Finding accommodation in London for a few weeks or months

Katerina Galkina · EN · 07/10/2026

Compare different types of accommodation

For a few weeks, consider a hotel, serviced apartment, room with a resident host or holiday rental. An ordinary tenancy may suit a relocation lasting several months. Airbnb ↗ provides temporary accommodation searches and Rightmove ↗ lists rentals; the platform's name does not determine your legal rights.

Ask who contracts with you, whether the property will be your main home, whether the owner lives there and what notice is required. After the reforms, an ordinary English APT does not become fixed-term simply because the advert says “short let”. A holiday let is a different situation. See APT types ↗.

Calculate the complete price

Request the total for exact dates. Include cleaning, service charges, utilities, internet, linen, parking and any deposit. Establish whether included consumption is capped and how excess usage is charged. Compare weekly and monthly prices by the total payable rather than the headline figure.

If you will work from the accommodation, ask about actual internet speed and a suitable workspace. Check laundry, cooking facilities, heating, lifts, luggage access and check-in hours. “Fully furnished” does not always include crockery or bedding.

Cancellation, extensions and changing plans

Read cancellation terms before paying: refunds before and after arrival, retained charges and what happens if the property has a problem. Do not assume every booking can be cancelled for a refund within 14 days. Cancellation rights depend on the service and booking terms.

Ask whether an extension is possible, what it would cost and when you must decide. A promise that you can “stay longer if needed” does not reserve subsequent dates. If temporary accommodation is a base for finding a permanent home, retain money and time for another temporary move if necessary.

Verification and arrival

Pay through a verified official channel and retain booking confirmation and the exact address. If an existing tenant offers the accommodation, check permission to sublet; holding a tenancy does not itself authorise them to let the property to you. Verify the domain before using a payment page sent in a message.

For an English tenancy covered by the rules, check permitted payments under the Tenant Fees Act guidance ↗ rather than automatically applying hotel conditions. Photograph the property's condition on arrival and report discrepancies immediately. Obtain a working contact beforehand for missing keys, broken heating or an inability to check in.