Where to Get Affordable Temporal Housing in the UK as an Immigrant, aside Airbnb? Top 5 Affordable Temporal Housing You Can Choose From
Nowadays, many people who travel rent apartments, houses, or villas rather than staying in hotels. This is because finding an inexpensive location to stay temporarily is necessary for people who are new to the UK and require time to settle in.
Most of these rentals are rented through Airbnb, a popular and reliable website. However, if you’ve heard or had negative experiences with Airbnb, or if you’re simply seeking other options for your next trip, there are a few alternatives to consider.
Some of these websites provide unique experiences that may fit you better than Airbnb. This article will show you where to get affordable temporary housing in the UK as an immigrant, aside Airbnb.
Where to Get Affordable Temporal Housing in the UK as an Immigrant, aside Airbnb
1. VRbo
Vrbo, or Vacation Rentals by Owner, is a vacation rental platform similar to Airbnb, but with some peculiarities. It has been active since 1996 and lists over a million properties, giving it an excellent option for seeking a place to stay.
Vrbo focuses on renting out entire vacation residences, such as houses and flats, rather than individual rooms. This makes it ideal for families or parties, as it provides properties around the UK, including major destinations such as Whitby, St Ives, London, and Tenby.
You can save homes you like to a Trip Board until you’re ready to book, and there is 24-hour help accessible.
Vrbo previously did not charge visitors for booking fees; however, this changed in 2016. They now charge a booking fee, similar to Airbnb. The webpage is somewhat similar to Airbnb, but some customers find Airbnb more convenient to use.
Still, if you can’t locate what you’re searching for on Airbnb, try Vrbo. If you own a home, you may list it on Vrbo for either an annual fee or per booking. One intriguing feature of Vrbo is its loyalty program, One Key, which allows you to collect credits for bookings that you can use on future trips.
It’s a smart idea to explore Vrbo while looking for a rental home, especially during peak vacation seasons when selections may be restricted. Vrbo sometimes has lower-priced listings than Airbnb, and its search engine allows you to compare the overall cost of a rental, including fees.
Pros of Vrbo
1. Diverse selection of properties: Vrbo provides a wide choice of vacation rental options, including houses, flats, cottages, cabins, villas, and chalets.
2. Best for families and groups: Because Vrbo specializes in renting out full residences, it is ideal for families or groups traveling together that value privacy and space.
3. Realistic expectations: Guests can view actual images provided by past travelers, which provide a more accurate portrayal of the property than staged photos on other sites.
4. Loyalty program: Vrbo has a loyalty program called One Key, which allows visitors to collect benefits for bookings that may be applied to future journeys.
5. Direct communication with hosts: Guests can speak directly with property owners, which allows for more personalized interactions and rapid resolution of any complaints.
Cons of Vrbo
1. Booking fees: Vrbo charges visitors a booking fee, which might raise the total cost of the rental.
2. Limited booking possibilities: Unlike other platforms, Vrbo is largely focused on holiday rentals and may not have as many booking alternatives for other types of lodgings.
3. Confusing cancellation rules: Vrbo’s cancellation procedures can be complex and vary by property, confusing some guests.
4. Lack of shared spaces: Because Vrbo only permits property owners to offer full properties, travelers seeking shared accommodations or individual rooms may need to look into other platforms.
5. Customer support: Some consumers claim difficulties in obtaining dependable customer service from Vrbo, particularly during emergencies or urgent situations.
2. Booking.com
Booking.com, with over 29 million listings, is an excellent resource for finding hotel deals throughout the world. It has been discovered to be one of the best options for hotel reservations.
They offer a diverse assortment, an easy-to-use website, and cheap pricing. But did you realize that they also list houses and apartments? If you like using Booking.com for hotels, you can also use it for flats!
Booking.com has been used to book homes all around the world, and many users appreciate the simple search filters and helpful reviews from previous guests. Booking.com has a large selection of rentals, ranging from log cabins with hot tubs to secluded locations for viewing the Northern Lights.
You can discover apartments, cabins, cottages, boats, and other accommodations. Furthermore, many resorts provide free cancellation and customer ratings to help you decide.
Booking.com charges a fee for each booking, however, the listing is free for property owners. Hosts pay a commission fee based on the overall booking value, which can range between 10% and 25%. Booking.com is useful for hassle-free accommodation, particularly when traveling internationally.
