Cambridge - Post Report Question and Answers

What is your housing like? What are typical housing sizes, locations, and commute times for expatriates?

Housing comes in the way of flats (apartments), attached (duplex) or unattached houses. Because of the number of Americans in this area, modern homes are built with larger living spaces and more storage. Older homes lack storage, and rooms and doorways can be small. Many homes have radiant heat and lack A/C. Renters must pay property taxes, called "the Council Tax", which can be quite expensive. - Mar 2013


Houses and flats (apartments) here generally are smaller with smaller rooms, few-to-no closets and no central A/C, except in newer buildings. Many Americans choose to live in towns close to (but outside of) Cambridge for a break on traffic jams and rental prices. There are lots of local real estate companies that list rental properties. Search the internet for their websites. Most rental property management agencies and landlords require a month's rent in advance, which you'll get back at the end of your lease after they deduct damages, cleaning fees, etc. Legally, your rent should be placed in a scheme separate from the landlord’s personal account, and there are steep fines for noncompliance in this respect. - Sep 2012


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