Category Archives: News

1. Your friends and family know about your move to London

This might not seem like a big deal. But the thought of leaving loved ones behind can often be a difficult hurdle to overcome. It’s probably the most common reason people don’t make the big move in the first place.

So if you’ve found the courage to talk about it and share your plans, then great! That’s already important in itself.

2. You’ve started comparing rent prices

OK, so London is famous for having some of the most expensive housing costs in the world.

What’s good about this step, though, is that you’re starting to think about practicalities. Looking at flats, neighbourhoods, and costs are things that make the move feel real. They also give you a good indication about what you’ll need in terms of savings and potential jobs.

3. You’re hunting on job sites

For people who don’t have a job already lined up, then finding work can be super off-putting when you want to move abroad. Especially if your new home doesn’t speak the same language as you.

But if you’ve already faced this challenge head-on, then that’s great too. There are plenty of websites that’ll help you see what’s on the market. You can also check out expat communities online — this is a good way to meet likeminded friends and see if they have any recommendations for work.

4. You’re thinking about downsizing

More practical stuff.

It’s hard to find anyone who moved to a new city and regretted not taking more stuff with them. That being said, you don’t necessarily want to leave sentimental or bulky items behind for the sake of it.

If you have important things musical equipment or sports gear, then there’s always international shipping.

For anything else you could do without, then it might be better to think about long-term storage or donation.

5. You feel like you’re biding time

Biding time might sound a bit downtrodden. And you might love where you are now, and your friends and the connections you’ve made along the way.

However, it’s probably the best indication that you’re ready to move to London.

Lots of people worry that moving to a new city will leave them feeling regretful. But regardless of what the future has in store, always keep in mind how you’re feeling at this moment in time.

It should mean that you had all the right reasons to move somewhere new in the first place. And what’s to regret about that?

It’s not everyday you can boast living in one of the coolest neighbourhoods in the world. But if you believe Lonely Planet, then Tooting is just that – ranked alongside places like Sunset Park, New York and Vesterbro, Copenhagen.

Those are some serious credentials. Add that together with great transport connections and local schools, and you can see why moving house in Tooting is going through a bit of a renaissance.

Things to do. Things to eat

First things first. Folks travel far and wide so they can tuck into Tooting’s vibrant food scene.

Stretched between Tooting Bec and Tooting Broadway’s tube stations is the ‘curry corridor’: a culinary hotspot famous for the sheer diversity on offer. Here, you’ll find everything from Sri Lankan cuisine to Pakistani, Gujarati, and South Indian fare. It’s pretty damn special.

And if you need to burn off some of those calories, then you’re in a great spot for window shopping too. Tooting Market has been open for business for over 80 years – and is the best local spot to find books, hand-crafted jewellery, and furniture pieces. That new home won’t decorate itself, after all.

Did we mention that Tooting also has the largest fresh-water swimming pool in the UK?

Housing and schools

Speaking of homes, Tooting has a wide range of properties available to rent and buy.

What’s better, you’ll find the average rent is 31% lower than the rest of London – making this a generally more affordable area of South London to live in. Even if house prices have steadily risen overall since 2000.

In terms of schools, it’s pretty much what you’d expect from this well established, popular neighbourhood: they’re ranked highly across the board. Secondary schools are no different.

Commuting and getting around

We’ve already said Tooting has two tube stations.

This is great news for anyone who commutes into the city centre on a daily basis. Located in Zone 3, you’ll be able to reach places like Charing Cross during rush hour in just over 20 mins.

There are excellent bus connections available too.

Moving house in Tooting

There’s a lot of hype about moving house in Tooting right now.

To make your move as smooth as possible, you might want to take advantage of storage options available – such as those located in nearby Richmond. This could be useful if you need extra time to sort through belongings or move your stuff in stages.

You can also explore local man and van services in South West London. Full home removals are on offer too.

With one of the most iconic skylines outside the City of London, Battersea has long been popular with families and young professionals looking to better balance work and home life.

Whether you’re renting or looking to buy, you’ll find an wonderful collection of properties in this Borough of Wandsworth: from Victorian terraces, to modern developments, and grand Georgian houses. It could be surprisingly affordable too. Battersea has one of the cheapest council tax rates in London.

Lifestyle and things to do

You definitely won’t be stuck for stuff to do in Battersea.

It’s famous for its namesake park, but there is also a great selection of art galleries, an excellent arts centre, and a very popular sports centre offering a range of football, cricket and fitness sessions.

Transport and commutes

One of the great things about moving to Battersea is its fantastic connections. It’s located only a few miles from Charing Cross, and you can choose between two train stations: Battersea Park and Queenstown Road. Charing Cross isn’t too far either.

But don’t let the absence of a tube station put you off. By 2020, there will be a Northern Line extension in Battersea – meaning up to 20,000 new homes will be built. That’s why it’s a good time to invest in this area. Chances are prices will increase, as well as demand, in the next few years. So it’s best to get in there before everyone else does.

Schools

Battersea has a competitive and well-reviewed selection of primary and secondary schools. There are a couple independent school options too, namely Emanuel School and Chelsea Independent College.

If you’re interesting in pursuing options in wider Wandsworth, however, then have a look at these league tables. More than a dozen rank ‘above’ or ‘well above average’ in reading compared to the rest of England. But if you’re little one isn’t quite old enough for school, then you could always follow in the footsteps of Prince George and sign-up for Thomas’ Battersea. Although we’d expect admission to be a little more competitive now.

Moving house in Battersea

There are plenty of ways you can make the move easier on yourself.

This will depend entirely on your situation and what’s best for you. In terms of self-storage options, we have facilities located right here in Battersea – offering 24/7 access, and no minimum stay. This is useful if you’re moving in stages or just need some extra time to go through and sort your stuff.

When it comes to actually moving you have all of the following options too:

• Home removals
• Man and van service
• Furniture delivery
• Handyman
• Boxes

For more information about moving house in Battersea, including a free quote, contact us now. We’re always free for a chat on Twitter as well.

There are plenty of reasons Balham was recently named one of the most popular places to live in London.

Low(er) council tax rates, dozens of places to eat, drink and go out, plus great connections to Victoria, make this Borough of Wandsworth extremely attractive to potential Londoners. What’s more, you have easy access to storage options across South London — so moving is nice and easy too.

