London is a business powerhouse, generating around one-third of the UK’s GDP. This means that people who live in other parts of the UK – and other parts of the world – often get sent to the UK’s capital for business purposes. Sometimes they will just head to London for a couple of days to take important meetings, sometimes they’ll be there for weeks, and often they’ll be in the city for months.
For anything other than an overnight stay in the capital, using hotels can be seriously inefficient, cost-wise. This is why businesses often turn to serviced apartments, to ensure their employees can live in luxurious surroundings and vibrant areas while in London – without breaking the bank as hotel costs pile up. Luckily, it’s easy to find your ‘home away from home’ in London, as the city has more relaxed laws on short-term housing than many other places in the world. In this guide, we’ll take you through how to find the best short term let apartments in London.
What Are Short Term Let Apartments?
While you may more commonly associate renting an apartment with one– or two-year lets, short term lets offer a lot more flexibility. Generally, short lets can range from just a few nights to roughly six months. This makes them ideal for people who are going to be in London for a fixed amount of time that doesn’t justify them signing a long tenancy agreement, but is too long to stay in hotels.
Short term let apartments are mostly used by business people who have come to the city for meetings, or for secondments. They’re also often used by tourists who want a bit more space than a traditional hotel room offers.
What To Look For In A Short Term Apartment
If you’re interested in apartments to let short term in London for your or your employees’, here’s what you should be searching for.
The right price
London is an expensive city to rent in, whether you’re looking for long term accommodation or short term lets. However, this doesn’t mean you have to get ripped off. The price of your apartment will depend on a number of factors including:
- Your chosen area
- Size (number of bedrooms)
- Features (For example, does it have a terrace)
- Building amenities (such as a concierge, gym, or restaurant)
For this reason, it’s essential to know exactly what you want from your short-term let before you start your apartment hunt. This way you can research how much you should be paying, and use this information to negotiate with landlords or know when to turn away.
Location, location, location
In London, the location is absolutely everything. This gargantuan city is made up of a diversity of boroughs, which contain different neighbourhoods, all with distinct personalities. This means that the location of your apartment can make all the difference to your London experience. Look at the attractions, amenities, and cultural hallmarks of each area and list your preferences.
It’s also important to make sure you stay somewhere with excellent transport links that will make your commute easy. Remember that living near your place of work will cut both the length and difficulty of your commute, as well as the cost of it. This means that even if the price tag is a little higher to rent near central London, you may end up out of pocket if you rent an apartment further out and payout more on commuting.
Services and amenities
Different apartments offer different levels of service. Choose a serviced apartment and you’ll come home to a wide range of amenities and services such as housekeeping. Most taxes and utilities are included within the rental price. All of this allows you to focus on the reason you’re in London – work! Of course, there are also furnished apartments which offer a lower level of service. This means more time spent dealing with day-to-day housekeeping and less time enjoying London.
The best apartment complexes have luxury amenities built into them. For example, at Dolphin Square, our residents have access to an on-site gym and Moroccan spa, as well as our Bar and Grill and shopping arcade. It’s also important to consider what amenities are in the surrounding area. Are there shops and supermarkets nearby? What about bars and restaurants?
Luxury furnishings
When in London, your days will be busy and at times stressful. You want your apartment to provide an oasis of luxury and calm in the midst of this bustling city. This is why it’s so important to take a close look at the decor and furnishings of your chosen accommodation. Are they high-quality and comfortable? Does the style match your personality? Could you feel at home here?
The most important question is this. Is this somewhere you’ll look forward to coming home to at the end of a busy day?
Choose Dolphin Square for short let apartments
Dolphin Square is one of central London’s most sought after properties thanks to its luxury apartments, prime Pimlico location in the heart of the city, and competitive pricing. At Dolphin Square, you’ll find a variety of luxury apartments available for short term lets. These include:
The size of the short let apartments in London you require will depend on whether your family will be staying with you, or whether you’re planning to share your accommodation with colleagues or friends. Each apartment is decorated in a luxury, contemporary style, with high-quality furnishings. Furthermore, as a resident of Dolphin Square, your apartment will be fully managed by our onsite professional management team, so you don’t need to worry about a thing.
The historic building is located in Zone 1, significantly cutting the cost of commuting, and is moments from the tube, train, and bus links. Furthermore, residents of Dolphin Square have access to a number of its upmarket amenities. As well as the gym, bar and grill, and award-winning Moroccan spa, Dolphin Square is the perfect place to host meetings and events.
Conclusion
Short term let apartments in London are the perfect solution for those who are going to be in the city for a while. With flexible leases, the best apartments are beautiful, ready-made homes that will provide an oasis of calm as you deal with the pressures of work.
But remember to take the time to choose the best apartment for you, from location and service level to features and amenities. If Dolphin House sounds like your dream home away from home, find out more about our short term lets.
