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10 Things To Know About Applying For Housing In The UK

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10 Things To Know About Applying For Housing In The UK

 

One of the challenging aspects of moving to the UK is finding suitable housing. You will need to select whether you need a furnished or unfurnished apartment or house, depending on the length of your stay, the number of people living with you, and your budget. If you remain long enough, you might even consider purchasing a home. There are many distinct types of homes in the UK, including cottages, detached homes, end-of-terrace homes, apartments, semi-detached homes, and terraced homes. Prices will vary according to the city, neighbourhood, and house type you choose. 

 

In this article, find all the details you require for apartments and houses for rent and sale in the UK. 

 

Short-Term Rentals

 

You can find short-term rentals on websites like Airbnb, Homeaway, VRBO, TripAdvisor, Homestay, or Booking.  Short-term lease apartments are much easier to find and typically come equipped. If you still need to wait for your delivered items to arrive or if you want to take your time to locate the finest permanent housing option for your needs, you could want to turn to this alternative.

 

These rentals are also available in less formal marketplaces like Gumtree or Facebook groups. Still, a risk is involved because many people are unlawfully subleasing homes in these places. For instance, even if their lease agreement prohibits it, renters frequently temporarily sublet their residences when they leave on vacation.

 

What Is The Average Price Of A Short-Term Rental In The UK?

 

A short-term tenancy is typically for less than six months, on average. Any rental agreement more extended than a year is a long-term lease. Typically, medium-term rentals are those given for six months to a year.

 

Even though short-term rentals are typically more expensive than their longer-term equivalents, they are often advantageous. For instance, you might require lodging while finishing a real estate deal or wish to rent temporarily while looking for something permanent. These furnished properties are available for short-term or monthly rentals. To give you an idea of the price variations, the Residential Landlords Association (RLA) reports that the typical cost for one night in a London residence listed on Airbnb is 137 GBP. While the median price for long-term rentals in the city is 1700 GBP, the average nightly cost is 56 GBP.

 

What Document Do You Need To Rent On A Short-Term Basis?

 

Broadly, a government-issued ID is a primary document required to achieve this, with a verified account on the platforms.

 

Understanding House/Apartment Rent

 

It’s crucial to understand how to rent a home or apartment in the UK. You may learn everything you need to know right here to ensure that you get to live in the UK home of your dreams. Despite the abundance of rental houses, prices on the market vary greatly and are primarily influenced by location. For instance, homes in a desirable area in London may cost multiple folds as much as homes of the same type in the north of England.

 

Renting In The UK As A Foreigner

 

The length of your stay in the country, the kinds of homes you are interested in, your budget, your commute, the cost, whether you want a furnished or unfurnished space, an apartment or a house, etc., are all things you will likely not be familiar with the system and will need to take into account when choosing where to live. If you want to rent, you will be free to try out several locations if you don’t immediately find something that suits you. The process will go much more smoothly if you are flexible. You might begin your search by travelling abroad and exploring the websites where properties are listed, along with their costs and availability.

 

However, Leatherback can ease some stress while planning for your relocation as you can pay in your local currency for an apartment of your choice in the UK.

 

How To Rent A House Or Apartment In The UK

 

The most excellent alternative for you will be a rental if you only intend to relocate temporarily to the UK. Renting a home is quicker than buying one, and the landlord takes care of most maintenance. They are required by law to ensure that the rental property is maintained to a certain quality since they owe a duty of care to the tenants. They are primarily in charge of repairs to:

 

  • drains, gutters and external pipes;

 

  • the structure and exterior of the property;

 

  • sinks, basins, baths, and toilets;

 

  • electric wiring; and

 

  • Gas appliances.

 

It also has the advantage of letting you explore various neighbourhoods to see which one best suits you. Renting first will help you better understand your new area if you later choose to buy real estate. You will better understand how everything operates once you have lived there for a few months, which will help you make a more informed choice when buying property.

 

What Is The Average Rent In The UK?

 

Depending on the area, rent costs per month can be very different. For instance, Greater London has a rate of approximately 1,700 GBP (2,200 USD), significantly more than the GBP 1,000 national average (USD 1,300 USD). The average monthly rent for a similar-sized house in London is around GBP 1,000 (USD 1,300), while a place at the upper end of the range will run you about 13,000 GBP (17,000 USD). A furnished apartment might cost up to 20% more than an empty apartment.

 

What Are The Rental Procedure And Rules?

