Chance of a lifetime or too good to be true? Notting Hill, London flat.

[Springingintolife]

Sorry, long one, but trying not to drip-feed.

I'm on homeswapper and have been a while as I feel very cut off where I live due to not driving, having an illness (fibromyalgia and hypermobility) and not being close to the bus stops to just nip about and do things with my nearly 5 year old daughter.

What I have is a 2 bed semi with front and back garden and a drive in a semi rural area on the outskirts of a large town in the south east. Ten minutes drive from the beach and can get into London within an hour. I feel you have to have quite a bit of money here to have a good quality of life with a child, as everything has entry fees and needs driving to, or takes quite a while on public transport.

That's the reason I've been on homeswapper. I have looked at some places and talked to people about swaps before but they haven't worked out for various reasons. I've never pulled out on anyone- apart from one flat which was splashed on the front page of a local paper for having serious mould issues, just after the swap was approved.

Someone has contacted me with a one bedroom ground floor flat in a very very posh road next to Notting Hill, with a private garden, and I'm having a think about whether this would be the change I would need. The reason they want to move is they don't have RTB and they want to buy somewhere. (Let's leave the RTB debate out of this conversation please!). I have RTB but as I'm not able to work full time at the moment, it wouldn't be something I could make the most of.

Positives about the swap- I grew up on the other side of London so it's familiar. Has a garden still. Smaller flat so less cleaning and maintenance. They seem to think the tenancy gives the right to do work to the flat and thinks the living room could be converted to two bedrooms, so potential future bedroom issues may not be an issue. Free public transport for children. Free museums so things to do at the weekend. Lovely parks with paddling pools in London. My brother lives on the other side of London and is expecting a child with his DP so closer to a cousin for my DD and could afford to visit regularly. Get to be in an affluent area so if I wanted to do some part time work like tutoring or cleaning, I could charge a decent amount. Might meet rich handsome man. Can access universities if I decide to go back to studying one day. More going on. More inspiring area to keep me motivated and improve mental/physical health on nice walks. Always somewhere new to see. DD is mixed race so would be in a more diverse area.

Negatives- losing the RTB but potentially could swap again when DD is a teenager. Losing a bedroom and would need to do work in the future to create an extra space and can't guarantee I would be earning enough to fund it. Flat doesn't have double glazing so might be colder in the winter and cost more to heat. Although I looked online and has same energy rating as mine. Potentially smaller space to heat. Person said they would take everything with them including the oak flooring, so I'd have to move in with potentially a concrete floor and put carpet onto a credit card, although cost of this would be offset by not having to buy a car and learn to drive more imminently. Housing association don't have great reviews online for repairs, but looks like person has spent a lot of money installing new things into the property. (Apart from the oak floor, which they say they're taking). Possibly having noisy neighbours above us. Although I already have a shouty next door neighbour anyway. We lose the beach, but it's cold most of the year anyway. We lose the countryside, but I don't manage to get out and about in it enough anyway.

However, I don't know about the area these days, as I left London years ago and I hear it's changed a lot, so I wanted some honest mumsnet experience.

I'm not trying to RTB- that's the other lady who wants RTB.

OK but will your fibromyalgia and hypermobility allow you to work full time in the future? I guess that's something you'll have to think about.

But starting with a credit card - zero interest or otherwise isn't a great way to head into this OP.

Not that I think you'll be allowed to downsize with a dependent anyway.

Have you looked around other London boroughs?

No.

It’s not cheaper or free things either. Ie there’s only one local swimming pool there, it’s in North Kensington. So you would still need to bus and walk. And then there’s hardly any casual swimming slots as it’s used by all Local schools, then swim classes then intense swim classes in holidays. And it’s freezing.

The museums are free, sure. But they are now so rammed in the holidays and weekends it’s not fun. And school days your child will be at school.

Hyde park is nice. Until the sun comes out, and you can’t even get into princess diana playground with queuing 1 in and 1 out as they have maximum numbers.

The facilities are there, 15 years ago I would say yes, but now it’s just so crowded that anything free or cheap is just impossible to enjoy.

I live in Notting Hill. It’s good but a lot of kids activities cost more than in other areas. Also restaurants etc tend to charge more.

I would check street view very carefully though. Some roads are not so great. Is it a modern or Victorian building?

Also is it in Kensington or Westminster? Might make a difference school wise. Some school catchments are tiny and you may not be allocated a school nearby at all.

If I had a child I wouldn't swap a 2bed RTB with garden for a one bedroom flat with no RTB. AS children grow they need more space and a place to call their own
A room to invite friends in that isn't your space as well with your personal things. Free parks sounds nice but realistically uk weather isn't good for more than half of the year so it's a quick walk at best with no stopping to sit uncomfortably on wet seats, swings ext. Also children grow out of these things and child would be getting bigger in a small space with all of the restrictions and stresses that brings. If you leave your RTB property there is no guarantee another will come up when you want to buy. They are like gold dust. I can see the attraction of relatives nearer but often the reality is that between school, work ect people don't see much more of said relative than when they were a bit further away. I would hold onto your house with 2 beds until you can find something similar. I know it's hard but I wouldn't leave what you've got for a smaller space with a growing child and only one bedroom. 💐

It comes under Kensington. Building was built in the early 1900s.

You won't be allowed a one bed with a child.

Oh BTW when we moved into social housing my mum slept in the living room and me and my sibling had the bedrooms. I have known people to have 2 kids in a large 1 bedroom flat to stay in the area. It’s not unheard of. A garden in Notting Hill is amazing. They are very rare especially in social housing.

