Renting in the Private Sector

Renting in the private sector means that your rent is paid directly to a private landlord, rather than to the council or a housing association.

The three main types of accommodation available for private rental are:

• Self contained flats - you have your own kitchen, bathroom and living space

• Rooms within flats or houses - you can rent a room directly from a landlord or be part of a flatshare, where you form a group with other people wanting accommodation and take joint responsibility for paying the rent on a property, sharing the kitchen, bathroom and living areas with them.

• Renting as a lodger - rent a room in your landlord's home and share facilities with them.

Who Can Use It

Anyone can rent in the private sector. As with all rented accommodation, you must commit to paying an agreed rent regularly. If you are on a low income, you may be able to claim housing benefit to cover your rent.

For more information, contact the Islington Benefits Office on 020 7527 4990, or click on the Council Tax and Housing Benefits link on the right, under Related Information.

How It Works

Make a shortlist of suitable properties that you have seen advertised. Contact the landlords or letting agents directly and arrange a viewing.

If you rent privately, you will have a greater number of properties and a much wider choice when deciding what type of property you want to live in.

However, there are so many people wanting to rent properties in London, that it is often very difficult to find somewhere to live at a price that you can afford. Islington is a very popular area and rents are generally very high. Flat shares and lodging in other people's accommodation can cut the cost of renting. However, you may need to be willing to look in cheaper areas outside Islington.

Your rights as a tenant will depend on the type of accommodation you have and the agreements you make with the landlord.

If English is not your first language, there are a number of community organisations that can help you with what to look for and other places to find accommodation.

For more information, click on the Community Organisations link on the right, under Related Information.