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Original poster

How far from London do I need to go to buy a flat for £160k

135 replies

Lillibetthecat · 07/05/2025 14:46

Forgive me, just posting here for traffic.

Have a flat in London that's being currently rented. Tenant stopped paying, has wrecked it in the process too and I'm taking him to court next week. However I'm fed up with the stress of it all, whilst I'm paying my mortgage on the flat and bills.

So, after the tenant is evicted, I'm thinking of selling it and buying a property somewhere mortgage free, if I can. The equity would be about £160, possibly 5-10k more. How far do I need to go away from London to buy something for this price? I think I'd have to go further North rather than South? Somewhere that is well connected to London, would that be too much to ask?

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Mrsgreen100 · 10/05/2025 21:27

For holiday home , consider norfolk
but I would wait 18 months, market is going down, you will get more for your money, bear in mind full council tax now on secondary homes ,
London/ Norwich train then short hop to
Wroxham , Cromer , sherringham etc
doable with your budget and imo a good investment

uncomfortablydumb60 · 09/05/2025 18:53

Yes, I’m in BOA, Hilperton is a good shout

DyslexicPoster · 09/05/2025 08:23

Not sure when you bought your flat but lots has changed in the btl market. You will also need to pay capital gains. Bigger stamp duty etc. I'd get some financial advice. Can you re let your flat via a council scheme?

soupyspoon · 09/05/2025 07:54

LisaJ68 · 08/05/2025 17:57

Folkestone! It's only an hour from London and it's brilliant!

I was going to say Folkestone surely. Not that expensive and commutable.

Piergirl · 09/05/2025 07:46

Both Brighton and Hove have direct trains to London - about 1 hour - you could just abou t get a studio in your price range- there is a seafront one in Hove on at the moment within your price range. But be aware that most have a " no short term lets" clause in the lease.
There are very good bus and train services along the coast, Portslade, Lancing, Shoreham and Worthing are all cheaper in one direction, Saltdean and Rottingdean in the other.

motherofawhirlwind · 09/05/2025 07:28

Lillibetthecat · 07/05/2025 14:56

I would say anything. Flat, house, just want to know how much can I buy for £160k amd how far from London.

Sorry I should have given more details. Initially I was thinking a 1 bed flat but now I can see you can buy a 3 bed house not far from Coventry.

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Houses and plenty of flats within walking distance of the station in Rugby. Under an hour to London Euston. Lots more choice a bit further out.

luckycat888 · 09/05/2025 01:34

Norwich. 1hr48 mins into Stratford

TravellersLip · 09/05/2025 00:30

I’d say about 50 years.

uncomfortablydumb60 · 08/05/2025 23:50

I’m in Wiltshire and have exactly what you describe Flat currently worth 120-125k
1 hr 20 to London Paddington

Earlymornyawn · 08/05/2025 22:57

Lillibetthecat · 07/05/2025 15:06

I'll check Weymouth, it's close to Winchester which we love. Winchester is quite expensive.

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I am not sure of prices in Weymouth but we are not that far from there, south coast, and a 1 bed flat would set you back at least 200k here.

Bernardo1 · 08/05/2025 22:41

Seriously doubt this, not a cheap area.

MrsBantry · 08/05/2025 22:05

Buy my one! It's in a village called Melbourn in Cambridgeshire. You can find it on Rightmove on for £205,000. Bit over but you'd only need a small mortgage. Fast trains to Cambridge and London from Royston. Lovely flat if I do say so myself 😁

asrl78 · 08/05/2025 21:30

As has been suggested, I would look at Milton Keynes. I am looking there myself as I have ambitions to move out of SE England at some point in the future. Other possibilities include towns along the northern branches of the Thameslink routes such as Luton or Bedford, although I haven't really looked at Bedford myself.

Hercules12 · 08/05/2025 19:53

Op- get yourself onto the rebel finance face book group. Do their free course.

Melx42 · 08/05/2025 19:49

Lillibetthecat · 07/05/2025 15:06

I'll check Weymouth, it's close to Winchester which we love. Winchester is quite expensive.

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Winchester is one of the most expensive parts of the country and is not close to Weymouth, probably 90 mins on a good day

TwinklySquid · 08/05/2025 19:41

Cardiff is two hours by train to London. Bristol and Swindon are closer and on that same line.

Cazwest6 · 08/05/2025 19:30

It depends how many bedrooms you need
My brother is selling his 2 bed flat in Ruislip for £190 k

LakieLady · 08/05/2025 19:24

You could get a decent flat in many parts of Kent for £160k, also Hastings/St Leonards in East Sussex.

I think Hastings is coming up in the world too, so could be a good investment in terms of its value increasing. It seems to be having a bit of an influx of "down from Londons", now that Brighton has got so expensive.

Dogsbreath7 · 08/05/2025 19:07

Can I suggest OP you buy a map with some of your £169k. You are pretty clueless about the most basic of geography even for for London centric Londoner.

Also where have you been? The tide has turned against property as an income (even when it does social good and provide property for people to rent). Holiday homes are also now problematic. Buy if you want own use but I don’t think you are cut out for rental property business especially one remote. Who will manage the property?

invest the money or pay off your own mortgage. Use the income to pay for some nice hotels.

ThePandoricaOpens · 08/05/2025 19:07

HairsprayBabe · 07/05/2025 14:53

I live in Warwickshire and we bought a whole 3 bed house for £140k
Houses round here regularly still go for similar amounts
Train to London Euston is about an hour from mainline in Coventry.

What!?! Where in Warwickshire are you? I'm in south and you couldn't get a one bed flat for that here!

MaddestGranny · 08/05/2025 18:38

I agree with @AlohaRose . I also hadn't understood that this was for a holiday home / second home. Return on investment would probably do better in hands of a reputable IFA. Also, you're not tied down to one location.

MaddestGranny · 08/05/2025 18:32

Go for a house if you possibly can. Freehold always better.
Flats are usually leasehold, and leaseholds can be a nightmare and expensive, too, in management fees, etc.

MAFSsaddict · 08/05/2025 17:57

Northampton is surprisingly easy to London on the train I believe. Areas of Nottingham are really nice and that’s not too far either

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