You won’t have trouble finding property to rent and buy here. Like most places, your hunt will probably begin online. But if you’d prefer to speak to someone who knows the area, then Balham has a good range of local estate agents to explore.

Local schools

We know it’s one of the top priorities for people moving in and around London. Luckily then, Balham has an excellent standard of primary and secondary schools (which you can compare online as well).

To keep little ones entertained outside of school, you’ll find a number of parks and attractions located conveniently close-by. We would definitely recommend paying Balham Swimming Pool a visit, for example.

Transport

Excellent transport links is definitely one of the biggest bonuses of moving to Balham. Located in Zone 3, you can reach Victoria in around 15 minutes – and that’s including during rush hour. There are also good bus services here too.

In terms of parking, you can check online before making your journey around town. Equally, if you’re worried about parking during your move, you could consider hiring a man and van. It’s usually more cost-effective than a DIY approach. Plus, they’ll work out a moving plan so you don’t have to.

Things to do

If you’ve not visited Balham before, then you might not know about its bustling arts and food scene. There is a newly-formed annual literary celebration, as well as an impressive comedy festival with the likes of Ed Byrne, Jason Manford and Rich Hall who performed in July 2017. Balham has also a famous independent cinema, The Exhibit, located right on its doorstep.

As you’d expect in terms of food, there is a popular high-street with places to do grocery shopping and potter around. But it wouldn’t be fair to not mention the excellent restaurants located in this area. The Honest Pizza and Lamberts automatically spring to mind, popular amongst locals and visitors alike. We won’t bother listing all the good places to eat nearby: just have a look on Trip Advisor to get a feel.

Moving house in Balham

When it comes to actually moving house in Balham, you have lots of different options if you need a helping hand – including:

• Man and van service
• Removals from one bed and multi-storied houses.
• Full packing service
• Packing materials
• End of tenancy cleaning
• Storage (24/7 and container-ised storage).
• Property maintenance.
• Handyman.
• International shipping.
• Rubbish removal.

You can also choose between different storage options across South London:

• Chiswick
• Kingston
• Richmond
• Teddington
• Twickenham

For more information about moving to Balham, or getting a free quote about our services, contact us online or by telephone.

Wimbledon is located just over seven miles south-west of Charing Cross, out in the leafy suburbs of West London.

Its village feel, great schools, open green spaces and proximity to the hustle and bustle of the nation’s capital provide the perfect balance for people seeking some respite from central London while retaining proximity. It’s an expensive place to live, but there’s plenty of positives.

Commuting is relatively easy, there’s lots to do and we’ve also got a nice tip for making some big money once a year from your Wimbledon home.

Transport in Wimbledon

Commuting from Wimbledon, which is in travel zone 3, into central London should take you between 40 and 55 minutes, depending on your mode of transport and which part of the village you’re travelling from. You’ve got a choice of two District Line Underground stations – Wimbledon, which has National Rail and tram connections and Wimbledon Park – but the area is well served by busses and trams too.

Living in Wimbledon

Compared to other parts of London, especially in the east, the pace of life in Wimbledon is relatively relaxed. It’s much more of a village feel, but with the added benefit of being very close to central London. You’re more likely to be sitting outside a coffee shop watching the world go by than squeezed into a trendy bar waiting to get served a cocktail in a jam jar.

Like the neighbouring west London areas of Twickenham and Richmond, Wimbledon has an embarrassment of riches when it comes to green space. Wimbledon Common is the best known of these, but there’s also South Park Gardens and Wimbledon Park.

The famous windmill in Wimbledon Common

In terms of events, you’re spoiled for choice. Wimbledon is world-famous for its tennis – more on how that’s potentially good and bad in a moment –, but locals will be keen to emphasise other places worth a visit, notably Wimbledon Book Festival, the Thai Temple and the children’s Polka Theatre, which hosts a fantastic array of performers from around the world.

About the tennis…

Think of Wimbledon and most people will immediately think of tennis. Some of us might think of Bobby Gould’s FA Cup-winning Crazy Gang, but tennis does characterise the area. This brings opportunities and challenges.

Firstly, the challenges.

Don’t. Move. House. In. July. (if you can avoid it, and if you can’t, make sure you get some professional advice on avoiding the common problems). 

The population of Wimbledon swells massively when the tennis is on. This will make moving house very tricky.

But, once you’re settled in, your home could become a huge asset. Many locals plan their holidays for July so they can avoid the crowds and earn some easy cash renting their home out to spectators.

One home even reportedly earned its owners £7,000 in a week. If you’d rather stick around, you could still make things interesting by renting a room to one of the competitors.

Local business gems

For great coffee, we recommend Kaldi Coffee. Great cakes, sandwiches and of course really good coffee. Not to be confused with the American chain of coffee shops bearing the same name, Wimbledon’s Kaldi coffee is an indie gem. Check out more great local coffee joints here.

Wimbledon is a bit posh, let’s be real here. So the standard of restaurants is as you’d expect, but that doesn’t mean you can’t eat out without breaking the bank.

Wimbledon has plenty of mid-level eateries worth your attention too. TripAdvisor’s community rates Holy Smoke as the best place to eat locally, but for a more traditional, lazy bite to eat, we also recommend Ambience, who do a great line in Turkish bbq.  

Moving house in Wimbledon

Moving house in Wimbledon, as with most of west London, as we discussed in our Guide to Moving House in West London, relies on good planning.

It’s worth saying again, don’t move during the tennis. We also recommend strongly that you get a full survey before your move. Parking can be tricky at the best of times and the stairs in those old Regency era properties can be a nightmare.

Storage is an important consideration if you’re downsizing. And even if you’re not, we recommend starting every move with a thorough audit of what you need and what you don’t.

If you decide there’s stuff you don’t want to take to your new home in Wimbledon, but you don’t want to get rid of it yet, check out our local west London storage locations to find one near you.

For more information about moving house in Wimbledon, or what it’s like living in this fantastic area, follow us on Twitter.

You’ve dealt with all the important stuff like filling in tenancy forms and sorting out wi-fi. Now comes the nitty gritty, like making sure everything is packed, emptied and cleaned up before the big move.

