I’m a Hongkonger looking for accommodation

If you have moved to the borough you could apply for social housing or find a private property.

Social housing

Find out about council housing (also known as social housing), what to do if you are homeless, emergency accommodation and housing provision by local housing associations.

You can make a claim for help with housing payments.

Searching for a private property

You can find adverts for properties to rent in newspapers and in shop windows and on 'for rent' boards. Landlords also let their properties through letting agencies who will find a tenant on their behalf. You can find details of local letting agencies in the Yellow pages or Thompson Local directory.

Bear in mind that letting agencies are likely to charge a fee for their services when you have accepted a property with them which can add up to be quite costly. They cannot however make a charge to you for just registering with them.

Read the government's guide how to rent for more information on finding and renting a home.

Websites

You can find properties or rooms to rent by checking websites, such as:

• Zoopla
• easyRoommate
• SpareRoom
• Roomster
• Gumtree
• Loot
• Net-Lettings
• Find a property
• LondonNet
• easyLondon accommodation
• PrimeLocation
• Homes & Property
• Century 21
• MakeUrMove
• OpenRent
• Trovit

Newspapers

A lot of people find accommodation through newspapers. Places go quickly so it is important to start early and follow up the advert as soon as possible.

You might want to try the following:

• The Evening Standard: Daily paper with a London wide accommodation section. Wednesday in particular has a large section
• London Lets: Wednesday only, for accommodation throughout London

Chartered Institute of Housing

The Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) can provide more details on:

• How private renting and social housing in England works
• Housing rights information for new arrivals
• Finding a rented home from a private landlord

Shelter

Shelter offers written advice on private renting, deposits, problems with landlords, etc. This website allows you to search for housing advice by area, and to get the contact details of Shelter's local offices, which offer free advice and help with all types of housing problems.

Information on the process of buying a property in England.