Your new role is confirmed. Now there is a home to find, a household to move and a city to get to know. All while your current job and everyday life carry on.
Even if you have moved internationally before, London brings its own questions. Which neighbourhood will suit you? How do you assess a property from another country? What needs to happen between an accepted offer and a home you can actually settle into?
At The Property Story, we help turn those questions into a manageable plan. Here is where we suggest starting.
Start with your everyday life
Before opening another property listing, think about an ordinary working day.
Where will you and your partner work? How often will you travel? Will you need two quiet spaces for video calls? Would you rather walk to local cafés or have more room at home? If children or pets are moving too, their routines belong in the brief from the beginning.
A London address needs to work beyond the front door. The journey to the office, a late return from the airport and the walk you take on a Sunday can all point towards different neighbourhoods.
We start by understanding those routines, then compare areas and homes around them. Sometimes that means introducing a neighbourhood you would not have considered yourself—and explaining why it could fit.
Work backwards from your arrival
Put the important dates in one place: your work start date, departure from your current home, possible London visits, furniture shipment and preferred move-in date.
Then identify what is fixed and where there is flexibility. If your belongings arrive after you do, what will you need in the meantime? If the right home is available later than your flight, would temporary accommodation give you breathing space?
Early preparation is useful even when it is too soon to choose a particular rental. You can clarify the budget, compare neighbourhoods and organise documents before the active search begins. The timing of viewings and offers can then follow your move window and the properties available.
For a move from further afield, allow for time zones and the practicalities of approving decisions while you are travelling. A short call arranged in advance can be far more useful than a long email exchange across different working days.
Understand what the budget needs to cover
Your housing budget should include the costs around the rent: council tax where payable, household bills, broadband, contents insurance and any furniture you need.
Ask what is included in each property. “Furnished” is a starting point for a conversation, not a complete inventory of what will be waiting for you. Confirm the furniture, appliances and any agreed additions before arranging your own deliveries.
If your employer is contributing, clarify which expenses are covered, who pays providers and which costs need approval. This gives you a clearer basis for choosing a home and planning the move.
We help you raise these questions early, while there is still time to make sensible decisions.
Prepare for the rental process
You may be asked for identity documents, employment and income information, and references. The information requested can vary, particularly when you are moving from overseas or starting a new role. We will prepare the documents together and confirm with the agent or referencing provider what they will accept in your circumstances.
Private renting in England also involves right to rent checks. The government’s current guidance explains how to prove your right to rent and which route applies to you.
It helps to understand the paperwork before you find a home you want. We coordinate referencing, help you understand the proposed tenancy arrangements and follow up on outstanding questions. Where your situation needs immigration, tax or specialist legal advice, we can introduce the appropriate professionals.
Make viewings count, even from abroad
An attractive photograph cannot tell you everything about a home. Storage, layout, light, surrounding streets and practical access all deserve attention.
Our search begins with a selection of properties to discuss together. Your feedback helps us understand the trade-offs you are comfortable with and sharpen the search. We can then preview homes, provide video feedback and organise worthwhile appointments around your availability.
If you can visit London, combining area discovery with grouped viewings helps you compare both the properties and the lives they might offer. If you cannot, clear observations and candid advice become especially valuable.
A planning example: two careers, one London home
In a recent brief for a couple planning a move from Switzerland, one partner needed access to a London office while the other travelled regularly for work. Their search had to bring those routines together with the space and surroundings they wanted at home.
Our proposed approach combined area discovery, property search and previews with organised viewings and practical settling-in support. The plan connected the housing decisions with the arrangements needed for their arrival.
The same principle applies whether you are moving from Berlin, New York or Singapore: the search becomes more useful when someone understands how the whole move fits together.
Plan the first week as carefully as the search
Once a home is agreed, there are still details to coordinate: check-in, the inventory, keys, deliveries and household accounts.
Broadband deserves an early conversation if you work from home. Check availability at the specific address and confirm installation arrangements; have a temporary connection plan if necessary.
Our settling-in support can include check-in and inventory attendance, council tax and utilities setup, broadband assistance, banking introductions and help with GP registration. We agree the scope around your needs and coordinate with the relevant providers.
It is easier to enjoy your new neighbourhood when you are not spending every spare hour working through unfamiliar forms.
Your arrival checklist
Before you travel, make sure you know:
- Where you will stay from the first night, including any temporary accommodation.
- Who will meet you or release the keys, and how to contact them.
- What furniture and essentials will be in the home.
- When your belongings and any new purchases are due.
- Which household accounts and connections are arranged or still outstanding.
- What information or decisions are still needed from you.
A London move with someone on your side
Relocating should leave room for excitement: finding your favourite coffee shop, exploring a new neighbourhood and beginning the next stage of your career.
Our London relocation service brings home search, local guidance and practical support together, with someone you can turn to as the move progresses.
Planning a move for work? Tell us your arrival plans, office location and what matters to your household. We will prepare a tailored proposal you can also share with your employer.
