How do people on low incomes manage to live in London?

[YourPithyLemonUser]

How do ppl on low income survive in London?

I know some ppl with low incomes i.e. cleaners, creative types, freelance artists etc.

Yet I see them eat out, go on holiday, have a good time etc.

How is this possible? Only with financial support from their parents does this happen

London would grind to a halt without low paid workers...do you think they should all leave?

I grew up here, my family and my DS's support network are here, my job is here and we have a secure tenancy, so there's no reason for us to leave. If I left my council flat I could end up paying more for a private rental elsewhere.

The "other" Londoners aren't going to get the flat or benefits if she leaves London- for goodness sake!

Aside from SH, lots of people bought a London property when they cost much less in real terms than now. The beneficiaries of that aren't just people who did it themselves but also their partners, kids and even grandkids. I don't just mean those living with them but also those who get deposits that stem from this source of wealth.

And some of these people aren't well paid themselves.

Yeh it’s having a zone 4 terraced in zone 2 though. That makes you insanely wealthy despite a relatively modest income! Good for you! But I can’t imagine that’s typical.

It’s changed a lot, when I was a dc lots of school friend had council properties but they are much harder to get now

I often wonder this about people who may work at a coffee shop etc and they are only open 830-230 or similar. Lots do have a side gig but even still that can only bring in so much.

It’s typical for many though because many parts of London were cheap even still in the 90s.

Yeah, the pp isn't factoring in age. The situation for people who are old enough to have bought property before what, the mid 00s maybe, is completely different to those who came of age in the last few years. There's loads of people in London who have wealth but low income.

I think it’s very typical, though. It’s just ageist to assume that there aren’t lots of older people in London. Most of the people on my street are retired and will have far less of an income than I do. My friends are similar ages, and live in small houses or flats but benefited from much cheaper and affordable house prices. They don’t get any benefits at all.

I guess it’s an age / generational thing.

My social circle is late 30s and despite having relatively good jobs no one I know owns a house in zone 2 (or zone 3 for that matter). I can see for slightly older people this might be common, and no doubt many people have stumbled into owning a goldmine.

Universal Credit tops this up

The ‘creative types’ are either married to an investment banker, live with their parents, or perpetually live in an HMO.

People on very low incomes - social housing.

I know people in social housing paying about a fifth of the rent of having to rent privately. It suddenly can be probably quite manageable under those circumstances.

Social housing, no car, lots of free activities in London, no eating out, UC, HB?

@PancakeCloudmy parents own in z3, in-laws in z2. Same for loads of my friends parents. These were not areas like they are now though.

I’m not sure it’s ageist because cities are meant to attract the young.

Interestingly London is the only major UK city getting older & its aged fast.

Maternity units are closing & dozens of schools have had to close or merge. Brexit didn’t help either

“From 2013 to 2023, nearly 100,000 children under 10 disappeared from London’s demographic picture – equivalent to 250 primary schools – as their parents moved out of the city.”

London is pretty cheap to live though if you can afford the rent/mortgage! I did way more socialising living there than anywhere else as we got cheap/free tickets to places, events always on, pop up food places, discounts and deals everywhere etc. I spent way less than I do living in the suburbs!

22% of Londoners have fully paid off mortgages.
22% are living in social housing.
Some live rent free with relatives/parents
Some are in private rental but receive housing benefit.
So probably at least 50% of London residents have comparatively low housing costs.

If you do live in London then costs other than housing are often relatively low. Loads of free entertainment and activities available, cheap or free public transport and no need to run a car. Eating out is v competitive on pricing.

Trust funds
Bank of mum & dad
Inheritance
Social/council housing
Benefits
Debt

I often think this if I am in London. How do those on minimum wage survive, those at Premier Inn, bar work, waiting staff. They won’t be supplemented by family.

Something overlooked I think in this thread is how normalised flat/house sharing is well into your 30s and 40s in London in a way this often isn't normal elsewhere.

Make more money then.

yep

2 single male friends of mine live in house shares at 47 & 48

one of them was a lodger with an old couple for years until they died and the house was sold - he lived there for pretty cheap as the daughters of the couple were happy that someone was there with their parents in case they needed anything and he looked after them / helped them get to appointments and shopping and things and generally just good company

now husband and I house shared right up until a month before our wedding too as we were saving mine crazy and had a cheaper room by sharing longer so could save a bit