Hoping that someone here can help me with this query (in fact, I know someone here can help me with this query!).

After 16+ years away from UK, it may be time to leave the country I have lived for the past decade and a half (!!).

If/when I go back to the UK it will be to a place that I love, but where I have no close family or friends. So what will have to happen is that I find a place to rent pretty quickly. Generally, how does it work in the UK - presumably without any kind of UK credit references (thanks UK bank for cancelling that credit card without telling me) I would be somewhat stymied in the range of rental options?

From reading other posts on the forum here, I assume I would have to pay x months rent in advance?

The place I to which I am thinking of moving is a college town, so there should be plenty of rental accommodation.

Similar situation, but thinking of "trying out" living there first. I'm not sure how people are finding longer or short term rentals in the UK from abroad. In San Francisco it's easy to find a short-term place (lot's of people rent out their apartments when they go away).

The closest thing I've found is: http://www.crashpadder.com/spare-room-in/london -- you could try that for a month or so stay, and then look for a longer term rental while you're in the UK.

There is also: http://brighton.gumtree.com/ -- but I haven't had much luck even getting a response from flat rentals. Again, I think I'd have to be in the UK, especially to check out the place before forking out $$.

Another is: http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-to-rent.html
-- although for me, not clear which are long and short term rentals, or even if it's possible to rent only for one month.

Hi, we tried a new area when we arrived in the UK, I eventually found a rental and explained we had been overseas for quite a few years, the rental company asked if I could supply a personnel reference..(I had a written references from the agency we rented through in Aus,we rented for a year after we sold our home) the other reference was from my Sister in law who lived in the U.K but we had the choice also of paying a deposit of 3 months rental in advance.....I found it quite easy to rent and so far we have not had any problems with our rental (touch wood) good luck....

be careful on gumtree, as it is riddled with scams!

you may fork out money and that is the last you see of it!

take a look at the forum on gumtree to reasd up about the scames so you don't get suckered!

We went back to the Uk 2 years ago for an 8 month holiday and rented a 2 bed bungalow in cheshire. We checked local estate agents online and selected several houses which the estate agents showed us around when we arrived. There are lots of houses to rent at the moment because people have given up trying to sell them and just rent to cover costs, however, furnished accommodation is not very common. we were lucky and got a furnished bungalow for 550 pounds per month.
We had no references but offered to pay 3 months in advance also the agent did a credit check with our bank, ( we have always kept our account going) which cost us 25 pounds, and that was it, got the key 2 weeks later.

For just a month you may have to rent weekly, most rentals start off with a 6 month 'assured tenancy'. You may need a guarantor as you have no UK credit, but different agencies require different things.