There’s a lot going on. But don’t forget these last few important steps before moving home in London.

Check your freezer

We all have unexplained things lurking in the back of our freezer. I know for a fact there’s an entire birthday cake in mine (although the mysterious circumstances in which it materialised remain unclear).

But if you hate the idea of food wastage, now is a good time to brace yourself, dig deep, and see what can be used up. It’s not the time to be sentimental.

(Via Giphy)

Redirect your mail

You can do this online in just a few minutes. And if you’re moving overseas, you can request your mail is redirected for 3, 6 or 12 months. Prices start from £31.99.

Also remember to notify your bank that you’ve changed address. It’ll help reduce the chances of your important details falling into the wrong hands. Furthermore, if you’re registered as having two different addresses with different companies, it could impact your credit score.

Related Stories:

5 excellent questions to ask at your next flat-viewing in London

A guide to moving house in Twickenham

How many calories does moving house burn? – A fitness guru’s guide to home removals

An engineer’s guide to packing for a house move

Plan your escape route

Travelling by car in London can feel stressful at the best of times. Combine that with all your worldly possessions and a van you’ve never driven before, and suddenly your Monday morning commute doesn’t seem so bad.

That’s why it’s a good idea to choose your moving time wisely. Avoid rush hour, or during the school run, and make sure there are no diversions along your route.

The same goes for parking too. Double-check there aren’t restrictions at your destination and you’ve got plenty of room to get your things sorted.

Don’t be afraid to ask for help

Hopefully you’ve enrolled the help and emotional support of your nearest and dearest.

However, if you feel slightly guilty about asking your semi-retired parents to carry your 45-inch TV, then ask someone else to do the leg work. Even if that’s just hiring a handyman for a few hours. It means you won’t need to worry about making sure everything is packed and moved correctly. Plus, you can put your friends to work on more urgent matters (e.g. finding excellent takeaway coffee).

Another option is even to get a man and van service. As the name suggests, you won’t need to worry about driving your belongings from A to B. There’ll be a lovely pro to do all that for you.

For more hints and tips about moving, follow us on Twitter.

Found a potential flat? Check. Arranged a viewing? Check. Remembered to ask if there’s a dishwasher in an attempt to preserve domestic bliss and marital harmony in the near future? Not so much.

Flat viewing in London isn’t without its hurdles. And that doesn’t take into consideration the pain of packing up and actually moving your lovely belongings. No one needs that. So before you visit your next property, keep these questions in mind.

1. What’s the landlord like?

If you’re lucky you’ll get to meet the existing tenant.

This is the best way to get a feel for the landlord – and how helpful they’ll be if you need them in the future. If possible, find out about things like replacing furniture, fixing heating and anything structural like windows and walls (in case there’s damp).

Most of this should be covered in your contact, anyway. But it doesn’t hurt to ask.

2. What are the neighbours like?

No one likes a nasty surprise. And that includes noisy neighbours, unfriendly dogs*, or people who leave a mess in the hallway.

*Better yet, ask if there are friendly dogs too. Then you might be able to find them on borrowmydoggy.com. It’s like Tinder but for doggos.

3. Where do I find the stopcock?

If there’s ever a flood, or a broken pipe, then this will stop any running water.

Good for the environment. Better for your belongings/wallet.

4. Am I allowed pets?

This is an extension of the dog section.

It’s an entirely valid point, especially considering owning a pet helps to reduce the risk of heart disease and make you happier about life in general.

Again, this will probably be covered in your contact, however, some landlords are more flexible than others.

5. Who do I contact if there’s an emergency?

This might seem like a question for after you’ve moved in. But it’s important to know who you’ll be dealing with if things go wrong.

Here’s an example. One Monday morning, I dragged myself out of bed at an ungodly hour, stepped into the shower, and found out there was no water. I don’t mean no hot water. I mean water full stop. It was too early to call the letting agents and I had no idea who to contact.

Now, if I had been smart about it, I’d have known to call my flat’s management company. But this was news to me at the time. So instead, I wasted three hours waiting around and could’ve had it fixed quickly if I was organised.

Moral of the story: ask the right questions, before you need the answer.

Flat viewing in London

For more hints and tips about moving in London, follow us on Twitter.

Twickenham, located in the south-west of London’s city centre, is the perfect compromise for people who want leafy suburbs and easy commutes.

The great thing about Twickenham is its connections to London’s bustling centre. You can reach Waterloo Station via train in roughly 30 minutes, making it a popular location for young professionals and families.

Another popular reason to move to this area is its highly-rated primary schools and good mix of Edwardian, Victorian and modern-day properties.

For these reasons, homes located in key catchment areas are extremely competitive amongst young families. So that’s why it’s always a good idea to check the waiting lists and admissions processes first and foremost before making the move.

Highlights in Twickenham

Twickenham Stadium, known as the home of English rugby, can hold up to 82,000 spectators – making it the largest dedicated rugby venue in the world. It even has its own onsite museum.

But if you’re more interested in stained glass windows, Gothic architecture, and beautiful 18th century grounds, then you won’t want to miss Strawberry Hill.

The benefit of having something like this on your doorstep is you’ll always have access to these historic gardens.

And what’s better, there’s plenty of events planned throughout the year.

Similarly, York House Gardens – with an equally lavish estate and its own sea nymph sanctuary (of course) – means there’s always lots to see and visit in Twickenham.

Local business gems

You’ll probably be pretty hungry after all that sightseeing. Luckily, Twickenham also has a great selection of restaurants and places to grab a bite.

One of our favourites is Hei Hing Cafe & Noodle Bar. Located in Isleworth and only a short journey from Twickenham’s cultural sites, this place is well worth the visit. We won’t give away any spoilers, you can read the menu online, but you’d be mad to not try their miso ramen and dim-sum.

Holly.co – a wonderful shop founded by local celebrity Holly Tucker  who started notonthehighstreet does a fantastic range of artisan stuff, irresistible food and sells the highly sought after (WARNING. They are delicious) Crosstown Donuts. Check her out.

Moving house in Twickenham 

Moving house in Twickenham gives you lots of choice in terms of property, including both renting and buying.