All the Kensington schools are good. You might want to do a bit of research on the catchments and so on though.

Yes and I think you are looking at it in the right way. You may be able to get work in an affluent area and be paid a wage that reflects that with cleaning or tutoring as you say, once you are up to it.

sounds like a great deal. In London, what you lack in space you make up for in other ways which I think would suit you.

It sounds alright to me tbh. I think you're moving for the right reasons - better facilities, cheap transport, possibility of employment. It sounds exciting to me, a good opportunity.

I know the one bed/two bed thing might be an issue from what pp have said so I guess get that firmed up before you get excited.

If you are allowed with it only being a one bed, you could always put a room divider up in the lounge, a temporary one, for you to use one side as a bedroom. If the lounge is as big as they say.
As you have already said your DD would have the bedroom to themselves.
Lots of ifs but I would go for it. More opportunities all round in London.

For the people shocked about taking the flooring, I think that can be normal in council housing, at least it was when I moved into a council flat. I also later had my own flat that the council rented from me to a tenant, and even though the carpets were perfectly fine when they left - like 5 years old - they were still ripped out before the property came back to me.

My husband works in property and specialises in Notting Hill but we’d never live there. My only advice would be to spend some time there if you can before you take the leap. It has a glamorous reputation but can be quite sketchy. Carnival causes havoc each year and they have to board up their offices now after a few years of broken windows and having crap smeared over the door. There are “poor” places across London but I used to go via Notting Hill at night so we could drive home together and in the winter when it was dark I’d feel quite uncomfortable on occasion. Your daughter will eventually get to an age where she’ll be walking places on her own and you want to feel happy that she’s safe. There are very wealthy parts but a lot of that is owned by people that don’t live there the majority of the time. That being said, we live in SW London by Wandsworth Common and we all know what happened with Sarah Everard, so nothing is ever certain.
I have a 10 month old and access to the museums is fantastic, we have a membership to the NHM and are there every couple weeks. Many museums are free, yes, but the queues to get in at busy times can be hours if you’re not a member or haven’t booked, and it can be difficult to get a table to eat lunch. We pop into town to grab lunch with my friends on their lunch breaks. All this costs money though, living in London isn’t cheap and you have to consider whether this could be isolating, especially if you don’t have space to entertain/ have friends around in your apartment. Schools can also be an issue, primary schools are often fine but state secondary is a bit of a minefield. We will be looking to move out before secondary school admissions loom for that reason.

Thanks. I've worked in Notting Hill, so know that I do like the area. However it isn't actually Notting Hill but next to Notting Hill. I've looked around street view and it's all lovely roads surrounding it. I don't actually know the name of the area as it doesn't seem to have an area on the map. It's kinda in between Notting Hill and Maida Vale.

You have to book everything these days, so booking the museums wouldn't be an issue for me.

I've been to the carnival a couple of times so know I'd want to stay somewhere else for a few nights.

I don't even feel safe where I live ATM after dark so I'd feel that way anyway. Perhaps I'd be driving by the time my daughter is older and could drop her at her friends' houses. We've had women murdered in brought daylight, walking their dogs, in this part of the country even though it's supposed to be lovely and wholesome. So I don't think I could ever escape that worry.

Yes, but I'd be on the other side of it. I'm one of the destitute, living on one of the lowest family incomes in the country, so I wouldn't mind looking at the rich from my side of the coin.

I have been In the same position and found it very depressing. Not jealousy, it was just ugly and alienating. You seem quite sure of yourself though and you seem to think it'll be fine.

I wouldn't give up the beach but we're all different I guess.

Have you looked into local schools?

generally I would be in favour of moving but I do think your DD needs her own bedroom.

If they weren't pumping sewage into the sea I might think again.

Not yet, this only happened this afternoon.

I want to get opinions from people who live in the area first and then get a feel for the property.

Sounds like a great option to me… there are so many free things to do in London with children!
notting hill is quite posh so that’s nice too. Including job opportunities for you! (Although do check out local shops and cafes for prices - but you don’t have to use them and can use supermarket delivery).
plus side income opportunities!
you can always go to the beach on a weekend or so when it’s actually sunny

the building age did a little red flag wave to me when I read "single glazing" I do wonder if the building is listed and you will have severe limits on what can be done....especially as the oak flooring appears to be layed so its removeable. I have got a wood floor laid conventionally and you certainly wouldn't be able to lift it to take it away and lay it elsewhere.

Schools are important indeed but I think they have decent schools… if you are in catchment of Fox Primary you should know that its one of top schools in the country and people KILL themselves over trying to rent or buy nearby. Although you will be in-year admission of course…

i think this is a really hard area to be poor in; the cost of living is horrible and the social issues are something to consider if you’ve kids. I would be worried about my children growing up around the gangs in Notting Hill, but if it’s near a good school and you think it could open up work opportunities it’s worth considering. I’d be wanting to be very sure of the neighbours and local area before I swapped though. Most people are moving out of London to find more affordable ways of living so I’d think twice about it …. Are there really no ways you could boost your income to improve your lifestyle where you are ? Beach and nature all sounds pretty lovely.

Property/rents and nursery costs are main issues driving people out of London. OP doesn’t have any of these issues

also the beauty of london is that there are a lot of people from all walks of life. Whoever you want to hang out and be friends with - you can find them. You don’t have to be a poor pauper looking from the outside on the rich all the time, being all lonely- you can find your tribe which I hear is much more difficult in smaller towns, or in the countryside