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Original poster

Relocating to the UK

49 replies

RewaZD · 22/01/2019 07:10

Greetings! My friend has shared with me this website as I was researching different topics to get insights on relocating to the UK. We are a family of 3 (my husband, myself, and 4 months baby boy). We are Lebanese residing in Dubai and my husband got an offer to work in London. We will be moving soon so I would like to get some tips/advice on good areas to rent an flat/house at (his work location is canary wharf); that s family friendly, safe, and near the tube station. I also would appreciate if you can advise on what to look at when choosing a flat to rent. We prefer an accommodation with a small garden. I am researching a lot about life in the UK and what to expect so i also would ask you to provide me with any info that i need to know. I am currently working as Recruiter in Dubai (I work from home) so I hope I can find a job that is convenient for me as I read that nurseries are expensive in London.
Thank you
Rewa

OP posts:
Pootlebug · 22/01/2019 07:17

In order to narrow down the where to live question:

  • are you looking for a 2-bedroom flat?
  • roughly how long is the maximum time your husband would want to spend travelling to work?
  • how much £ do you expect to spend on rent?
Canary wharf has pretty good transport links, so this would help to narrow it down a bit.
BiscuitDrama · 22/01/2019 07:19

Maybe someone could add some rough prices for nursery, as that would affect rental budget. Obv depends a bit on area though.

PotteringAlong · 22/01/2019 07:20

As above; all of this is going to come down to how much you’ve got in your budget!

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Property
PotteringAlong · 22/01/2019 07:21

I’d budget about £1000 per month for nursery.

Original poster
RewaZD · 22/01/2019 07:31

our budget for a 2 bed room flat is £1000-1200 per month. 30-40 minutes each way for traveling to work is preferable

OP posts:
Original poster
RewaZD · 22/01/2019 07:34

Our budget for accommodation can go up to 1400

OP posts:
CatToddlerUprising · 22/01/2019 07:38

£1400 won’t get very far with only a 30-40 minute commute. We pay £1150 for a two bed no garden in Zone 6 and an hour commute to Canary Wharf

AppleTree0915 · 22/01/2019 07:39

I would recommend the Greenwich area. You could get a two bed for £1400, maybe not right in central Greenwich but certainly out towards Eltham/Woolwich.

VanCleefArpels · 22/01/2019 07:42

I’m afraid that budget will not get you anything within such a short commute. It would just about get you a 2 bed flat with no outside space in Guildford which is at least an hour door to door and that’s when everything is working well transport wise. I suggest you look into Essex or Kent, but bearing in mind that travel costs will be high.

Original poster
RewaZD · 22/01/2019 07:44

what if we increase our budget to 1800?

OP posts:
Solasum · 22/01/2019 07:45

I would also recommend Greenwich, but that budget won’t get you far.

Rightmove.co.uk is a good place to start looking for rentals, you can set it to a radius search and budget.

Most flats don’t have gardens in London, though may have a balcony, not ideal for a small child. In Greenwich there is a huge park though.

gerispringer · 22/01/2019 07:50

My neighbour works in Canary Wharf and she is at work in 20 minutes on the overground to Canada Water and one stop on Jubilee line to Canary Wharf. We live in the Crystal Palace / Sydenham area.( SE London) You may get a 2 bed flat for that price as it’s not the most fashionable of areas, but there’s lots of bars and restaurants at Crystal Palace. Quite a lot of young families live in the area and lots of things going on at Crystal Palace Park and Hornimans Museum. Maybe check out on Right Move.

AdaColeman · 22/01/2019 07:50

Have a search on Rightmove, it will give you a good idea of how far your money will go and which areas will be available to you.

user2315373949 · 22/01/2019 07:51

Your best options are Kidbrooke (lots of flats available with plenty of open space and kid friendly facilities around), Woolwich (check out Royal Arsenal), Shooters Hill and Deptford. All are under 30-40 mnts to Canary Wharf.

You can also check out listings on Zoopla.

In terms of nurseries, please remember there will be waiting lists, so you will need to do your nursery visit and put down names as soon as possible. I would budget £1000-£1200 for nursery in these areas.

Solasum · 22/01/2019 07:51

In addition to rent you will have Council tax to pay (depends on Borough, the local council website will give you a figure, property listings should tell you the tax band), tv licence (c£150 per year) if you want to watch terrestrial tv or BBC iplayer, and utilities

Original poster
RewaZD · 22/01/2019 07:59

Wow too many names too many locations to look at! We already started searching on Rightmove but again it not easy to understand the areas as someone new to London. I am doing a thorough search to have a better ideas about the tube stations and zones and how it would affect the commute. It just came to my mind that If we choose a flat not close to the tube station then we have to walk I believe and since it is very cold in the UK, we need to find a flat with less walking distance to the tube station.

OP posts:
AdaColeman · 22/01/2019 08:03

Don’t worry Rewa you can buy a big coat as soon as you get here! Grin

spidermantimetravel · 22/01/2019 08:05

Near a station is definitely a good idea, but it doesn’t just have to be a tube: if you’re on a train line that can get you into London Bridge (for example) then you can get onto the jubilee line very easily. That opens up a lot of cheaper places in south east London like shooters hill, ladywell, deptford. I would also look at blackheath and Lewisham. If you find some decent looking places, post then here and I’m sure we can all tell you if they are in nice areas or not. Does your husband have a relocation package?

gerispringer · 22/01/2019 08:06

We don’t have the Tube in SE London but we do have the Overground which links in with the tube at Canada Water. Forest Hill is another area on that line you might like to look at.

spidermantimetravel · 22/01/2019 08:09

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-to-rent/property-59302872.html

doctorbarbie · 22/01/2019 08:10

Crystal Palace/Sydenham is a good idea. Rents are cheaper there than other parts of London with comparable transport links. Crystal Palace is quite family friendly and that commute time is a dream (currently sat on a freezing cold overground platform and dreaming of a shorter commute).

Footle · 22/01/2019 08:25

The longer you walk the warmer you get!
HR in your husband's company may offer you some guidelines at least.

Heratnumber7 · 22/01/2019 08:33

It's not that cold very often! Even in Canada or Russia where its really cold in the winter, people walk.
Grin