But if you’re moving to a new flat, or planning on traveling soon, then there’s a good chance you’ll need storage in the meantime. This is a simple and cost-effective way to keep your belongings safe. Plus, any good storage facility will give you 24/7 access to your possessions – meaning you can move at a pace that suits you.

Here’s a few things to keep in mind before renting storage in Twickenham:

• Make sure you do a quick audit of your belongings before putting them into storage.
• See if anything can be recycled or donated. This will help free up space and ensure you don’t pay for any more storage than you need.
• Don’t include perishables in your storage. You don’t want any nasty surprises in a few weeks time, or longer.
• Double-check the storage facility has 24/7 security.

For more information about moving house in Twickenham, or what it’s like living in this fantastic area, follow us on Twitter.

With cobbled streets, excellent public gardens, and lots of independent shops, it’s no wonder living in Richmond is so popular.

But don’t let this lovely riverside location fool you. In terms of travel, you can reach Earl’s Court from Richmond in just 20 minutes on a District Line. And even better you can travel to Heathrow Airport by taxi in just 30 minutes.

Things to do in Richmond

One thing this area of West London is particularly famous for is Richmond Park. This is the largest of London’s eight royal parks, and is perfect for children and anyone who wants an easy escape from the city’s hustle and bustle.

In addition to lovely green spaces, Richmond is also famous for its vibrant arts and culture scene.

Orleans House Gallery and Richmond Theatre offer a fantastic selection of exhibitions, shows, and community events.

But it’s September that really brings Richmond to life, as it partakes in the city’s annual Great River Race. Spectators can wait alongside Richmond Bridge and the banks of Ham House to cheer along the dragonboat and longboat contestants. People travel for miles to visit on this special occasion.

Local businesses and food stuff

Once you’re finished browsing parks and watching boat races, you can choose between a fantastic selection of Richmond’s restaurants and pubs.

The White Cross Pub is set within a charming Victorian riverside cottage, offering quality ales, pub grub, and rugby matches when it’s the season. It’s especially nice when the sun’s out and you’ve got a space outside.

You can learn more about the area’s top restaurants and places to eat at discoveryrichmond.com

Moving house in Richmond

You won’t struggle finding properties to rent or buy in this area. In terms of storage in Richmond, however, there are a few key things to keep in mind.

• It’s best to avoid moving to Richmond during its busy Boat Race season, usually early September.
• Richmond is outside of London’s Congestion Zone. This is great news if you need to access your storage facility frequently, as you won’t be subject to charges.
• Make sure you do a quick itinerary before you put any possessions into storage. This way, you won’t store anything you don’t need and you’ll know exactly what’s in there.
• Don’t put any perishables in there. It won’t help you in the long run.

If you’re planning on moving house in Richmond soon, or looking to renovate and need extra space, this type of storage could help save you time and wasted money.

For more information about living in this area, including Twickenham and Chiswick, follow us on Twitter.

If you’re a student, there’s always something cruel about having all your coursework and exam deadlines in May. It might be the busiest time of the year, but suddenly everyone wants to have a barbecue at the weekend – and it’s so warm that working in the library is almost impossible. That’s if you actually find a space in the first place.
We’ve been there. Plus, on top of all that, you’ll be moving out soon. And there’s that nasty deposit to think about too.

There’s a good chance you’ve got enough on your plate without us going on about it. So here’s a few hints and tips about how to get your deposit back, before you actually move out.

Make sure your flatmates have paid all their rent to date

If you’re sharing with flatmates, then you’ve probably collectively paid a deposit – meaning you’ll share joint responsibility for making sure your bills and payments are up to date.

If someone skipped a month, or accidentally cancelled a Direct Debit, then it’ll come out of your shared deposit. Worth double-checking, right?

Review your inventory

Hopefully you made sure this was spick and span before you settled in. Either way, it’s a good idea to check everything is in order and nothing’s gone amiss over the last couple semesters.

Word to the wise: if you’re missing a couple items, like a broken IKEA dinner plate, it’s probably worth just replacing it. Then your landlord won’t have any excuses to keep a portion of your deposit.

Think about professional cleaning

Another reason your landlord may deduct funds from your deposit is to cover cleaning costs.

If you have time, then there’s no reason you can’t splash out on bleach and get your hands dirty. But this is also the time of year where time is precious – so, you could also look into a professional cleaning service.

Sometimes even a few extra hours could make all the difference. And if you’re already flat-sharing, then splitting the costs can help to make it affordable for everyone. Plus – receipts from a professional cleaning service make it very hard for any landlord to dispute the state of the property on exit.

Be careful when you’re moving out

Students sometimes get an unfair reputation for leaving flats in a bit of a mess.

So it’s especially unfair if you’ve looked after your home all year, cleaned pretty regularly, and then accidentally scuffed a wall or damaged the floors when moving out. And, as you can probably guess, this can have a real impact on your deposit.

Student removal services are designed to be quick and simple, without breaking the budget. Schedule a time and place, in plenty of time before handing back your keys, and you’ll be in a better position with your landlord.

If you have any questions about our student removal services, let us know on Twitter or get in contact with us directly.

Your home is an asset. Even if you don’t own it, you pay for the privilege of exclusive use. When you’re not in it – depending on how you look at things like this – you’re losing money. You’re paying for something that’s not being used.

Why not rent it out while you’re away? Depending on where you live and where you’re heading to, you could actually cover some costs of your trip.

So, you’re talking about Airbnb?

No, not really.

Airbnb is designed for self management of short lets and spare rooms – and it’s great for that –  but if you’re going travelling or on an extended holiday, do you really want to worry about turning guests around? Yes, you could pay someone to take care of that for you, but if anything goes wrong, it’s on you. No matter where you are in the world.

If you’re going away for a long while, or you simply don’t want to worry about insurance, cleaning, handling enquiries from guests, you’d be much more suited to a service like UnderTheDoorMat.

Think of them as a concierge service for your house, stocking it with well-behaved guests and giving them the time of their lives. UnderTheDoorMat tailor experiences for guests in your home, helping them to get the most out of their stay in the area.

