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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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BeNiceWhenItsFinished · 07/05/2025 15:22

Have a look at Biggleswade and Sandy, both on the main railway line into Kings Cross / St Pancras, and also close to the A1. There is also Bedford, with a rail line into St Pancras.

Ceejay9 · 07/05/2025 15:22

Hailsham or eastbourne, East Sussex. flats around £160,000.
Roughly an hour to London.

TheCurious0range · 07/05/2025 15:17

You'll get somewhere in either rural or coastal Norfolk or Suffolk but they won't be the most directly connected places to London.

TheCurious0range · 07/05/2025 15:16

EnchantedEvidence · 07/05/2025 15:15

Pretty much so not a holiday location unless you want to get a cheap flight. It has its own train station though and is quick to London, good schools and is a nice high street if you don’t mind flight noise.

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The castle is also cool

Original poster
Lillibetthecat · 07/05/2025 15:16

JustMyView13 · 07/05/2025 15:14

I hate to break it to you, but tenants like this don’t leave after the first court hearing. They know all the tricks. I do hope it’s different for you, but just trying to be realistic.

His contract is coming to an end in 2 months time so hopefully that will help. I know it's not going to be easy!

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EnchantedEvidence · 07/05/2025 15:15

Chersfrozenface · 07/05/2025 15:12

Isn't Stansted Mountfichet basically the high street on the other side of Stansted airport's boundary fence?

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Pretty much so not a holiday location unless you want to get a cheap flight. It has its own train station though and is quick to London, good schools and is a nice high street if you don’t mind flight noise.

JustMyView13 · 07/05/2025 15:14

I hate to break it to you, but tenants like this don’t leave after the first court hearing. They know all the tricks. I do hope it’s different for you, but just trying to be realistic.

ImMeltingMelting · 07/05/2025 15:12

Newark on Trent is about 1 hour 25 minutes from Kings Cross, Grantham is about an hour from Kings Cross via train. Quite a few properties on Rightmove within your budget.

Chersfrozenface · 07/05/2025 15:12

EnchantedEvidence · 07/05/2025 15:07

I was looking for cheap flats earlier and saw a studio flat in Stansted Mountfitchet for £140. There were also a few cheap properties in st Neots but don’t know the area.

Isn't Stansted Mountfichet basically the high street on the other side of Stansted airport's boundary fence?

MiddleAgedDread · 07/05/2025 15:11

your budget would get a 2 bed flat in Peterborough within walking distance of the station which puts you on the main east coast line into Kings Cross.
oh, just seen you want a holiday house, that's a different spec.....

TheCurious0range · 07/05/2025 15:10

EnchantedEvidence · 07/05/2025 15:07

I was looking for cheap flats earlier and saw a studio flat in Stansted Mountfitchet for £140. There were also a few cheap properties in st Neots but don’t know the area.

Those are not holiday areas though, I live near them

EnchantedEvidence · 07/05/2025 15:09

You could look at Peterborough or around there because the train into London is very quick. Ok to live but not a holiday destination lol

Original poster
Lillibetthecat · 07/05/2025 15:08

bluegreengold · 07/05/2025 15:06

Tunbridge wells has some nice 1 bed flats - less than an hour in to London.

I'll look into that. I always thought Tunbridge Wells is posh and expensive so didn't even consider it.

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EnchantedEvidence · 07/05/2025 15:07

I was looking for cheap flats earlier and saw a studio flat in Stansted Mountfitchet for £140. There were also a few cheap properties in st Neots but don’t know the area.

Original poster
Lillibetthecat · 07/05/2025 15:07

TheCurious0range · 07/05/2025 15:05

You say holiday home, so you're looking for a desirable holiday location that's also commutable to London? On that basis I don't think you'll get much for your budget. I say that as a priced out Londoner who now lives in Essex.

A small holiday home, 1 - 2 beds in a nice location.

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bluegreengold · 07/05/2025 15:06

Tunbridge wells has some nice 1 bed flats - less than an hour in to London.

Original poster
Lillibetthecat · 07/05/2025 15:06

Jenkibubble · 07/05/2025 15:01

If you want a seaside location then possibly Weymouth -
3 hours ish to central London . Parking could be an issue

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

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TheCurious0range · 07/05/2025 15:05

You say holiday home, so you're looking for a desirable holiday location that's also commutable to London? On that basis I don't think you'll get much for your budget. I say that as a priced out Londoner who now lives in Essex.

Original poster
Lillibetthecat · 07/05/2025 15:04

Spanador · 07/05/2025 15:03

How far are you happy to move? I live in Somerset and there are quite a few flats here for sale for £160k

Probably about 2 hours max. We do like Somerset but it does seem a bit far x

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Spanador · 07/05/2025 15:03

How far are you happy to move? I live in Somerset and there are quite a few flats here for sale for £160k

TreeDudette · 07/05/2025 15:02

Hemel Hempstead - still commutable into London. Stevenage maybe?

Jenkibubble · 07/05/2025 15:01

If you want a seaside location then possibly Weymouth -
3 hours ish to central London . Parking could be an issue

Original poster
Lillibetthecat · 07/05/2025 14:58

AnotherSadness · 07/05/2025 14:54

And are you happy with ex-local authority for example?

Not really

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