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Original poster

Paying £1650 in rent to live alone - Am I mad?

76 replies

SaharaLeila · 21/10/2018 10:32

Hi all, long-term user here but serial namechanger as I am terrified of people recognizing me 

I have been living with flatmates in Central London for the last 8 years. I am now 29 yo and I am so sick of it. I crave my own space, I hate being disturbed by my flatmates' noise and I hate worrying about disturbing them with my own. I need to move out. Unfortunately I am not in the position to buy at the moment, so renting it is.

I have found the perfect little apartment, 15 mins by bus from my office. It is a one bedroom flat with huge windows and a small private backyard. It looks absolutely lovely and I know I would just love living there.

The only problem is that rent is £1650 a month 

I think I could technically afford it, but it feels like an obscene amount of money to pay in rent? Am I mad for even considering it? Would you pay that amount of money in rent just for the sake of living on your own?

OP posts:
Feefeetrixabelle · 21/10/2018 11:22

I’d go for it but look to buy property elsewhere. Even a holiday let somewhere trickling money in would be a good investment.

TigerJae · 21/10/2018 11:23

If you can afford it, do it. Outside space is priceless. Even in winter you can wrap up warm for a cup of tea / glass of wine! And not to be disturbed by flat mates is BLISS!
I personally wouldn’t move further out, the irritation / cost of a longer commute would negate the benefits of central living for me, plus it doesn’t sound like you need extra space.

FFSFFSFFS · 21/10/2018 11:25

That is exactly how much I pay in rent to live alone and it is DELIGHTFUL.

Obviously I'd rather pay less and it is about same % of my take home. But it is absolutely crucial for my well being.

I woud l totally do it if I was you. Obviously. As its what Im doing! But even more so given our circumstances of moving on probably etc.

Interested in this thread?

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afrikat · 21/10/2018 11:26

In your circumstances I would definitely do it. Good luck!

RollerJed · 21/10/2018 11:26

Then as per my above comment, you can defo afford it 😂

FFSFFSFFS · 21/10/2018 11:27

Feefeetrixabelle makes a good point. I also own other properties that I rent out. I bought them because I also used to move around a lot and I didn't want to not get on the ladder. I will probably stay where I am now and look to buy to live in, in a while.

So when I was in your circumstances and about your age I rented but bought somewhere else - which was somewhere I wouldn't want to live and cheaper. It's worked out well for me.

Oh an outdoor space. Again. DELIGHTFUL.

LavendarGreen · 21/10/2018 11:32

Is it not possible to maybe try and move in and share with just one flatmate? So you can halve the outgoings. It sounds like a lot of rent for one person. You will be paying all the bills alone too. Unless you are picking up 3 and a half to 4 grand a month (take home pay.)

If you are picking this much up, then go for it.

So maybe try just sharing with one person? See how that goes...

OliviaStabler · 21/10/2018 11:33

Is there a specific reason you want to be so close to your workplace? I know its handy but you could pay less and commute just a little more and save for a deposit.

Just because your job is mobile is no reason to not save and buy a place as you won't always be in this job.

LavendarGreen · 21/10/2018 11:34

Just noticed you say you take home £1000 a week (4K a month.)

Like a pp, I don't get why you are flatsharing anyway. Go live alone if it's what you want.

HolgerLowCarbingLoser · 21/10/2018 11:38

You can afford it, and given other circumstantial things you’ve mentioned, I absolutely would do it if I were you. The cost is worth it to me, I would need my own space.

PumpkinSpiceAmericanoNoSugar · 21/10/2018 11:49

Do it, you already know it will make you happy. And if it doesn't work out for whatever reason, it's a rental you can move on. Plus 15 mins by bus is probably a walk of less than an hour when the weather is nice.

RandomMess · 21/10/2018 11:55

TBH I would as tolerating other people 24/7 (work and Home) is hard.

Original poster
SaharaLeila · 21/10/2018 12:05

Is there a specific reason you want to be so close to your workplace?

Olivia I often work brutal hours, so a long commute is a no no for me. For example this past week I never left the office before 9:30pm. If I had to commute on top of that, I think I'd have a nervous breakdown 

OP posts:
costacoffeecup · 21/10/2018 12:09

If I was 29 I would definitely do it, being in London at the weekend and having your own place to go back to is amazing. I would love it.

I couldn't afford to live in central London at that age but was sick of flat sharing so moved out to a studio in zone 2. It was ok but would have much preferred to be in central.

ParliamentOfRavens · 21/10/2018 12:10

When i was young free and childless (10years ago now), i paid £1250/m for a flat to myself in central london.

It was worth every penny. I didn’t have awful housemates, i came home everyday to a luxurious cosy home that was exactly as i liked it.

It was a major chunk of my earnings, but i never really was a holiday or designer clothes person. I like having a hygge space of my own and i apreciated it every day. If your an introvert, the mental health gain alone is worth the money.

vanitythynameisnotwoman · 21/10/2018 12:11

Not mad at all. That it costs so much compared to the rest of the country is mad but you can't singlehandedly fix that.

You earn in the top few % of the country. You can do what you want with that money (I assume you have a decent pension and are/have been saving too?)

Elloelloello123 · 21/10/2018 12:12

How much deposit have you saved for buying? May be worth looking at shared equity if you have enough for 5%.

BrookCreek · 21/10/2018 12:17

I read somewhere that people in rented accommodation pay a third of their income in rent. So you wouldn't be far off that. At 29 and not to have your own space I'd ask is the job worth it?

If your career is mobile why don't you move out of London?
DD in a northern city has just rented a huge two bedroom flat with private parking overlooking a river for £500 a month. Even then she would be better off buying as a mortgage would cost less.

Original poster
SaharaLeila · 21/10/2018 12:39

Brook it is likely that my company will transfer me to another hq within the next two years, possibly Zurich or Hong Kong. For what I do there are not many opportunities outside of major metropolis.

OP posts:
WrongKindOfFace · 21/10/2018 12:43

If it’s affordable then yes, absolutely go for it. House shares are not fun even as students.

Halfahunnerstillastunner · 21/10/2018 12:44

Yup do it OP. Absolutely.

bruce43mydog · 21/10/2018 12:56

You need to be frugal. You never know when you will need money in the future. To throw it at expensive rent would be wasted money. But if you want to have your own space more than the money then go for it.

JustMarriedAndLovingIt · 21/10/2018 14:50

If it was me I would set my savings goal. Let’s say 4 years time. I would then grit my teeth and save like a demon whilst flat sharing til then. Don’t waste your money on rent. Take up a hobby so you’re out more. Treat yourself to a night or two at a hotel once a month. You won’t regret it when you are sipping coffee in your own little courtyard. Good luck.

DramaAlpaca · 21/10/2018 14:55

In your shoes I'd go for it.

PinkHeart5914 · 21/10/2018 14:55

You only live once, if living in that apartment would make you happy why the hell not? Life is too short to live in a flatshare and be miserable if you cam afford to live else where

You can afford it so go for it

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