They vet guests before they arrive and confirm their identity when they turn up. No more short-let disasters involving people who booked under someone else’s name. They take care of marketing too – and that does include listing your home on Airbnb, Booking.com, Homeaway, Tripadvisor, UnderTheDoormat website (plus other booking platforms).  All you need to do is hand over the keys.

Cleaning and prepping for new guests is taken care of.

So I could just go on a year’s holiday and make money from my home?

Not quite. There are rules. Especially if you rent. Although tricky to enforce, you’re really only supposed to do a maximum of a 90-day let at a time. Otherwise you’re technically supposed to ask the council’s permission. But aside from that, yes – you could earn from your home while you’re on the other side of the world.

How much will I earn?

That depends on the size of your home and where it is. Naturally homes in more expensive parts of London attract a higher rate than those further out, but it all depends on the overall appeal of your home.

Context matters too. A house in Wimbledon will suddenly become very sought after in and around the tennis. You will know how much your home can earn per night and this is always a fixed amount which means you will always know how much you’ll receive after each booking.

Cleaning and prepping for new guests is taken care of.

It’s not just the winners that can earn big during Wimbledon.

Nobody is allowed to touch my guitars though, not even my husband. How will this work?

Unlike Airbnb, UnderTheDoormat’s guests are invited to use your whole home. The benefit to them is that it for families travelling it can work out cheaper and more fun than staying in a hotel. You could lock up one of your rooms and keep all of your valuables in there, but it’s not really in the spirit of giving your guests the best possible experience, something UnderTheDoormat is committed to. Their carefully selected guests stay because they want to apprecaite and care for the home. But if you really want to remove any temptation, you can put precious items in a locked cupboard or storage, for security reasons if nothing else. As an example, Kiwi Movers provide storage in South West London from as little £10 per week for a secure container.

So if you’re heading off on the trip of a lifetime and are worries about your irreplaceables and your valuables, storage could be a smart option.

Always look for a storage unit that’s protected by CCTV and if possible, number plate recognition.

There’s a saying you can only call yourself a New Yorker if you’ve lived in the Big Apple for at least 10 years.

Well, we’re not sure if the same rule applies to London. But we do know a few life lessons are crucial for anyone who wants to live and work here. And that’s because London has an almost contradictory quality – one which can leave you feeling inspired, invigorated, and (sometimes) downright infuriated all at once.

Anyway, that’s part of the fun.

The tube isn’t always the fastest option

It may sound sacrilegious. Or even unpatriotic. But the London tube, in all its grotty glamour, isn’t always the best way to get around the city.

Wait, isn’t this New York too?

No, we’re not suggesting you Uber it to work in the morning. We’re talking about the iconic London bus – and sometimes, it’s actually easier to beat the commute on one of these than standing on the tube.

This will depend on where you’re travelling to, of course.

Another reason to champion the bus is you’re more likely to get a seat, it’s cheaper, and you can still make phone calls and tweet stuff.

You can get around pretty easily just walking

Unless you’ve grown up in somewhere like Tokyo or San Paulo, then it’s hard not to feel like London is a shape-shifting metropolis – a place where new neighborhoods seem to spring up from nowhere every month.

This can be daunting at times. But the good news is that London can be manageable to navigate, even if you’re just travelling by foot.

If you’re new to this city and still need to get your bearings, check out these free walking tours available across London. It’s a nice way to meet other newbies too.

The best cultural sites are free

Remember when I mentioned New Yorkers? Well, they might have some world-class museums and galleries. But they also charge visitors a decent amount to hang around their collections of fancy nudes and Jackson Pollock’s.

London, on the other hand, has plenty of cultural sites that can be accessed without spending a penny. It’s a welcome surprise for tourists. And it’s nothing short of a blessing if you’re lucky enough to be living and working here.

What’s life like living in London

We’re always keen to hear from people who’ve made the move and are working and living in London. So, what have you learned so far? Share it with us on Twitter.

A friend of Kiwi Movers just finished her PhD in neuroscience. Over the last seven years, she’s spent — quite literally — thousands of hours in the lab researching and trying to understand how and why degenerative diseases, like Alzheimer’s, occur in the human brain. She’s also spoken at conferences across the world, been invited to study in California, and won a good few awards to boot.

The trouble is, though, she’s had to move back home between jobs. This all seems fine on paper (hey, most of us have been there) but things have been a little… odd at home. Sure, she’s an award-winning scientist — an expert in her field — but that doesn’t mean her parents treat her any differently than when she was 16-years old and ardently convinced Panic! At The Disco was a legitimate musical choice.

We have a lot of sympathy for this friend. But if her Whatsapp messages can taught us anything, it’s that you need a survival guide if you move back home after university.

Don’t get too comfy living with parents

Getting into a routine is crucial when you start living with your parents again.

When you first move back, all those wonderful home comforts — like a full fridge and endless reruns from Sky TV — might make you wonder why you even left in the first place. But don’t let the call of contentment lure you into a new routine. You’ve been surviving by yourself for years (probably). And you don’t need your parents thinking nothing has changed

I’m not going to say go out and find a job. The last thing you need is all that noise from an anonymous blog on the internet. Instead, if you’re looking to get out the house, find some volunteering opportunities nearby. Walk your neighbour’s dog. Scout out your local library and get some time to think, read, and scour the internet for your next big step.

It’ll help you in the long run.

Do your own washing and stuff

This might seem like cruel advice. Surely it’s one of the best perks of living with parents?

That’s what this friend thought too. But once her mum start doing her laundry, then it caused an array of uncomfortable conversations to follow shortly after:

“If I’m going to do your washing, [Friend], then you can drive me to the shops.”
“[Friend], how much do you actually spend on clothing?”
“[Friend], why does anyone need this kind of underwear?”

You get the idea. Maybe your parents are a bit more chill. However, if you want to maintain independence and keep things on your terms, then it’s a good idea to do your own chores. Think of it this way: once you do move out again (and it will happen, we promise and never forget, we’re here to help, check out our man and van service for smaller moves) it’ll be easier to settle into solo life again.

Keep in contact with your friends. A lot

Something weird happens once you leave university, and no-one really warns you about it.

When you’re studying, you see your friends all the time — even if it’s just sitting in the library and making a secret pact to never let dissertations ruin your life like this ever again. Then you graduate, go home, and suddenly your social life gets a lot slimmer.

