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Original poster

Help me find a new flat?

26 replies

littlepieces · 09/09/2021 09:10

I need to move somewhere quickly for a new job and I'm really struggling. I have to be in Central London one day a week and happy to travel an hour/hour and a half to get into the city. Any suggestions for OK areas just outside London where I might be able to find a one bedroom flat for around £1000pm? I don't care about living somewhere 'trendy.' There doesn't seem to be hardly anything available on Rightmove?!

OP posts:
Pinotpleasure · 09/09/2021 09:15

You might like to look at www.spareroom.co.uk

You can apply filters eg. Studio/1 bedroom flat, house share, Mon-Friday only etc. (which might be the best solution for you?).

Otherwise perhaps you could just stay in an AirBnB, Premier Inn, Travelodge etc. for one or two nights a week?

Pinotpleasure · 09/09/2021 09:19

Also look at www.commutefrom.com and www.zoopla.co.uk/travel-time to work out places to commute into London from.

MrsMoastyToasty · 09/09/2021 09:25

An hour and a half travel by train to Paddington would allow you to widen your search as far west as Bristol. Obviously a lot would depend on whether you need to get a tube/bus/taxi once you arrive at Paddington.

Original poster
littlepieces · 09/09/2021 09:49

Id love to move much further out but don't really want to be paying £100 a pop for the train, as well as £1000pm for rent. £50ish max for trains if possible...

OP posts:
thebabessavedme · 09/09/2021 09:57

Look at the flats avalible on or near the waterfront in Ipswich (despite what you read here its really quite nice, the waterfront has a good vibe with nice places to eat/drink and a growing amount of independant shos in town) walkable to the station (about 10 mins) Liverpool St just over an hour.

thebabessavedme · 09/09/2021 09:58

independEnt shoPs doh!

gogohm · 09/09/2021 10:00

Look in Leicester, should be no more than £500pcm, train fares are a lot but you can mitigate buying ahead, just over an hour to st Pancras. Market Harborough is even better but not sure about housing near the station

SallyMcNally · 09/09/2021 10:06

Hatfield, hitching, St Albans etc all have a fast line into Kings X

overthethamesfromyou · 09/09/2021 10:08

Where are you now? Roughly

Palavah · 09/09/2021 10:10

Where specifically in Central London do you need to be? Big difference between coming into Waterloo if you need to be near Euston, or Liverpool St if you need to be near Paddington

overthethamesfromyou · 09/09/2021 10:11

Woking house

Mount Hermon Road, Woking
www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/112852040

Chicchicchicchiclana · 09/09/2021 10:17

You really don't need to go as far out as Leicester or Ipswich to find a flat for £1,000 pcm.

I've just looked at rentals in Beckenham on Rightmove (which is pretty much London, the overground train in takes about 20 minutes) and there are 15 studio or 1 bed flats for £1,000 or under.

Live in London (ok then, just on the outskirts). It's so much more fun!

emmathedilemma · 09/09/2021 10:57

Central London is still a big place, I'd work off easy transport connections into work (nearest mainline station / tube station) and work outwards for there along the routes e.g. is it easiest to be on a direct train to Paddington, Victoria, Kings Cross etc?

FleasInMyKnees · 09/09/2021 11:26

Where are you now. Do you need to be in a new flat because you work in central London one day a week, what will you be doing the rest of the week. Can you stay where you are and book into a travelodge for the day you are working instead.

snackysnacksnack · 09/09/2021 11:33

Basingstoke? About 45 min to Waterloo & a one bed flat would cost you around 750-875 depending how close you'd like to be to the train station.

Taoneusa · 09/09/2021 11:33

So there are places for your budget in London! Really depends on your preference, do you want a more spacious home, more green space, or more urban vibe and transport links?

Original poster
littlepieces · 10/09/2021 10:32

Thanks everyone for your help and advice.

I will be working in the King's Cross area, with one regular day each week in the office, and every now and again I might have to make an extra, short notice trip into work.

I'd really like a flat that has a balcony or outside space and isn't next to a main road. This automatically pushes the price up in London quite significantly unfortunately. And also these kinds of flats are a rare find at the moment.

OP posts:
hufffflufff · 10/09/2021 10:34

I would look at Hitchin or Letchworth. Both approx 25 mins to london kings cross.

Original poster
littlepieces · 10/09/2021 10:37

Thanks for all the links @Taoneusa. I had been looking at Norwood actually. There's just so many potential areas, I just dont know where to start! I'm mostly keen on some kind of outdoor space and a quietish street. And as long as there's a supermarket close by and a station within bus or walking distance I'm happy.

OP posts: