Contact a Broker
When you decide to search for a house or a flat, you may need to contact a broker for the area in which you want to stay in. Brokers are usually paid only after you finalize a house and you sign the contract.
Inspect
Depending on the kind of house (furnished/unfurnished) that you want, you should physically inspect the house to see if all your requirements are fulfilled.
Some basic requirements of a house such as permanent fixtures of water supply, electrical fittings like bulbs, fan etc. should ideally be there in any kind of house you take. Try and negotiate with the landlord/licensor regarding any requirements that you have.
Token Money
If you want some time to think about whether you want to take the house, you can block it by paying token money to the landlord. Paying token money is optional and its purpose is to make sure that the landlord does not show the flat to any other possible tenants/licensee. If you have paid token money, ask for a receipt for the same.
Token money payments are a practice that is not regulated by law.
Be careful when you give the money since taking action against a landlord to get your token money back may be difficult.