It can come as a bit of a shock at first. But if you want to make living with your parents easier, then it’s important to keep in close contact with your friends. Check on each other and make plans to do something together soon. It’s one of the best ways to remind yourself that all this is temporary and you’ll be back in the warm embrace of Netflix and fructose cereal in no time.

If you have time, make plans before you leave university

Most of us forget about our flat deposit until we’re a few weeks away from moving out. Then suddenly you realise you’ve never really cleaned the bathroom and god know’s what’s behind the sofa.

Let’s be honest: you need all the funds you can get once you’ve graduated. So if you’re keen to secure that deposit, you could look into hiring a professional end of tenancy cleaning service.

It might seem like a bit of an extravagance, but it’s one of the best ways to make your flat look spic and span in preparation for inspections. Plus, any money you save can go directly into your moving-out pot for the next new months.

Do you have any advice for students living with parents this summer? Share your thoughts with us on Twitter and let us know!

There are plenty of things to do with children in London, especially on Easter Weekend.

But, as you know, tickets sell quick and there’s nothing worse than seeing those big, disappointed eyes looking up at you as you realise you should have booked ahead. That’s why, to make things easier, we’ve done some research and found some of the best and most exciting events come up soon.

Go to a chocolate-making workshop

Where: The Chocolate Factory
When: numerous dates

If you’re entertaining little ones this Easter, then definitively check out The Chocolate Factory in Brixton.

Here you can make chocolate eggs, decorate lollipops, and get your hands on lots of goodies to take home afterwards. Sharing is caring, right?

We have it on good authority these classes are filling up quickly. So we suggest you get booking as soon as possible.

Visit the Horniman Museum and Gardens

Where: Horniman Museum and Gardens, Forrest Hill
When: opening times vary (you can check on their website, though)

The Horniman Museum and Gardens is the perfect spot for a lazy weekend picnic or Easter Sunday. The views are gorgeous, there museum boasts a superb collection of specimens, and you can visit the petting zoo on your way out. Did we mention they have llamas too?

The Horniman is likely to be busy on Easter Sunday (there are a few different events on) and parking will likely be tight. We’d recommend arriving nice and early.

Battersea Park Children’s Zoo

Where: Battersea Park Children’s Zoo, Chelsea
When: 4-14 April 2017

Spring is the perfect time to get up close and personal with baby animals. Lucky for your little ones, Battersea Park Children’s Zoo has pulled out all the stops this Easter.

There’ll be hidden eggs within the enclosures (please don’t let them climb inside, though) and the chance to cuddle bunnies whilst wearing bunny ears too. It’s so sweet it’s practically sickening. The kids will love it.

Things to do with children in London

If you’re planning on doing something special this Easter, we’d love if you could share it with us on Twitter.

Self-storage is a convenient and cost-effective to make moving and travelling a bit kinder to yourself.

But before you leap head-first into your new adventure, here’s a few things to keep in mind when it comes to self-storage in London.

Do an inventory first (and donate what you can)

It’s all too-tempting to gaze upon a storage unit, gloriously empty with possibility, and feel the insatiable need to stockpile it with everything you own (plus a few extra pieces from Muji, or whatever). The temptation is real. But channel that self control: you’re going to need it.

Before diving head first in storage territory, think about doing an inventory first.

It’ll save you time once your lease is up. And it’ll also give you a chance to donate any old items that need a new home.

See if there’s anything you can sell

This is probably the next thing on your list. You don’t want to pay for storage of items, only to find out three months later you didn’t actually need three lampshades. It’s a waste of space (and expense).

There are plenty of good websites you can use to sell pre-loved goods. Beyond places like Gumtree, Craigslist and eBay, you can also have a look at Shpock and (you might have guessed) pre-loved. Enjoy it. You never know, you might find you have a real knack for advertising old bookcases and all that tupperware.

Don’t store perishables

This might seem like a no-brainer. Most people know not to put food in their storage units. But it’s easy to forget some items— like cosmetics and toiletries— also have a use-by date and don’t always survive their time in confinement. Especially if it’s over the long term.

To avoid this happening, we recommend making sure anything that’s perishable gets used-up beforehand. Then if you need to extend your lease, for whatever reason, you won’t need to worry about auditing your storage unit beforehand.

Find the best location

Finally, the last thing to think about is your location. There are plenty of places for storage in London.

In case you’re interested, we have short and long-term facilities in the following locations:

• Chiswick
• Kingston
• Richmond
• Teddington
• Twickenham

As a general rule, it’s a good idea to find somewhere that’s convenient to access— so you can get there nice and easy if you need to.

Plus, did anyone ever tell you Teddington has its own sub-aqua club? Good reason to visit, we think.

Want to know more about storage in London?

Storage starts from £15 a week and there’s no minimum stay. Not bad, eh?

Contact us for a free quote and we can help you find the right storage option.

Finding flatmates in London can be a minefield. But what happens once you actually find one – the one – and then it turns out you’re not the domestic soulmates once thought?

It can be hard. And awkward. And downright frustrating at times too.

We don’t recommend you start looking for a new flatmate first thing, though. We love helping people move but we know it’s not on the top of everyone’s list of weekend activities. Try these few things first. Then think about getting back to the drawing board.

Don’t argue over text

It’s all too tempting to avoid confrontation by hiding behind a screen. You might be your wittiest over Whatsapp, but you’ll have better luck dealing with a difficult flatmate in person – rather than over your smartphone or email.*

We’ve all been there. Words get muddled, things get said, and someone doesn’t “get” that hilarious joke you just made (don’t worry, though, we think you’re great).

To avoid this happening set some time aside. Be your charming self and keep things constructive. You’ve got the rest covered.

Avoid post it notes

* Ah, post it notes. An almost primitive tool from a bygone era, letting you contact your beloved flatmates and maintain a conveniently safe distance at all times.

Every Paperchase cardholder will relish the opportunity to use their beautiful stationery. But like smartphones, these seemingly innocent notes could wreak havoc on your relationship. Don’t beat around the bush. If you’ve got something important to say – such as, “These filthy dishes are starting to ruin my social life. Please wash them.” – then do it old school. Face to face.

