If you've just arrived in London, "find roommates" usually means weeks of messaging strangers, viewing flats after work, and hoping the person you met once for coffee pays their share of the electricity bill. (In the UK you'll hear "flatmates" — same thing, same headaches.)
There's another way to do it: move into a flat where the flatmates, the furniture and the bills are already sorted. That's Nook.
Two ways to get flatmates in London
The DIY route: find people on flatshare platforms, view together, convince a landlord, pass referencing as a group, pay up to five weeks' deposit, put bills in someone's name, and hope nobody bails mid-contract.
The Nook route: choose a room in Canary Wharf, Central London, Islington or Whitechapel. Your flatmates are already there — young professionals, postgraduates and interns, mostly 20–35, mostly new to London too. One weekly price from £215/week (subject to room availability) covers WiFi, electricity, water and council tax. Two weeks' deposit. Nobody chases anybody for bill money, ever.
Why "pre-sorted" flatmates work
- No bill splitting. The single biggest source of flatmate friction is money. At Nook there's nothing to split — everything's in your own weekly price.
- Everyone signed the same deal. Each flatmate has their own contract. If someone moves out, it's not your financial problem.
- People in the same chapter. Our residents moved to London for a job, a course or a placement. You're surrounded by people who also want to explore the city — and who understand a quiet Tuesday night too.
- Small flats, not towers. You'll actually know your flatmates' names by the end of week one. Pop the kettle on and you're halfway to friends.
If you'd rather do the DIY search — honest tips
We'd rather you end up in the right home, even if it isn't ours:
- Agree money rules upfront — rent split, bills app, what happens if someone leaves early.
- Ask about deposits — UK landlords may take up to five weeks' rent; make sure it's protected in a government scheme (it's the law).
- Meet twice before signing — once socially, once at the actual flat.
- Get every name on the tenancy — informal subletting leaves you without protection.
- Check what "bills included" covers — WiFi and council tax are the two most often missing.
More on the renting side: Rent a Room in London — the full guide
How moving into a Nook flat works
- Browse rooms — see which flats have rooms free and who they suit. Browse rooms
- Book a viewing — meet the flat (and often a flatmate or two) in person or by video call.
- Settle in — two weeks' deposit, online contract, keys on move-in day. Flatmates included.
Frequently asked questions
Q: How do I find roommates in London? A: Either the DIY route — flatshare platforms and group referencing — or a managed shared flat like Nook, where flatmates, furniture and bills are already in place and you just pick your room.
Q: What do Brits call roommates? A: "Flatmates" (you share a flat, not a room). "Housemates" if it's a house. If someone shares your actual bedroom, that's a "roommate" in the UK sense — rare outside student halls.
Q: Can I meet the flatmates before I move in? A: Usually, yes. Viewings often overlap with residents being home, and we can tell you who lives in the flat — ages, work/study mix — before you decide.
Q: What if I don't get on with a flatmate? A: Talk to us. Because every resident has an individual contract, moving rooms within Nook is far simpler than breaking a joint tenancy.
Q: Are bills really all included? A: Yes — WiFi, electricity, water and council tax are in your weekly price, from £215/week subject to room availability. There's nothing to split with flatmates.