Living in London

A budget will give an accurate idea of the types, locations and sizes of property you can afford. When finding a place to live in London, consider the cost of living, one-off costs and the necessity of having a UK bank account. 

When choosing a location you may want to consider the local transport links, the local neighbourhood, the local healthcare services available, and the local school and childcare services.

Arranging long-term accommodation when outside the UK can be difficult and is often not the best approach. Many Crick staff make arrangements to stay in temporary accommodation while they search, as this allows them to get a feel for an area, and understand London a little more before making a decision about where to live.

The rental market moves at a very fast pace, with the best properties often being taken very quickly.

Once the tenancy agreement has been signed, the deposit has been paid, and the first month's rent has been paid, the tenancy is yours. Landlords, or their representatives, will usually not release keys until the money for the deposit has been cleared in their account; this can take a few days.

The Crick is currently in a position to offer temporary rental accommodation to new recruits subject to availability. There are also several services to find temporary accommodation in London.