looks out to the back of the house but I really appreciate you mentioning just in case❤️

[@ThePersian61]

I live in Bethnal Green (Nr Columbia Flower Market) and have a 1 bed flat with a small south facing (sun trap) garden. I rent through the local authority and it cost around £440 a month, it was interesting to see what you get for the vast amounts of rent charged in the private sector. Just grateful for what I have as I wouldn't be able to afford to live here otherwise

[@lucymoon]

Wow that’s a great rent for the area. Glad you’ve been able to avoid being priced out x

[@imsk6729]

Agree... private renting is the worst type of housing financially...

[@melissaferreira9487]

I’m moving to london in a year. This Video was so helpful and nice to watch! I’d love to watch some london vlogs if you like doing these:)

[@octaviabroughton3398]

This was so useful Lucy, thank you. Your place is gorgeous. I am looking to move back to the Bethnal Green area with my boyfriend in the coming months (I lived there all of 2020 and adored the area), so this was so interesting. Thanks for being so transparent with rent prices. Great to hear you could negotiate too - will deffo be trying to do the same!

[@muzzy562]

cant believe painting a room is controversial wtf why is that making or breaking whether or not someone gets a property

[@isabelfm97]

I’ve been renting in London for 5 years now and it’s so hard to find anything decent, so happy for you! What estate agents did you use?

[@lauradant5191]

I love little quirks so much!!! property hunting in a pandemic is the worst thing, we were looking in lockdown 1 and couldn't even view anything. Also being rejected from a property is more painful than relationship rejection. I think about the maisonette with the spiral staircase daily.

[@Cache-peewee2]

Love this video! I’m thinking about moving to London and your video was very helpful!

[@lucyn9576]

I live 1.5 miles from Manchester city centre and pay £735 for a pretty big two bed which I share with my boyfriend. London rental prices are insane 😱

[@ljaynek2]

@@Nicole-zy4vb salaries in London vs Manchester are not much different tbh. Sure, maybe a few grand higher in London but nowhere near enough to compensate for the cost of living

[@imsk6729]

Cheaper but Manchester is not where most want to live... most want to be near the capital... opportunities are very different to up north (btw, I was born in Manchester) but could never live there again...

[@melanieemertaylor]

some of those flats have so much stuff in them!!

[@emmyb7613]

Hi! I just found your video and wanted to say that you made my day prettier.. You're so kind and calm and just what I needed so thank you.

[@enigmanonymous3702]

I am once again asking for a list of your lip colors (seriously this is necessary for my sanity 💕)

[@imsk6729]

Wow!! So desperate... not a good look...

[@jayoneta]

That first flat was gorgeous! Shame about the last flat and the wall colours but such a funny story hahaha

[@danaweaver4129]

I've been there when you offend a landlord/homeowner. It's like they are incapable of understanding that you simply have different taste and are not suggesting we burn it to the ground because of how ugly it is. 😂

[@n.w.1786]

And here I thought that £1400 that I pay for a freshly renovated 2bed flat with a balcony in Ealing was a lot, lol. I should start counting my blessings for prioritising chill, leafy (but also dead quiet) area over trendy East London (alas, that also might be why my social circle is small and nowadays mostly include only my partner and my cat). The flat you have chosen, though, is absolutely lovely and I am glad that they allowed you to repaint the walls - we've had the same issue before and it honestly beggars belief that so many landlords are hell bent on not repainting anything even when tenants offer to do it themselves. In any case, hope you enjoy your new flat :)

[@vthrowaway5776]

People pay for some proper garbage in London, that's why prices are high. This video is also not representative for all London, just for hipster HQ. There are some decent houses and flats with good connections in other areas.

[@annabethwashere]

love love love this!!

[@thealiceftw]

Loved this video! Felt like a tvshow haha

[@netflixprofile5802]

Loved this video! Renting in London is such a nightmare : ( glad you found a nice place to live eventually!

[@kingszarek5174]

What’s your lipstick please? 😍

[@lauraGF05]

I love this outfit! so cute :)

[@annaw7437]

I have just come across your channel. You're very pleasant to listen to/watch :) A qq - why have you not considered a place on the south side of London, like Greenwich, Dulwich, or even Bexley? For 2k you could get a stunning 3bd house with a garden!

[@murryplu]

omg I love the asthetic intro

[@deniseg812]

Nothing to do with flat hunting. I love your lipstick!

