[Sangetsu]

Since you are from England, you can get a 6 month working holiday visa. With the WHV, you can work part-time while looking for a full-time gig. Some companies will hire people without a working visa, and will assist you in getting the work visa so long as you are qualified for one. Though this method generally works, it is not the best method. It's expensive to come to Japan and support yourself while applying and interviewing with potential employers.

As for housing, you would have to settle for a month-to-month place like Sakura House and a few others. Since you are paying by the month, there is no long-term commitment, and no special paperwork is required.

In order to get a regular apartment you are going to need a few things, first of which is an Alien Registration Card, and the next being a sponsor. The sponsor (usually your employer) is responsible for paying for damages or unpaid rent in the event you either damage the place, or (obviously) fail to pay the rent.

Moving into an apartment in Japan is not cheap. Depending on where you live, the combined deposits and fees can add up to as much as 6 months worth of rent, which must be paid up-front before you can move in. This is not a rule, but it is common enough in good areas with desirable properties. It your apartment is one of those less-desirable 13 square-meter places located underneath a busy train line, then you might be able to get away with moving in without having to pay any deposits.

It's best to do as MMM says, and find an employer/sponsor before coming to Japan. They'll assist you in the apartment hunting, and with the other important things like getting a bank account (also necessary for renting an apartment), an alien registration card, and other things like telephone service, electricity, and gas service. If you work for a good enough company, they may pay most of these expenses for you as well.