- Gumtree sees influx of Londoners renting their rooms and houses over the wedding weekend
With the sound of Royal Wedding bells almost in the air, Londoners living near the royal procession route can also hear the sound of cash jingling in their pockets. Gumtree.com has seen an influx of ads from people renting out their London rooms or homes over the Royal Wedding period – often charging as much as £2,000 for the whole week.
Homes and rooms on or near the royal procession route, or within walking distance from Westminster Abbey or Buckingham Palace, are charging a hefty premium – with many ads on the online local notice board detailing the short walk that renters can take to catch a glimpse of the wedding action.
Rental prices per week range from £1,000 to £2,500 to rent the full property. Others who are staying in London have advertised to sublet a single spare bedroom, with the note: “Willing to negotiate a price for the whole property (2 double bedrooms) for the entire weekend”.
Adverts currently on the site include:
- £2,000pw, Knightsbridge: 2 bedroom apartment, 10 mins walk from Buckingham Palace http://www.gumtree.com/london/78/74439978.html
· £850pw, Luxury 2 bed flat walking distance Royal Wedding Westminster Abbey London http://www.gumtree.com/london/52/73742252.html
- £1,000pw, Two bedroom house, 15 minute walk to Westminster, Bankside Southbank http://www.gumtree.com/london/51/73694951.html
- £2,100 pw, Royal Wedding Accommodation: Large flat moments from the Processional Route, Charing Cross http://www.gumtree.com/london/72/72976172.html
- £1,500 pw, Two bedroomed flat, Victoria, SW1 Victoria http://www.gumtree.com/london/64/74215064.html
- £600pw, Double room near Shepherd’s Bush, http://www.gumtree.com/london/43/73676443.html
Top Tips for subletting your home for the Royal Wedding weekend
- Be honest when describing your home, include photos on the ad so that potential renters know exactly what to expect
- Include details on how to get to the key sights over the wedding weekend, include tube stops, bus routes or approximate walking times
- Remember to mention the facilities and mod-cons in your property – holidaymakers will be looking for a home-away-from-home rather than a hotel, so remember to mention your HD TV/cable package, blue ray player, dishwasher, state of the art cooking facilities, etc. in your ad – and why not leave out your DVD collection for the option of a quiet night in?
- Get to know your renters by email or telephone before you commit and meet them beforehand if you can – this will help build trust and peace of mind while you’re away, and also help make local recommendations
- Create a rule book for your renters that are clear and easy to understand e.g. no smoking indoors, or no pets allowed, don’t use the washing machine after 10pm or the neighbours will complain, etc.
- Compile a folder with everything your renters might need: instructions on how to use the household appliances, restaurant recommendations, locations of nearby shops and pubs, telephone numbers for local services
- Lock away any valuables or high-value items
- Inform your friends and neighbours of your house rental plans
Sam Taylor from Gumtree.com said: “Despite the building excitement about the Royal Wedding, Londoners have begun to realise that if they rent out their property over the wedding weekend, it can fund a holiday to more exotic climates.
Luxury hotels are charging in the region of £3,000 – £5,000 for the long weekend – so it’s easy to see why self-catering options are proving popular.
Those lucky enough to live in central London are sitting on very easy money so should consider cashing-in on their postcodes for a few days if they are planning on going away – or even renting out a spare bedroom if they are staying in the city for the celebrations.”
Gumtree.com anticipates a similar trend to take place this summer in south-west London for the Wimbledon Tennis Championships 2011, and the London Olympics 2012.