Keep your friends out of it

You tell them everything. They know your biggest, darkest secrets. And they also know that your flatmate, the one who seemed so shy the first time you met, also insists on walking around in his pants after every shower.

This is all very well and good over drinks. But if you want your friends to remain impartial (and avoid any awkward interactions between the two) then it’s best keeping a few things hush-hush. After all, even if you and your flatmate patch things up, chances are your friends will still harbour all those ill-feelings you once had. It’ll be funny for a while. Then it’ll just get annoying.

Plan something fun to do together

Once you’ve dealt with the problem, nothing cements a positive move forward like spending some time together. Sure, it doesn’t need to be every day. And you don’t need to suddenly start sharing your food or anything weird like that.

Grab some brunch and keep things on good terms. After all, you share a home with this person – and you don’t want to annoy the dude who has free access to your post it notes and stuff.

Do you have any bad experiences of flatmates in London?

We’d love to hear about them. Share your stories with us on Twitter.

It’s been a long-raging debate, from university halls to places of work around the country, but we think we may have solved it. The UK – on average – refers to the third meal of the day as ‘tea’.

If you’re currently settling down to tuck into your dinner or supper, don’t recoil in horror, dinner is still a widely used term too.

• 52% of the UK said they predominantly called their evening meal ‘tea’
• 37% said they called it ‘dinner’
• 5% said they called it ‘supper’
• And an indecisive 6% said they used the three terms interchangeably, depending on what they were going to eat

Four lads about to tuck into their tea? (credit)

North vs South
Perhaps predictably, there was a fairly obvious north-south split between people who eat dinner and people who eat tea. (we’ll get to people who eat ‘supper’ in a moment).

Newcastle had the highest percentages of tea-eaters. 92% said that’s what they called their evening meal. Manchester, all of Yorkshire, Glasgow, Aberdeen, Glasgow and Belfast all favoured calling it tea in varying amounts.

The only major northern city not to favour ‘tea’ is Edinburgh, where 64% call it dinner and 11% call it supper.

Down south terminology is more variable. Brighton boasts the most dinner eaters. 70% call their evening meal dinner. London and Bristol, the South East and much of the South West also favour dinner. Cardiff had the largest proportion of tea eaters in the south of the UK, with 78%.

Outliers and key battlegrounds
There were a number of places dotted around the UK where use of tea and dinner were fairly evenly split. There were also areas that didn’t match the north-south trends, such as Edinburgh (mainly dinner), London (mainly tea) and York (mainly dinner)..

Manchester was the most obvious terminology battleground. 46% favoured calling it tea, while 44% called it dinner. London, Glasgow and Norwich also had a relatively even distribution of people favouring tea or dinner.

Is Manchester the UK’s linguistic battleground?

Interchangeable terms
Of those who said they used different terms*** depending on the food being served or the time it was eaten, most said that tea referred to a light late afternoon meal, dinner was a larger meal and supper was either an informal or casual hot meal served later in the evening, or a light snack eaten after dinner.

Leeds had the highest degree of variability between terms. 21% of residents said they used different names for their evening meal depending on what they were having.

What about Supper?

Although very few people use the term, it was almost as contentious as dinner vs tea. Down south, supper is what you might call an informal evening meal if dinner is typically formal, with guests and multiple courses. Up north, it’s more commonly used to refer to a snack before bedtime. Examples given in our study were toast, tea (the drink), digestive biscuits, cereal or a sandwich.

The Last Supper (credit) probably didn’t consist of toast or hot chocolate (northerners) or a light hot meal served informally, typically in the kitchen and with no more than six guests (southerners)

Supper was not meaningfully represented in any major cities other than London, where just 5% of residents use it predominantly to describe their evening meal. The same percentage said they use the three terms interchangeably.

Supper is a significantly more popular term in the south. At least 10% of people living in Essex, Gloucestershire, East Anglia, South Wales, Oxfordshire, Devon and East Sussex say supper instead of dinner or tea. Edinburgh was the only place outside of the south of England that did the same.

Regan McMillan, director of Kiwi Movers, believes the spread of usage says a lot about the UK’s ever-evolving demographics.

“We move people into and out London all year round, so we always notice interesting variations in words and terms people use. For example, the name for a bread roll seems to vary with every person you speak to – be it barm, cob or batch – but the most obvious and contentious one has always been what we call our evening meal.

“A Londoner may ask if we’ll be finished before dinner, while someone from Yorkshire will likely ask if we’ll be finished before tea.

“But it’s a myth that this is purely a north-south trend. It’s actually fairly mixed. We’ve certainly noticed people from certain parts of the north saying ‘dinner’ and even ‘supper’ and the same can be said for places down south and in London saying ‘tea.’

“Our research suggests the presence of large or multiple universities and the types of industries in certain areas may influence the choice of language people use.

“For example, Leeds and Manchester are both in the middle of ‘tea’ country, but less than two thirds of residents in Leeds and less than half in Manchester favour that term. When you look at the demography of these places, Manchester with their large media industry and Leeds with its financial services industry, it’s easy to see how local language and idioms are coloured by internal migration.”

Evening Meal Names Across the UK’s Large Cities

About the study

*We polled 3,000 UK adults between the dates of January 31st and March 3rd.

**We also analysed social media posts across Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, to determine the frequency of different terminology used across the UK.

***We asked those who used terms interchangeably to describe their usage habits in a free text field. We then collated the results. 182 in total said they used interchangeable terms and 24 of those went on to describe their usage.

As we go into spring, we know there’s a renewed seasonal challenge for furniture retailers out there.

Securing, delivering and storing your valuable stock can often seem like one of those practical dilemmas that demand costly business time. If you’re anything like our previous clients, then perhaps you’ve had to rely on staff to take responsibility for packaging. Or you’ve been lifting and delivering heavy-set items yourself, outside normal business hours.

It’s not a good use of resources. So it’s our job to help make this process simpler. We have a three-tiered approach to storing furniture stock: from protecting your items, to bespoke delivery services, and offering a variety of storage options across London.

Secure packaging

If you’re looking to store your furniture in preparation for a new season, or just want to free up some space, the first step is secure packaging.