[@nishaisamazing]

Thanks for sharing this - so interesting!!

[@zzflvr]

love thisss

[@martineskaret]

Thank you for this! So so helpful!

[@imarco75]

In the properties I've looked at recently, the most expected was only to wear a mask. no sanitising. although this was for house shares and the longest any went for was 6 minutes - mainly because the rooms / flats did not look like the photos in the ads.

[@PluviophileTraveller]

Congratulations on finding a place!!! Have prices gone up since the pandemic? I’m in NYC (Manhattan) and have just gotten a new place because prices have dropped because everyone is leaving the city. I know some places though, even just outside Manhattan, are experiencing the same rental fees or even hikes. I’m so curious to know how it is by you since I lived in London for two years!!! I happened to move back to NYC just a few months before the pandemic hit. Wild.

[@D3n1honey]

This vid made me sad lol, but I'm subscribing! Very helpful :)

[@sunrisesunset301]

Love your outfit and red lip too! 😘

[@mckayfan]

I think all flats should have carpets unless it's got very very good sound proofing.

[@tuehanhhan5271]

Love this video !!! And just love you 😽

[@vmpapillon8984]

Super interesting. Am wondering though: Do you have permission to show the furnished ones? I would feel like my privacy was violated if my apartment was recorded and uploaded to youtube without my consent.🤔 But maybe I'm misssing sth.

[@amandaaaa31]

Loved flat 6!

[@alexarendell]

I'm only half way through so you may cover this later but what sites do you use to hunt?

[@usermariaan]

I actually also looked at the second one ❤️

[@LisaPreece]

This makes my little London one-bed seem like such a bargain! 🙈So interesting to see what ££ more will get you.

[@wildmysticess]

So interesting watching! Never been to London, but have been to the UK a couple of times. I'm from Denmark and it always fascinates me how we build and use the rooms differently in different countries, even though we are that close! Also interesting watching history in the making.. the fact that SO many people are leaving London.. which is a case in a lot of the big cities, Copenhagen too. And bc of a pandemic, the landlords actually have to make an effort. I'm a little baffled at how "mean" some of the landlords are, you don't have laws against at least some kind of standard? also, are all landlords private in England? We have lots of associations and "bigger" businesses or whatever they're called in english, that own a lot of properties, and where you are secured and have many rights. It might be a little more price-y, but you are more secure and have more rights, and if anything breaks, they have to fix it right away.

[@imsk6729]

The rental prices are incredibly high!!! Whenever possible..(and I know it is difficult)... the best option is to buy.. I strictly advised both my adult children to focus on very good employment... work towards continually improving the salary...and saving a very large deposit...

[@oceanesdiary]

I have been living in this city for 4 years, and bru. 2.5k for a lower ground

[@annabelleschleser1392]

Love the video!

[@jakeross5122]

Instantly subscribed thank you

[@__-gn3tp]

Canary wharf is great to live in.

[@celineschumann9619]

On which website did you find those flats? Or did you have a real-estate agend?

[@uneezaqureshi98]

Wait I still didn't understand which one you picked? The one with the clashing colors?

[@edithnaike]

The second apartment looks so similar to what Taz of clickfortaz stayed/stays(?) in

[@hivlady4527]

You're wanting to pay for another room for youtube? Imagine how much you would save without. Friends staying over? Get a futon or unflatble bed? KZbin isn't everything.

[@LaurenPlitUK]

Moving to London in August from South Africa, do you think it's still possible to negotiate with landlords regarding rent prices? Or has the market changed a bit since this video you think?

[@imsk6729]

Have to also be mindful... rents are continuing to rapidly rise...and will continue to do so.. Lanlords WILL increase the rent...

[@jamiedoestv]

Im currently looking for a flat with my bf but we cant actually go look at them atm because we would have to stay overnight as we're like 6 hours away 😭 i don't trust estate agents to just go off virtual viewings but at this point we might have to

[@ThePanini101]

Ofc you can't repaint a flat in London lol Also the living room colours look fine in the last properly, not sure what the issue was !

[@MiMi-xn7ry]

How do you feel about not being close to transport links? X

[@carinam.9447]

Are you not allowed to paint the walls of rented flats without the permission of the owner in the UK? In Germany you can paint the walls however you want as long as you paint them white/neutral again when you move out.