Try rightmove.co.uk

This is the largest site for properties to buy and rent in the UK. I always find it interesting even though I'm not looking.

Many agents specialise in particular areas so you need to know where you want to be. Presumably you have a reason for coming here, so you will know where you want to get to every day, and you can work out where to live from that.

You can find vast numbers of rentals on the Net, which will tell you prices. London is too varied to predict prices in such general terms.

Rightmove and primelocation are two sites that might be useful. They collate agents' own sites and email you details of properties meeting your specified requirements. There are plenty of properties outside them, though. I'd definitely look at this sort of thing before coming. When you have an area, you could contact an agent there and make an appointment for them to take you round some places when you arrive.

My guess would be most properties owned by professional landlords would not be available for less than a year. You might do better with people renting their homes while posted abroad, or student type flats.

"My guess would be most properties owned by professional landlords would not be available for less than a year."

6 months is the standard letting period (there is a legal reason for this), with options to extend for longer after that expires.

the amount you pay depends on the quality of the place and location

But I would say for a 2 bedroomed flat in a "nice" area you would expect to pay from around $500 a week !!!

I would suggest you aim for one of the short term holiday rentals for a couple of weeks so that you can get an idea of where you really want to live

But meanwhile look at www.primelocation.co.uk

The timeshare building we stay at in London (Allen House in Kensington) does longer (3 months +) lets starting at £625/week for a 1 BR.

www.allenhouse.co.uk

Very nice location.

"I would suggest you aim for one of the short term holiday rentals for a couple of weeks so that you can get an idea of where you really want to live"

Anyone have any favorite sites or even specific rentals they can recommend?

In the Ealing area of west London (within zone 3) you should expect to pay about £900 a month for a furnished two bedroomed flat. Do a web search for Ealing estate agents and check their portfolio of property to let. As it is currently difficult to sell houses, their letting departments now have a good selection of flats.

I would suggest you stay in a hotel for a day or two, do some intensive flat viewing and stitch up a lease as soon as possible.

"Anyone have any favorite sites or even specific rentals they can recommend?"

If you are interested in a really central location for that first period, to get the feel of London, I really recommend serrviced apartments at Harrington Court - www.harrington-court.co.uk - where I stay regularly.

They are very clean, always look after me well, give daily housekeeping and, crucially, are located just 1 minute from South Kensington tube station - so it is really easy to get around by tube and also by bus.

I believe that they also do long term rentals, but you might find that location a little costlier than you had in mind - no harm asking !

For the long term apartment, you'll be able to take it for 3 months plus (although most people will only do them for 6 months plus). This is the minimum period for you to be afforded legal protection under the Housing Act (90 days plus). Anything less is based on contract law, not housing law.

Try findaproperty.com first, as rightmove is rather poor and primelocation isn't that much better.

For the short term apartment, there are some cheap options but you'll have to do some research on that.

Just remember:

Never transfer money by Western Union or similar.

Never deal with anyone with an 070 or a +4470 number.

If the "landlord" cannot spell in the advert, this is because he is sitting in an internet cafe in Lagos, wearing a 1990s Manchester United T-shirt.

If possible, get a flat in Zone 1. Although there are some nice areas in Zone 3, most of them resemble Crapsville, AnyOldCounty, UK. Presumably you want to experience London, not suburbia.

Good luck.

If you're looking for temporary digs, consider a place like Janet Poole House, on Gower Street in Bloomsbury. You can book for a week or a bit longer, have a place to stay that's quite central, and have the opportunity to trial travel times from there to locations further out.

Have you a budget in mind? Are you looking for a one bedroom or two bedroom flat? Will you be working or studying whilst in London?

Have a look at theartgirl's list of FAQs which has some links that may help, as well as her swell list of dos and don'ts for short stay lets.

www.refreshaccommodation.com for a handful of potential short stay flats that may suit.