 

Signing a rental agreement is the next step after finding a place you like. The majority of contracts last for a semester or a year, after which you have the option of extending your stay. Carefully read your agreement. A security deposit (often equal to one month’s rent) will be required of you. The following conditions and documentation may also be necessary for renting:

 

  • Proof of ID

 

  • Proof of earnings

 

  • Proof of legal work permit/visa

 

  • Copy of employment contract

 

  • Letter of confirmation of employment from your employer

 

  • References from previous landlords

 

Rental Contract And Deposit

 

The following information must be on your rental contract:

 

  • Your (and your landlord’s) name and contact details;

 

  • address of the rental property;

 

  • date of start and end of the rental contract;

 

  • dates and frequency of rental review;

 

  • rental fees with payment dates;

 

  • extra fees, if any;

 

  • security deposit and conditions for getting it back;

 

  • Subletting rules.

 

Please list everything in the house and note its condition before you move in. By doing this, you can guarantee that when you vacate, your deposit will be returned.

 

You will have obligations and rights as a tenant. When you rent privately, you have the right to a safe, private home and protection from eviction and unfair rent. Your job is to maintain the property and make the agreed-upon rent payments.

 

In addition to having a tenant who takes care of their property and pays for any damage done to it, your landlord has the right to verify your visa and other documentation. However, they also must provide proper contracts and keep the property up to code. You can familiarise yourself with the laws governing the rights and obligations of renters and landlords to be fully informed of your rights.

 

Tips On How To Pass Tenant Referencing In The UK

 

  1. Be proactive towards letting your landlord know everything that might interest them about you.

 

  1. Get your paperwork ready, including references for renting (both employer and previous/current landlords), bank statements, and passport and visa, where necessary.

 

  1. Inform your referees of possible contact from your letting agent or landlord to prevent them from being misguided about the information they will divulge about you.

 

  1. Answer all correspondence promptly. You’ll have a better chance of passing the tenant screening process and obtaining the desired rental if you complete them immediately.

 

  1. Secure a guarantor before starting the tenant referencing process.

 

  1. Get your finances in order because you must have all the required deposits and fees ready to pay at a moment’s notice to ensure a smooth transition to moving into your preferred property. However, you can achieve this using the Leatherback virtual card, which allows you to deposit and pay for your housing finances in the UK from other parts of the world.

 

Conclusion

 

The advent of technology, which has opened the window of financial operations to the world, has enabled the seamless application for housing in the UK before relocation. As such, it is important to entrust your money transfers in this regard with a credible platform like Leatherback to make your transactions simple, easy, and convenient.

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ECONOMY

The Pan African Farmers’ Organization (PAFO) and African Development Bank Strengthen Partnership to Support Small-Scale Farmers

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The Pan African Farmers' Organization (PAFO) and African Development Bank Strengthen Partnership to Support Small-Scale Farmers

The Pan African Farmers’ Organization (PAFO) and the African Development Bank (www.AfDB.org) are strengthening their collaboration to enhance support for small-scale farmers across Africa. A PAFO delegation led by its President, Ibrahima Coulibaly, visited the Bank’s headquarters on December 13, 2024, to advance the implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in October 2023.

Dr. Martin Fregene, Director of the Agriculture and Agro-industry, reaffirmed the Bank’s commitment to the partnership, highlighting its investments in agriculture, which have benefited over 14 million producers through initiatives that provide inputs and improve market access. He acknowledged persistent challenges in the sector and welcomed ideas from civil society organizations like PAFO to enhance the Bank’s impact.

The Pan African Farmers' Organization (PAFO) and African Development Bank Strengthen Partnership to Support Small-Scale Farmers

The Pan African Farmers’ Organization (PAFO) and African Development Bank Strengthen Partnership to Support Small-Scale Farmers

Coulibaly outlined PAFO’s mission and strategic priorities to empower smallholder farmers and advocate for their rights, stressing the need for greater strategic support from the Bank to address challenges in agriculture, which has the potential to solve 80% of the continent’s problems.

The meeting culminated in plans to jointly host a High-Level Conference on Financing Small-Scale Farmers in the second quarter of 2025. This event will rally stakeholders to discuss the financial needs of small-scale farmers and explore sustainable solutions to improve livelihoods. Additionally, the two organizations agreed to develop a comprehensive action plan focusing on capacity building, technology integration, and access to finance, particularly for women and youth farmers.

“The Bank’s ‘Feed Africa’ strategy is an important step toward transforming Africa’s farming sector, and we are excited to work with the Bank to help shape this vision,” said Coulibaly. “Through this partnership, we are committed to helping farmers gain the support and resources they need to succeed, especially women and youth.”

This partnership aligns with the Bank’s ‘High 5’ priorities, particularly “Feed Africa,” and builds on its commitment to fostering collaboration with civil society organizations. The Bank recognizes the crucial role of such organizations in driving sustainable development.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Development Bank Group (AfDB).

