Not all housing in London is like that. Like any city it's hard to find the best areas and nicest deals as a newcomer. A lot of the nice/cheap flats are snapped

Not all housing in London is like that. Like any city it's hard to find the best areas and nicest deals as a newcomer. A lot of the nice/cheap flats are snapped up very quickly by people in privileged positions (i.e. nice flats may be passed around within friendship groups or within a workplace). There are loads of lovely, old, well renovated flats, you just need to be lucky or well informed to find one. We pay GBP1300 per month for a newly renovated, spacious 1 bedroom flat in a Victorian terrace. Give me a period property over a flimsy/shabby new build any day of the week.