FAQs

Room Rental FAQs: Renting a Room in West London

Answers to the questions people ask us most before booking a room in a shared house in West London. Crenns Properties has owned and managed its houses directly since 1999, so you always deal with us, not an agent. This information below is focussed on HMOs.

Quick facts

Where: West London, in Shepherds Bush, Ladbroke Grove, Westbourne Park, Holland Park, East Acton and South Ealing.
Agency fees: none. We own and manage the houses ourselves.
Bills: included in our shared houses (electricity, gas, water, council tax and WiFi).
Deposits: A full deposit is equivalent to one month's rent for HMOs. The deposit is always protected in a government-authorised scheme.
Notice: 1 month on our standard stay, or 2 weeks on our flex-stay, so you can leave after as little as one or two months. Self-contained flats and houses need 2 months.
Right to rent: we check every adult before they move in.

About Crenns

Are you a letting agent? Do I pay agency fees?

No. Crenns Properties Ltd is not an agent. We own, manage and maintain our own houses, and have done since 1999, so there is no middleman and no agency fee to pay. You deal directly with the team that looks after the property, which means questions are answered quickly and repairs are arranged without going through a third party.

Where are your rooms in London?

All our properties are in West London: Shepherds Bush, Ladbroke Grove, Westbourne Park, Holland Park, East Acton and South Ealing. These areas have fast Tube and bus links into central London, and Heathrow is easily reached from West London. See our Property List for each house, with photos, room details and what is nearby.

Who lives in your shared houses?

Mostly working holiday makers, students and young professionals, many from Australia, New Zealand, Canada, the USA and Europe. Because many housemates are new to London too, our houses are a good place to meet people, find work and settle in quickly.

Rent, bills and what's included

How much does a room cost?

Rent is charged per room per month, in pounds, and the price of each room is shown on our Availability page. In our shared houses the rent includes bills, WiFi and a weekly clean, and there are no agency fees on top. The full deposit is the equivalent of one month's rent.

Are bills included in the rent?

In our shared houses (HMOs), yes. Electricity, gas, water, council tax and WiFi are all included in your rent, so there is nothing to set up with utility companies and no surprise bills. Bills are not included for our self-contained flats and houses, and the property page for each of those will say so.

What is in the room and the house?

Every room is furnished, and we provide bed linen, cutlery and crockery, so you only need to bring your clothes and a towel. All rooms have a fridge in your room. Kitchens are fully equipped, there are free washing and drying machines and the houses have full central heating. A cleaner visits at leaset weekly to clean the kitchen and bathrooms in our shared houses.

Can couples share a room?

Yes, we have double rooms that suit couples. The rent we quote is for the room, not per person, so a couple shares one rent. Each adult living in the property still needs to complete our checks (see the right to rent section below).

Is smoking allowed?

No. Smoking is not allowed anywhere inside our houses. This keeps the shared spaces pleasant and is also a fire safety matter.

Booking a room

How do I book a room?

Choose a room on the Availability page and note the property reference and room number.
Pay the holding deposit through the secure online payment link.
Complete the booking form.
We confirm your booking, send your tenancy agreement to sign electronically, and agree your move-in date.

We normally reply within one working day. A room is only held once we have both the holding deposit and the completed form. You can start on the Book Now page.

How much is the holding deposit?

The holding deposit is £150. It reserves your room while we complete the booking, and it counts towards your full deposit. It is non-refundable if you change your mind, so please check the room, dates and terms before paying.

How much is the full deposit, and is it protected?

The full deposit is the equivalent of one month's rent, and your £150 holding deposit, if paid, counts towards it. Your deposit is registered with a government-authorised protection scheme (MyDeposits) and you receive a Deposit Protection Certificate within 10 days. It is returned at the end of the tenancy, less any agreed deductions for damage, cleaning or unpaid rent.

Can I book a room from overseas without viewing it first?

Yes. Many tenants book before they arrive in the UK. Check the Availability page for photos and details, and we can arrange a video viewing if you would like one. You can then reserve a room and move straight in from the airport, or arrive first and arrange an in-person viewing. Rooms are not held without the holding deposit.

How soon after booking do I have to move in?

Ideally we will start your tenancy agreemetn within 4 days of the room becoming available, though we are happy to discuss dates if you need a little flexibility, for example for visa processing. If you book through the website, we ask that the full deposit is paid and the agreement signed within 24 hours of our confirmation, so we do not have to hold a room for long without the full confimation that you will be signing the agreement.

Length of stay and notice

Can I rent a room for a short stay?

Yes. There is no fixed term, so you can stay for a few months or for years. In our shared houses you can leave at any point after the first two months on our standard stay, or after just one month on our flex-stay. Many of our tenants are working holiday makers and students staying for a season or a year.

What is the minimum stay?

There is no fixed term: tenancies are monthly rolling (periodic) contracts from day one, so you can stay as long as you like. In our shared houses the standard stay needs one month's notice, which you can use after your first month, so you can leave at any point after the first two months. If you want to leave sooner, our flex-stay needs only two weeks' notice, so you can go after just one month, for a small supplement shown on the Availability page. Full details are in your tenancy agreement.

How much notice do I need to give?

In our shared houses, the standard stay needs one month's notice once your first month is complete, and the flex-stay needs two weeks' notice once your first month is complete. For our self-contained flats and houses (non-HMOs), the notice period is two months, in line with the Renters' Rights Act. You also always have the right to give two months' notice on any tenancy. Notice is given in writing, usually by email.

Can I stay long term?

Yes. Your tenancy simply continues month to month until you decide to leave, so many tenants stay for a year or more. Rent changes are made through the proper legal process, never without notice.

Right to rent and visas

Do I need to prove my right to rent?

Yes. By law we must check that every adult living in the property has the right to rent in England, and we check everyone in the same way, whatever their nationality. This is done before you move in, usually online. See our Right to Rent Checks page for exactly what we need.

I'm visiting from overseas and don't have a visa. Can I still rent a room?

Yes, if you are a national of an EEA country, Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea or the USA. Visitors from these countries have the right to rent for six months from the date they arrive. We need to see your passport and evidence of when you arrived, such as a boarding pass, e-ticket or booking confirmation, or an entry stamp in your passport. We check these with you in person or on a video call.

I'm on a visa or eVisa. What do I need?

Generate a share code on the GOV.UK "View and prove your immigration status" service and send it to us with your date of birth. The code starts with the letter R, is valid for 90 days, and we check it on the Home Office website. If your visa is not yet in place, tell us before you book and we will explain what we can accept. You can also use the UKVI website if you have signed up for that - this is the new government provided website for managing e-visas.

Do I need a guarantor?

Only if you do not pass the affordability check during referencing. A guarantor completes a short online form and agrees to cover any rent you are unable to pay. Most of our tenants do not need one however we need to ensure the room will be affordable for you before proceeding with the tenancy.

Living in the house

How do I report a repair or problem?

Email us with a clear description and, if possible, a photo. We manage the houses ourselves, so we can usually arrange a fix quickly. Our gas safety checks and other safety checks are arranged with you in advance.

How do I get my deposit back when I leave?

We will email you the full leaving details when you give notice on your room. In short, you will contact us at least 3 days before you go to arrange a checkout appointment, before 11:00am on your last day. At the checkout you will return all your keys and leave the room clean and the fridge defrosted. We aim to return your full deposit but we will compare the room with the inventory and let you know about any deductions.

Still have a question?

Email rooms@crenns.co.uk or use the Contact Us page and we will get back to you, normally within one working day.

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