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BUSINESS

Afreximbank and Ecobank partner to simplify trade and compliance for African businesses

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Afreximbank and Ecobank partner to simplify trade and compliance for African businesses

The Ecobank Single Market Trade Hub connects registered businesses across Africa on a single platform, helping them benefit from opportunities in the unified market of 1.4 billion people created by the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA)

African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) and Ecobank Group (www.Ecobank.com) have embarked on a collaboration aimed at simplifying trade and compliance for businesses in Africa by integrating Ecobank’s Single Market Trade Hub and Afreximbank’s MANSA Digital Repository Platform.

Afreximbank and Ecobank partner to simplify trade and compliance for African businesses

Afreximbank and Ecobank partner to simplify trade and compliance for African businesses

With the collaboration, African businesses will benefit from seamless shared services across the two platforms, with users of the Single Market Trade Hub able to easily leverage MANSA’s comprehensive database for efficient know-thy-customer (KYC) and customer due diligence (CDD) checks while MANSA platform users would, in turn, be able to directly connect to the Single Market Trade Hub to explore trade opportunities to expand their businesses across Africa.

The Ecobank Single Market Trade Hub connects registered businesses across Africa on a single platform, helping them benefit from opportunities in the unified market of 1.4 billion people created by the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA). It serves as a one-stop repository for the AfCFTA by providing small and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs) and corporates with insights about the agreement while its online match-making feature enables importers and exporters to upload their profiles and showcase goods and services they offer, or wish to source, with the aim of finding partners within Africa. Once a match is found, connections are made via the platform and the transaction can be concluded leveraging on Ecobank’s trade and payment solutions in 35 African markets.

The MANSA Digital Repository Platform, or MANSA, is a one-stop-shop for due diligence matters on all African entities. As a centralised digital repository, MANSA seeks to eliminate information asymmetry and to increase intra-African trade and trade with the rest of the world. It drives and promotes good governance culture among African SMEs and creates visibility for their businesses while also supporting African entities to expand, diversify and add value to their export products at both the local and international levels. Entities onboarded unto MANSA are allotted an Africa Entity Identifier (AEI) code which enables them to leverage other Afreximbank products and initiatives.

MANSA is also a key digital solution at the Africa Trade Gateway (ATG) marketplace which houses a suite of digital platforms designed as a single window to enable Afreximbank better deliver on its mandate, providing critical services to support and promote intra-African trade and the implementation of the AfCFTA. The platform enables African entities to accelerate their business activities at the ATG marketplace by working with verified information on trusted counterparties.

The new collaboration is, therefore, enabling Ecobank and Afreximbank to provide a central solution to the key challenge of KYC compliance and access to business across 35 countries in Africa. The improved interoperability is expected to further streamline cross-border trade and compliance in Africa, fostering greater financial and economic integration on the continent.

Afreximbank is a pan-African multilateral financial institution established to finance and promote intra- and extra-African trade.

Ecobank Group is a leading private pan-African banking group with unrivalled African expertise.

Discover the Ecobank Single Market Trade Hub at www.TradeHub.Ecobank.com and MANSA at www.MANSAAfrica.com

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The 100 Most Influential Africans of 2024 announced

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The 100 Most Influential Africans of 2024 announced

The London-based New African magazine (www.NewAfricanMagazine.com) today released its highly anticipated annual listing of the 100 Most Influential Africans of 2024.

The list celebrates the achievements and contributions of Africans from various fields and sectors who have made a positive impact on the continent and the world over the past year.

One of New African’s readers likened the Most Influential Africans feature to a ‘large family get-together, where we come together at the end of the year and share their various achievements throughout the year.’

The 100 Most Influential Africans of 2024 announced

The 100 Most Influential Africans of 2024 announced

Anver Versi, Editor of New African commented  “I had never thought of our 100 Most Influential Africans (MIA) feature in quite that way but now I think our friend has really nailed it and given it a special African flavour, the Ubuntu motto – I am because we are. We need this because I cannot recall the world being so polarised, so divided, so stone-faced in the face of terrible man-made atrocities.”

Artificial Intelligence and Climate Change: Africa at the forefront

With Artificial Intelligence (AI) dominating the technology headlines this year, the Science and Academia section is replete with a number of African experts deeply involved in the subject.

While the technology can bring numerous opportunities to tackle some of the endemic issues, it is not without its pitfalls. Ethiopian-born, Abeba Birhane, conducted research that revealed how large-scale image datasets commonly used to develop AI systems contained racist and misogynistic labels as well as offensive images. Also addressing the ethical concerns around AI and inherent biases in the algorithm are fellow experts Rediet Abebe and Joy Buolamwini.

Climate Change remains a pressing issue, and Africa’s leaders, from Public Office to Business to Civil Society are fully engaged in tackling this vital concern.

For example, Senegalese Ibrahima Cheikh Diong entered the list after taking on the role of executive director for the newly formed Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage, which will have a direct impact on how developing nations will be able to respond to the worst effect of the climate crisis.