Our expert delivery team specialise in heavy-set items like furniture – taking end-to-end responsibility for ensuring its security and protection. As part of our service, we can visit your premises, pack your furniture quickly and safely, and have it shipped to a convenient location that suits you. We’ll even clean up any mess that’s left behind.

It’s as simple as that.

Storage in London

We know it’s important to keep your stock fairly nearby. That’s why we offer a variety of storage facilities – including containers – across London:

• Chiswick
• Kingston
• Richmond
• Teddington
• Twickenham

Our secure CCTV-monitored containers are ideal for storing large, heavy items like furniture.

They’re are also available 24/7, so you can visit whenever you need to.

As part of our service, we also different options available for short-term and long-term solutions. There is no minimum stay – so you have complete flexibility – and there are discounts for longer stays too.

Expert delivery

We’ll put our cards on the table here and bet you’ve got better things to do than carry furniture around town. It’s not just time and energy consuming, but it’s potentially risky if you’re dealing with high-value items.

Our team can arrange to pick-up and deliver your stock at a time and place that suits you – including non-business hours. Unlike bigger, international companies, we have the advantage of offering a local bespoke service that can be tailored to you. But don’t worry. We can still ship your items internationally, if necessary.

Need more information?

If you want to learn more about our storage in London, or Kiwi Movers’ delivery service, please contact our team directly for a free quote.

Ping pong tables, picnic chairs and quirky office designs may look good in pictures, but they do little to make employees happier, according to a poll of UK employees. Perhaps that’s why we’ve seen an increase in non-essential office furniture being put into our various storage units around London.

86% of UK employees surveyed said fun office features are of no value to them. 25% find certain features annoying.

Table football in an office

Recreational equipment such as foosball, arcade games and ping pong tables had the worst impact on employee satisfaction, with 25% of those working in places where these were available saying they found them ‘annoying’.

61% say they don’t mind having recreational equipment in the office, but they don’t use it. Only 14% say they value having recreational options in the office.

On the whole, free coffee and good quality chairs are fine, ball pit meeting rooms and hammocks are not.

Liverpool’s coolest office? Angel Solutions. Pic courtesy of Liverpool Echo.

Our research found that environmental perks were rarely taken advantage of while simple lifestyle perks were appreciated on the whole. 

*when available, if not available daily.

Most Bizarre Pointless Office Features

Among the unusual office features listed by employees as being ‘not of value’ were;

“Hay bales for sitting on instead of chairs”

“Fake grass in meeting rooms”

“Deck chairs”

“An indoor picnic table with a parasol”

“Motivational quotes on walls”

“Music themed meeting rooms with song lyrics on the wall”

“A throne in reception that nobody wants to sit on”

“Beach huts”

Occupational health expert, Sir Cary Cooper CBE, professor of organisational psychology & health at the ALLIANCE Manchester Business School, University of Manchester, believes some companies are missing the point when it comes to offering office perks.

“Businesses often confuse perks with culture. Providing recreational spaces and a fun environment are not the same as establishing a positive culture that makes employees happy, improves retention rates and increases output. There’s a growing trend for businesses to promote their superficial perks, such as welcome packs, free breakfast and ‘fun’ office spaces as if it’s a sign of a positive culture, but it really isn’t. Cool furniture is nothing more than a nice-to-have bonus and businesses should be wary of focusing on it at the expense of genuine culture.

“Anyone can order a few hammocks and beanbags from Amazon, but it takes years of hard work, research and commitment to values to establish a meaningful workplace culture.”

The Kiwi Movers team were prompted to conduct the study after noticing an increase in companies moving non-essential items into storage

“We’re in an out of offices around London and the UK every week, so we see a lot of different styles. There are some genuinely cool offices that are well designed and thought through, but others appear to be more haphazard and self-conscious.
Over the past 12 months we’ve certainly noticed a rise in businesses putting non-essential furniture into storage, even when moving to larger premises, which prompted us to look deeper.”

So, you’re moving in with your boyfriend. Or maybe your girlfriend. Okay fine, you’re right – that’s not very modern. Let’s call them your partner for now (how grown up!).

Anyway, it’s an exciting time for you both. There’s just a few things to keep in mind first and foremost.

Apps are your best friend

We’ve had a good rant before about what types of apps are helpful around the house. But for the sake of our non-regular readers, here are some of our favourites:

• Splitwise – it means you can split your bills and know exactly who’s paid what. There’s even a running tally at the end of every month, so you don’t need to remind each other.
• Chorma – love the feeling of delegating household tasks to your partner? I’m sure they do too. Anyway, Chorma lets you share chores and see what’s been done around the house. Without the passive-aggressive fridge notes.
• Sidechef – if you’re moving in together, then you’ll probably need to up your cooking game. Sidechef gives you recipes, steps to follow, and lots of helpful photos/tutorials to help you make the perfect dish.

Play the keep/donate/destroy game

This is something that applies to all of us.

Before moving house, or getting a new flatmate, it’s always a good idea to evaluate your stuff and see what’s important to you – and what might be better off elsewhere. There’s a good chance your lovely new partner already has two can openers. Or one of those snazzy spiralisers. So save yourself the hassle and donate/destroy all those unwanted extras.

Classic example of eclectic kitchen gadgets that can probably be left behind.

Feeling sentimental? That’s cool. We have a storage service that lets you keep those treasured possessions nice and safe.

Your credit rating

Okay, so it’s not the most romantic of topics. But if you’re going to share a current account, or take out a credit card together, then there’s a few things to keep in mind.

If he doesn’t keep up with his payments (or goes into his overdraft), then it could have a negative impact on your credit rating. Which could then make it harder for you to get a loan or mortgage in the future.

Of course, the same applies to you too. So it’s a good idea to chat about your expenses first and make sure there’ll be no hidden surprises down the line.

IKEA trips

We all pretend it’s about finding BILLY bookcases and becoming a heightened, more organised version of your old roommate self.

Let’s be honest, though. It’s all about meatballs. And cheese sauce. And that strangely exotic cold chocolate cake.

So embrace it – don’t give yourself too much to do – and have fun.

Over to you
Got any tips about moving in with a new partner? Any pearls of wisdom for the rest of us? We’d love to hear from you on Twitter.