When looking for a home to rent in Warsaw, Europe, all of Asia, I have found the following apply.
1. Do not look for rent-able properties on websites created from the UK, these websites are part of the UK government belief that the UK can be an (administrator) service provider globally. They will push up the price of anything they are connected with. They present themselves as slick and organized but the reality is they intend to make as much profit from the landlord and tenant as possible. I have seen time and time again this strategy applied to affordable cities around Asia and Europe. The UK created websites push rent and their personal profit into very bad high prices and damage the concept of local affordability. Boycott these websites and use rental agencies which are local to the country but also check those agencies are not using UK created websites as "profit chasing price benchmarks". Be aware that in recent years these UK companies are presenting websites which are in the local language and look local-solution-check the real ownership address of the agency owned web site.
2. If you are thinking of buying a property the points in point one still apply. For example: UK development companies ( and UK individuals) will buy a property, make it look nice, use slick marketing and put it on the market at a higher price. Rental and property prices have been devastated globally by this online approach. Initially they target ex-pats to rent or buy which in turn pushes local people down the ladder of accessing affordable properties. Why? because they turn affordable housing into an expensive economy. Once they have gained property market dominance, everybody is targeted with excessive gradually increasing charges. This has the effect of gradually pushing up local property prices but they are focused on profit and have zero care about what damage they do to the local property market.
3. Use local agencies but of course ensure they are not using UK websites as a property value benchmark.
4. Put aside some time to reach out and contact local landlords directly via websites such as expat.com and local newspapers classified adverts. This is the best approach.
5. Network: Use different types of ex pat websites, tell people what you are looking for? Be ready to sort through your replies because the UK property agencies will contact you and try to use slick talk to get you to invest in them. Be ready to also be approached by some local agencies which due to competitive pressure they have decided to copy the UK agencies and treat you as a source for profiteering.
6. Protect your countries economy: You do not need a foreign office based in London, New York or Berlin to administer and charge you money for things you are seeking within your own country/economy. If you spend your hard earned money with them it is a fact your money ends up in their country and systematically depletes your home countries economy. The long term effect on your home country due to systematic bleeding of your economy is damage to internal investment/infrastructures, property prices, investment in education, health care, public transport, local business start up's, jobs. This leads to your government being forced into a position where they have to borrow money from international bankers to balance your local economic system, this then leads to an increase in national debt, too many new increased taxes and external banker control over your government and its law making systems, (when they control your economy they can control the government), media outlets and most other public services such as electricity, water supplies, transport, health and education services which they will tell your government to privatize and sell to them.
7. It is a lot for you to take into account when you rent or buy a property but the rules apply to you each time you spend your money in your home country. Buy goods produced by your home country, use services created within your home country. Of course we hope you welcome ex pats to live and work in your country but retain control over your culture, identity, economic systems and keep your government as working for you.