Michael Kakande was also nominated for being a fierce campaigner for climate justice and facilitating the participation of Africa’s youth in the global conversation.

A defining year for Development Finance Institutions

This year was in many ways a defining year for Development Financial Institutions, exemplified by the sheer number of entries in the Business section of the list. Dr Sidi Ould Tah from the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa, Samaila Zubairu from the Africa Finance Corporation, Thierno-Habib Hann of Shelter Afrique, Akinwumi Adesina and Hassatou Diop N’Sele from the African Development Bank, Prof Benedict Oramah from the African Export-Import Bank, Alain Ebobissé from Africa50 and Manuel Moses from African Trade & Investment Development Insurance, all feature.

Olympic Glory: Celebrating Africa’s sports heroes

In the year of the Paris Olympics, there is a special salute to the Olympic medallists in our sports category. Letsile Tebogo, who stole the show at the 200m final to bring Botswana its first Gold medal; Sifan Hassan, who became the first female athlete to win medals in the 5K, 10K and Marathon (Olympic Record) events in the same game; and also Imane Khelif, who’s gold medal was a victory not just in boxing but also racial prejudice.

The 100 Most Influential Africans of 2024 edition of New African offers an in-depth look at the lives and achievements of the extraordinary individuals shaping the African narrative on the continent and abroad. Their stories serve as a source of inspiration and a testament to the resilience and ingenuity of the African spirit.

See below the list in full or visit https://apo-opa.co/4iVuMqk

The 100 Most Influential Africans 2024 List

Politics and Public Service

  • Bassirou Diomaye Faye
  • Kemi Badenoch
  • Muhammad Ali Pate
  • Claver Gatete
  • Ali Mohamed
  • King Mohamed VI
  • Ronald Lamola
  • Yemi Osinbajo
  • Nardos Bekele-Thomas
  • Ibrahima Cheikh Diong

Business

  • Robins Tchale-Watchou
  • Fatima Tambajang
  • Dr Sidi Ould Tah
  • Samaila Zubairu
  • Thierno-Habib Hann
  • Akinwumi Adesina
  • Tariye Gbadegesin
  • Adebayo Ogunlesi
  • Wale Tinubu
  • Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede
  • Prof Benedict Okey Oramah
  • Moulay Hafid Elalamy
  • Olugbenga Agboola
  • Alain Ebobissé
  • Tunde Olanrewaju
  • Nassef Sawiris
  • Aliko Dangote
  • Ismael Belkhayat
  • Hassatou Diop N’sele
  • Jeremy Awori
  • Manuel Moses
  • Hassanein Hiridjee
  • Rene Awambeng

Civil Society

  • Joseph Moses Oleshangay
  • Mohamed Adow
  • Michael Kakande
  • Ndidi Okonkwo Nwuneli
  • William Asiko
  • Eva Omaghomi
  • Nelson Amenya
  • Helmy Abouleish
  • Binaifer Nowrojee

Science & Academia

  • Elhadj As Sy
  • Chinasa T. Okolo
  • Tshilidzi Marwala
  • Prof Colleen Masimirembwa
  • Prof Moses Obimbo Madadi
  • Rediet Abebe
  • Rachid Guerraoui
  • Abdoulaye Diabaté
  • Joy Buolamwini
  • Abeba Birhane

Opinion Shapers

  • Miatta Fahnbulleh
  • Olajide Olatunji
  • Carlos Lopes
  • Zain Verjee
  • John-Allan Namu
  • Vera Songwe
  • Nesrine Malik
  • Tayo Aina
  • Thebe Ikalafeng
  • Mavis Owusu-Gyamfi
  • Hannah Ryder
  • Ayman Mohyeldin
  • Nicolas Pompigne-Mognard

Creative

  • Zineb Sedira
  • Rita Mawuena Benissan
  • Iansmith Mwenda
  • Idris Elba
  • Ken Wakia
  • Adejoké Bakare
  • Ayra Starr
  • Selma Feriani
  • DJ Edu
  • Eugene Mbugua
  • Chigozie Obioma
  • Kamel Daoud
  • Tesfaye Urgessa
  • Mehdi Qotbi
  • DBN Gogo
  • Yinka Ilori Amina
  • Lola Shoneyin
  • Ekow Eshun
  • Zhong FeiFei
  • Mati Diop
  • Hassan Hajjaj
  • Koyo Kouoh
  • Mo Harawe
  • Victoria Kimani

Sports

  • Patrice Motsepe
  • Letsile Tebogo
  • Imane Khelif
  • Tunde Onakoya
  • Gelson Fernandes
  • Oumar ‘Reug Reug’ Kane
  • Biniam Girmay
  • Ademola Lookman
  • Ruth Chepng’etich
  • Omar Berrada
  • Sifan Hassan

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