If you are looking for a spare room, there are a few different options you can explore. One option is to rent a room in a shared living space, such as a house or apartment where you may have your own private room but will share common spaces like the kitchen and living room with other renters. This may be in the owner or landlords own home or a separate shared house such as a HMO (House of Multiple Occupation).
Renting a room is often a more affordable option than renting an entire apartment or property on your own. This is because in most cases the cost of rent of the complete property would be shared by all tenants and generally bills such as Gas, Electricity, Water and Internet are included in the monthly amount you pay.
To find a spare room or room in a shared house or HMO you can use online platforms such as RoomsForLet. These platforms allow landlords and home owners alike to advertise their available rooms and give a similar experience to online estate agents such as Rightmove or Zoopla.
Most portals will offer a registration and matching service so when new properties or rooms are added, you will receive a notification and be able to contact the landlord. This also works the other way whereby where a tenant registers and matches available rooms, the landlord will be notified. On RoomsForLet, these matches are big part of our system informing registered users instantly about new listings. Where matches are detected, email notifications are sent to both landlords and tenants along with an SMS message notifying of the room match.
Social media is another option where there may be local groups specifically set up for this or where people may simply post about availability or others asking for recommendations. Alternatively, local classified adverts in the press may be an option where someone may advertise to find someone who is temporarily away and looking for to occupy the room for a short period of time. However, press advertising such as this can be more expensive and less responsive than online advertising but is still an option.
Another possibility when considering accommodation is to look for a boarding house or guesthouse, which typically offer private rooms with ensuite bathrooms and common areas such as living and dining room. This can be a good option if you're looking for a short-term stay for work where you may only require a Monday to Friday or a few days agreement. Additionally, with boarding or guest house accommodation you could include a level of board such as bed and breakfast, half or full board which takes away the need to arrange your own food and give a better idea of fixed costs so budgeting should be easier.
Another option could be renting a serviced apartment or hotel room on a short-term basis, it is a bit more costly than the above options, but offers more privacy and amenities.
Ultimately, the best option for you will depend on your specific needs and budget.