Are you
moving to London? If you are, know that it'll cost you a lot of money. It'll already cost you a ton just to relocate to London but it will cost even more when you want to maintain a comfortable lifestyle here. London is an expensive city, even for a single adult who doesn't have kids to raise. As such, one of the best ways to whittle down your expenses is to share them with another person, which means it's time to find a roommate in London. How do you do that, exactly? Well, you can either go online, try social media, or talk to people. You'll find that there are many ways to do it!
Answer a Few Questions First
Before anything else, you need to answer a few questions first. Firstly is how many people you want to live with. About 9.7 million people are living in
London today and a good chunk of them need a roommate. Decide how many people you want to live with, how many can fit in your apartment in London, and more. Even if it's just a two-bedroom flat, your roommates might still be a married couple. And concerning that, what genders do you want to live with too? If you identify as a woman living in a big city, for example, you might not want to live with men.
Go Online
Once you've answered those questions, it's time to find roommates in London. The best place to do that nowadays is online. There are now many websites specifically geared for
Londoners to find a flatmate. Popular platforms like Spare Room, Ideal Flatmate, Roomies, and Flatmate allow you to filter your search for a roommate. For example, these sites will easily help you find a male roommate in his 20s who is single. Or a woman in her 30s who's also single and is the same race as you. The more specific your search, the better.
Search in Social Media
Apart from those sites, social media is also a great place to find roommates in London. Facebook Groups, in particular, are practically built for that. Various groups on this famous social media platform's specifically for finding a flatmate. And since Facebook profiles often say a lot about the person, you'd have a better idea about them compared to using other websites. It's also easier to chat with potential roommates using social media, allowing you to talk to them as often as you can before you move in together.
Socialize Outside
Arguably the best kind of flatmate in London is one that wants or needs to live in the same area. Let's say you're renting an apartment in SoHo, one of the trendiest
neighborhoods in London. People who live here tend to be sociable and outgoing and if you're that type yourself, wouldn't it be better to live with a person who's like that too? That's why it pays to socialize when finding a roommate. Going online or on social media is all well and good, but it doesn't replace meeting a potential flatmate in person and truly getting to know them.
Talk with Your Coworkers
Do you know who might know someone who needs a place to stay in London? Your co-worker! Don't underestimate just how many people Londoners know. If you're working with someone who's lived in the city for a long time, there's no doubt that they might know someone who needs a new place or someone to live with. It's the next best thing to meeting your potential flatmate on your own. At least, if your co-worker knows them, they can tell you a lot about the person. Not a bad idea, right?
Ask The Locals
And finally, similar to socializing outside and asking your co-worker, ask the locals too. As already mentioned, you shouldn't underestimate just how many people Londoners know. Even more so the many people they know who need a place to stay or are looking for roommates in London themselves. Ask around and see who around you might introduce you to a potential flatmate. Much like your co-workers, you can also ask more about the person and get a fairly good idea of who they are before you meet and move in with them.
Finding roommates in London will make it easier for you to live comfortably in the big city. Luckily, there are many ways to find the right people to live with, ranging from going online to stepping out and socializing with others.
