How unreasonable am I being to consider spending this much on rent?

[Nicebucket]

I'll try to keep this brief, even though I'd love to have a moan and a rant.

I've moved back to London recently (job transfer) and I'm hunting for a flat. I've lived in London before for 3 years as a student, so I am familiar with the city.

I'm going mad searching for a flat!!! I'm working in Canary Wharf and anything close to work is hideously expensive.

I would really prefer to live alone if I can (or maybe share with just one other person) but obviously that's very expensive.

I saw a studio flat today that's about 10-15 mins from work, near Crossharbour and its for £1300 a month with all bills included. The additional bills I will have after this are the Oyster card, phone and Internet.

The studio was tiny, but modern and in a really peaceful area.

Am i being crazy to even consider this?!

I could get by if I got this flat, but just barely. I wouldn't be able to save anything and wouldn't have money left over for luxuries.

Is it worth it? My colleagues and friends tease me mercilessly for being too much of a princess to share, but I've had such terrible experiences in the past with flat mates! One of them stole my stuff and disappeared

Also, I'd make a terrible flat mate. (Seriously!) I dislike noise and mess and Since you can't avoid that with flat mates, I'd be an awful nag. I literally hate noise and parties, even on weekends. I'm so dead tired from work, I just want to sleep or have a nice, peaceful day. I love my own space

Is there any hope for me? Is it even possible to live alone in London and still manage to save some mkney?!

I lived in a studio for a few years because I wanted to live alone. Admittedly it was only £300 pcm as it was in Yorkshire but it still crippled me to pay all the bills by myself and my God it was depressing! I ended up going out all the time because I couldn't stand coming home after work and staring at the same walls.

Why do you need to be so close to work? Do you actually have to live in London? To work in Csnary Wharf you have a whole host of options that have routes into Stratford and then DLR or Jubilee line to CW. You'll pay a bit more in travel but save a shit load in rent.

I say go cheaper, further out and stick to your studio / one bed plan. After living with a succession of really horrendous flat mates I would never house share again. Good on you for knowing yourself well!

Out of interest how much will your take home be per month?

Ditto what everyone as has said about living further out. If they're on/close to the DLR then you're sorted for CW. I rented a small flat for about £850 all in, by myself, on the hither green/lewisham border because I didn't want to share. That was about three years ago but I wouldn't have even contemplated CW/cross harbour/mudchute area etc as far too expensive. Friends live in deptford and love it

Just be careful with the new look TFL journey planner website as it does not give you the fastest journey times.

Also I have a friend who lives in Deptford. Be careful which part of Deptford you choose. One is really really nice the other as she puts it is more Gunfight at the OK Corral

Look at Stratford, it's on the DLR and it has excellent transport links.

Would you be eligible for the intermediate rent scheme? It's up to I think 30% off the market value:

www.londonstrategichousing.com/homes-to-rent-or-buy/homes-to-rent/intermediate-rent/

OP I'm sending you a PM with a suggestion.

Stanmore has studios and 1 bedders for around £800. If you go from Stanmore you can nip on to the Met line and cut out 5 stops, between Wembley Park and Finchley Rd then nip back onto the Jubilee Line.

I'm with almost everyone else, if you feel you can't bear to share, look further out on the DLR, towards Lewisham, and you can find something larger and cheaper for one person. The commute will be longer, sure, but the cost of your Oyster card won't be nearly as much as what you will be saving in rent.
Good luck with your new job and the flat hunt!

You're all right, I need to get used to the idea of a commute! I've really been liking the idea of Woolwich - is it a safe area though? I've heard some awful stories from friends, but keep in mind they're west London snobs who think they'll get mugged anywhere without a Waitrose

I considered Essex but it looks like the money I'll save on rent will be spent on commuting- am I right?

Ghostspirit - I love 'Canarywolf' - it's what my dgd calls it and now we all do.

I agree with others. Lots of cheaper properties on the DLR route. And driverless trains, so not affected by tube strikes!

Op - there's a Waitrose at Deptford now!

I really do not know how you live in London on a modest income. I'd hate to share too op, YANBU. I just can't get over the fact that £1300 per month would get you a 5 bedroomed house here in the Midlands!

I haven't rtft but have a couple of comments. First is that you can get a better deal for 1,300 even in zone 1/2 so I'd keep looking. Second, have you considered renting a 2 br then interviewing for a roommate? That way you can be very specific about house rules and if you are the 'senior' tenant (ie it's your name on the lease) then you can be firm about enforcing them.

Is this a permanent transfer? Do you currently have any savings? Is there any possibility you could buy? Because I think paying that much monthly would be far better spent on a mortgage if it is in any way an option for you. If it isn't I personally would consider looking at a longer commute and find areas outside or around London where you can get better vfm. Transport links are generally pretty good into Canary Wharf xx

When I rented my current flat it was a huge stretch for me (more PCM than you are paying). However my income has now gone up and my rent hasn't.

For me walking to work and living in a nice place has been well worth it. I also barely spend any money on my Oyster card - 40quid/month max.

Do you have a choice about being in London?
I love living alone and it can be expensive but it's a 2 bed flat with a mortgage so I will actually have something to show for it at the end of the day. And I'm certainly not shelling out ALL my money on my accommodation in the same way you are thinking of.
What's your long term plan re where to live/work, whether to rent/buy?

With regards to where you could live a bit further out, it depends how much you don't mind places that are a bit bit rough round the edges, I'd probably choose Deptford over lewisham tbh, more nice pubs/restaurants etc, and you're right next to Greenwich. I presume Greenwich would be a similar price? It's lovely though! Although full of tourists so I'd still prefer Deptford!

Or Shadwell? Also on the DLR and next to Whitechapel and Shoreditch...

If I was in your position I'd look at Stratford, Lewisham and Canning Town to start. Those have really easy journeys to Canary Wharf.

If I found nothing there I'd look at options like Catford, Plaistow, Woolwich etc. Slightly longer journey times, but still good.

Hackney, Victoria park area is within bus/cycle distance and has some lovely areas.

I pay £1400 for a 1 bed in poplar, you can get 1 beds further down the Isle of dogs for 1300 ish.

2 bed 2 bath in my building are 1600ish though making sharing with 1 other a lot lot cheaper.

Re Essex. I live in Essex and commute to Canary Wharf a day a week as I have a client there. It's v v expensive (and about a two and a half hour commute each way) but I do live about as far away as you can get. If you can live anywhere from Chelmsford inwards it won't be nearly as expensive and the commute will be under an hour.

I wouldn't pay so much out for such a tiny place. Move a bit further out and get something cheaper. All that money for a studio. I wouldn't But it's up to you in the end. I agree that studios can be depressing