Pros of Booking.com
1. Extensive selection: With over 29 million listings globally, Booking.com provides a diverse range of accommodations, including hotels, residences, apartments, cabins, villas, and more.
2. User-friendly interface: The website is straightforward to use, with simple search filters and detailed information on each property.
3. inexpensive prices: Booking.com frequently offers inexpensive rates for rooms, making it an excellent choice for budget-conscious travelers.
4. Free cancellation: Many properties on Booking.com provide free cancellation, giving travelers flexibility if their plans change.
5. Professional management: Some Booking.com properties are professionally managed, which might result in a more efficient booking and check-in experience.
Cons of Booking.com
1. Commission fees: Hosts on Booking.com pay commission fees based on the overall booking value, which can range from 10% to 25% and potentially reduce revenues.
2. Lack of charm: When compared to platforms such as Airbnb, Booking.com’s lodgings may lack the distinct charm and individuality that alternative offerings often possess.
3. Limited portfolio: While Booking.com offers a large selection of lodgings, it may have fewer possibilities for unique or specialty properties than other sites.
4. Potential for high fees: While free cancellation is a perk, some places may charge higher fees or have stricter cancellation policies, so travelers should verify before booking.
5. International focus: While Booking.com is well-known worldwide and useful for locating hotels when traveling overseas, it may have fewer possibilities in some domestic areas than local competitors.
3. TripAdvisor
Looking for a holiday rental, such as Airbnb? Look no further than TripAdvisor. TripAdvisor Rentals offers more than 800,000 homes worldwide, ranging from private rooms to castles and everything in between. Whether you want a quiet cottage or a luxury villa, you may find it here.
It is a well-known online travel platform that offers information and booking services to travelers worldwide. It provides a vast collection of user-generated reviews and ratings for hotels, restaurants, activities, and vacation rentals.
The platform is well-known for its trustworthy ratings and simple booking process, making it a go-to resource for many travelers when planning their journeys.
Furthermore, listing your home with TripAdvisor Vacation Rentals is simple and free. Simply sign up and pay a tiny 3% commission for every booking. Your listing will display not only on TripAdvisor but also on other websites such as HolidayLettings and Flipkey.
So, if you are a property owner wishing to reach a large number of travelers, consider listing your UK home on TripAdvisor Vacation Rentals. It’s an excellent method to highlight your area and attract guests from all over the world.
Pros of TripAdvisor
1. Reviews from actual people: TripAdvisor contains a large number of reviews from travelers across the world who express their honest opinions about hotels and places they’ve visited.
2. Real images: Travelers can post their photos, allowing you to see what a destination looks like before booking. This helps to prevent surprises when you arrive.
3. A wealth of information: TripAdvisor offers details on rooms and cities, as well as travel guides to help you plan your trip. You can do extensive research before making a selection.
4. Booking options: TripAdvisor provides booking services for hotels, airlines, and other travel activities.
5. Community forums: Users can ask questions and receive assistance from other travelers on forums.
Cons of TripAdvisor
1. Uncertainty about contributors: Because anyone with internet access can submit a review, it’s difficult to determine whether they’re honest. Some property owners may even leave positive ratings for their properties.
2. Limited booking features: TripAdvisor allows you to book, but it isn’t as complete as other booking services. For the best deals, consider using a different website.
3. Advertisements: The site may contain sponsored content or advertisements that influence your decisions.
4. Limited customer support: Some users claim difficulty getting assistance from TripAdvisor’s customer service team.
4. Sonder
Sonder differs from Airbnb in that they do not simply connect you with property owners; they lease or own every home they offer and operate directly. This means they can guarantee certain amenities for each property, such as WiFi, towels, and high-quality coffee.
They even offer contactless check-in to make your stay more convenient. Sonder provides over 8,500 possibilities in 27 cities globally for both short-term and long-term rentals. From mid-range to luxury, their residences combine hotel-like cleanliness with the independence of an apartment.
Sonder provides property owners with a hands-off option in which they lease their property and handle everything from bookings to housekeeping. It’s ideal for a reliable income without the effort.
Their postings are organized by neighborhood, making it simple to live like a local—at least for a while.
Furthermore, if you stay longer, you can receive discounts after seven, fourteen, and thirty nights. Sonder strives to combine the benefits of a hotel stay with the comforts of home.
Pros of Sonder
1. Consistent standards: Sonder owns or rents every property on its list, allowing them to maintain the same standards across all accommodations.
