Commutable places to Westminster

[Aldiisnodifferenttowaitrose]

I have the possibility of a job which will be 2-3 days in the office (close to Westminster) and 2 days from home. I'm currently living in the North of England so commuting isn't doable. However, is a contract gig so it wouldn't be forever so I'm looking at the possibility of moving temporarily within a commutable distance.

I'd probably need a place on my own due to needing a dog walker and people might not like a dog walker letting themselves into their house share home. I'm also probably a bit old to share.

So I'd be looking for a dog friendly area with dog care options, less than £900 pcm (I know this is low for close to London). Less than 75 minutes to Westminster commute via public transport. Happy for it to be a tiny 1 bed place - I don't need lots of space. Even happy for it to be a caravan, boat etc if I can live there for the full year.

Is there anywhere you'd recommend I look? Thank you.

You'll be lucky to find anything on that budget.

Is it impossible or just unlikely?

You might find a very small flat in Woking, it's a quick train to Waterloo.
Nearby villages also but their train stations would be a stopping service so take somewhat longer.

So Victoria to Westminster is 15 mins, so you’ll need somewhere within say a 45 min journey of Victoria, to give you 10 mins to get to your local station. So look at Southern Railway. Sutton, Cheam maybe? Beckenham?

Good shout - can change at Clapham J for Victoria in a couple of minutes.

Do you mean the City (Borough) of Westminster or actual Westminster near Big Ben?

I'd get a dog walker at home for the days you're in London, and stay in a B&B.

I agree, your best bet is an unfashionable suburb on the commuter line. Farnborough goes in to Waterloo which is walkable to Westminster (or one tube stop)

I would say unlikely particularly with a dog. Sorry to say. You would have to pay a premium in case of damage.
You might luck out, but you need to be 45-50 mins to Victoria or 50-60 mins to Waterloo (quick walk across the bridge). Takes you out to Surrey, outskirts of Kent or Sussex, none of which are cheap.

It’s the dog that’ll be the barrier.only a limited number LL will rent to pet owner. Honestly lose the dog
With that tiny budget Home Counties, train to ldn eg Waterloo , Clapham and then tube
However if you rent in Home Counties the travel costs are high, that is the trade off
zoopla
estate agents
spare room

Near Big Ben

There's absolutely zero chance that I will 'lose' my dog. I'm guessing you've never had one. They're a family member.

Not impossible if you find a flat-share that'd accept a dog.
I'm in a commuter town and a one-bed flat would start at £900 pcm, and that would be in a fairly grim part of town, and I've no idea if they'd allow pets.

There'd be no chance of a dog walker staying for 3 full days and 2 nights with a dog up here.

dogs? Yes, but not to extent it curtailed my accommodation choices.
Like I said your budget is unrealistic and lose the dog
Or hope you get lucky with a LL who’ll see a dog in such a sentimental way too

Wouldn't have to stay. They could visit 3 times a day.
Alternatively, kennel the dog, or get a friend or relative to look after the dog.

I've worked away and I had a friend lodge with me in exchange for pet-sitting duties.

There isn't a hope in hell I'm prioritising a temporary job over my dog. It's not sentimental. They're a living creature who I committed to caring for for their lifetime.

I'm not just having them visited 3 x a day. That's no life for a dog unless it's extremely rare. They would hate kennels. I'm not of the age where friends/family would be interested in looking after a dog or living away from their own homes.

There's your answer then.

Finding a rental that accepts dogs is difficult, but your budget isn't realistic for the commuter area.

Actually my spare room is free and assuming the trains are running on time, you'd get to Westminster in 75 mins.

So readjust your expectation of employment in zone 1 and affordable single occupancy accommodation with a dog
There are other large towns or cities that your criteria and budget may web realistically achievable
Your dog, and budget are the barrier

@Aldiisnodifferenttowaitrose completely appreciate your love and care for your dog. However, the dog is the BIG stumbling block when it comes to rentals. Not wanting to dampen your hopes, but you are searching for a "half unicorn". Good luck

I have worked with colleagues who’ve left family and partners to come to ldn to get experience. They shifted priorities for a year or so for the job. None had the dog stays too criteria.

Perhaps they had more back up. Perhaps it wasn't 'their' dog but more of a family dog. I don't have someone to take the dog for a year. It's my dog and not up to others to uproot their lives to look after them.

Where did you get the £900 budget from?

Im trying to work out if its because its what you can afford, or what you’d like to pay. If the latter, up it.