2. Guaranteed amenities: Sonder ensures that each apartment fulfills specific requirements and includes amenities such as WiFi, towels, and high-quality coffee.
3. Flexibility: Sonder provides both short-term rentals and longer-term stays to accommodate a variety of travel demands.
4. Extensive selection: Sonder provides over 8,500 alternatives in 27 locations worldwide, ranging from mid-range to luxury.
5. Hands-off option for property owners: Sonder accepts applications from property owners who choose a hands-off approach to renting out their property, handling everything from booking to cleaning.
Cons of Sonder:
1. Limited availability: While Sonder offers properties in numerous cities across the world, they may not be available in every destination, restricting travelers’ options.
2. Higher prices: Because of its constant standards and promised facilities, Sonder properties may be more expensive than other hotels.
3. Limited service options: Some Sonder locations may provide cleaning services, while others may operate only as self-check-in apartments, restricting guests’ options.
4. Less local appeal: While Sonder houses have hotel-like cleanliness, they may lack the distinct charm and personality of regular Airbnb accommodations.
5. Limited international presence: While Sonder operates in some countries, its presence may be limited in comparison to other global housing platforms, limiting alternatives for foreign travelers.
5. The Plum Guide
If you’re interested in Airbnb but concerned about the quality among so many options, you should read the Plum Guide. The Plum Guide is selective about which properties it accepts, selecting less than 5% of those who apply.
They manually inspect each one against over 150 requirements, ranging from shower pressure to mattress quality, to ensure the highest quality. This means there is a reduced range, but they still have a large number of properties available internationally to suit a variety of budgets.
The main disadvantage is that they do not have guest reviews, so if you enjoy reading about other people’s experiences, this may not be the ideal option for you. Property owners can apply for free to list their property on The Plum Guide.
However, they have a stringent verification process. Once authorized, there is a one-time membership charge for your first booking to cover the vetting costs, as well as a modest percentage of bookings. If you believe your property matches their requirements, sign up here.
Pros of the Plum Guide
1. High-quality standards: Plum Guide accepts less than 5% of properties and personally vets each one against over 150 criteria to ensure exceptional quality.
2. Reliable selection: With a restricted range of properties, Plum Guide ensures that you’re just looking at the top rentals in a certain area.
3. Thorough vetting process: Properties are reviewed by a Plum Guide professional who stays at each one to provide accurate information about the property.
4. Distinctive property names: Plum Guide employs amusing, tongue-in-cheek titles for residences to give personality to the listings.
5. Global availability: Plum Guide provides residences in destinations all over the world, catering to a variety of budgets and interests.
Cons of the Plum Guide
1. Limited options: Due to their stringent selection procedure, Plum Guide has a limited variety of properties compared to other sites such as Airbnb.
2. Lack of guest reviews: Plum Guide does not provide guest reviews, which may make it difficult for travelers to assess the quality of a hotel based on previous experiences.
3. Strict vetting procedure for property owners: While it is free to apply to list a home on Plum Guide, there is a one-time membership fee and commission on reservations if approved.
4. Limited information: While Plum Guide offers extensive descriptions, there may be fewer photographs and information available than on other platforms.
5. Higher pricing: The high-quality criteria of Plum Guide homes may result in higher prices compared to other accommodations.
FAQS
How to get accommodation in the UK from Nigeria?
If you just have a short stay in the United Kingdom, you can find interim flats on sites like Booking, Homestay, Gumtree, TripAdvisor, HomeAway, Airbnb, or VRBO. These furnished short-term apartments are easier to secure.
How can a foreigner rent a house in the UK?
You can use your passport or an immigration document to demonstrate your entitlement to rent if it demonstrates you have Home Office permission to be in the UK. The landlord or agent will obtain copies of your paperwork. GOV.UK provides more information on immigration paperwork that can be used to prove your eligibility to rent.
Who pays the rent for temporary accommodation in UK?
You will be required to pay a weekly fee for temporary accommodation and are liable for the property’s rent. If your temporary accommodation is handled by a housing association, you are still responsible for paying the rent, but it will be collected by the housing organization.
Conclusion
Airbnb is well-known in the UK for its beach cottages, cozy countryside retreats in the Cotswolds, one-of-a-kind treehouses, and residences with hot tubs. However, if you’re looking for alternatives to your ideal holiday rental in the UK, whether by the sea, in the countryside, or in the center of a city, you’ve come to the right spot. We hope this information has been really helpful to you.
