Aibu to think Merstham is a bad area?

[Katamakana]

DH suggested Merstham as a top choice for us to rent. (As it’s cheap).
My cousin lives in Redhill and says it’s a bad choice (drugs, council estates etc) and says there are far better options nearby? Aibu to agree? (She used to live there and has moved on)

That is undeniable, but as I say, a mate lived many years in Radstock Way (opposite the green open space) with little trouble that couldn't have happened elsewhere. Just look carefully at each place.

Yea but as pp said it’s prob worse now

She only moved out 18 months ago!

Have a look at Coulsdon/Old Coulsdon if you are wanting the train line? It’s the last stop on Zone 6 (Victoria is 20mins) and you have Farthing Downs on the doorstep, which is lovely with young kids. The schools are ok and there is a nice community feel. I’d avoid Redhill/Merstham tbh. Caterham is nice but more pricey, ditto Warlingham.

We looked there 20 years ago on the estate bit when we were buying out first home. I was very tempted that we'd have been able to afford a 3 bed place with nice garden and kitchen big enough for a table but I remember my dh was put off by the feel of the area. I can't remember details and don't know what it's like now.
I like Redhill shopping centre. Not that there's brilliant shops there but there's a few and I just like it for a wander round and a stop at Muffin Break. A friend likes the Coffee Cup but I've never been.

Yea I get what you mean about the feel off it. It doesn’t feel right! @Synthesiser

Surprised people are suggesting Coulsdon/Purley as alternatives. There have been numerous stabbings there in recent years!

Merstham is fine. We've lived here about 4 years now and it's improving all the time. The new builds are selling at £425,000 for a titchy 3 bed terrace so hardly a cheap area!

Crime is nothing like Croydon, or even Crawley. It's not a sleepy little Surrey village but it's safe. There is quite a mix of people. I'm sure there are drugs, but we've only come across paraphernalia in the woods, unlike Croydon/Purley where it would be scattered around kids play areas and gas canisters on normal residential streets. We have several friends in Purley/S.Croydon who no longer think it's safe and want to move to Merstham.

My DH likes it more! Unfortunately we can’t afford the slightly more desirable part but the part we can just looks shady and like a big council estate. Plus only seen one positive comment here really. Do appreciate peoples honesty tho!

We lived in Old Coulsdon right at the top of the hill. It's not far to Coulsdon which has two train stations (zone 6) and is on a night bus route.
We had a nature reserve at the back of the house and woods five minutes walk away. There are the Downs, a golf course and an old airfield close by.
Nowt happens there and I didn't find the locals very friendly and that was moving from north London.
We left when my daughter was ten. I was teaching her about the buses, trains how to best look after herself if in the woods etc ramping up to secondary school.

What are you looking for? If newly pregnant, are you looking for a 2 bed flat? Admittedly, the flats in Merstham look pretty grim (from the outside at least).

Like most places it has nice bits and less nice bits. What are you looking for and what is your budget? People might be able to suggest alternatives.

The thing is you’ve already written it off, so there’s no point in going to see anywhere else in the area. If you don’t like the estate bit (fair enough) and that’s the only bit you can afford, it would be best to look elsewhere.

It is annoying to see the whole area being painted with the same brush! The houses on Quality Street and Rockshaw Road are hardly rough! There’s bloody mansions up there! Some of the houses at the Watercolour end of Nutfield Road are huge and gorgeous too. Every complaint in this thread has been about the estate behind Co-op. (I don’t think it’s even that bad, but hey-ho...)

Yup they do look pretty grim! Yes 2 bed flat/house if poss. Budget 1000 per month

That's quite a low budget for a 2 bed flat. I think you'll need to look quite a bit further away from London to get somewhere £1000 or less pcm. Maybe Crawley?

I've had a look at Earlswood and this is what I've found:

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/91107280#/
Pro - the 3rd very small bedroom would make great walk in wardrobe
Con- stairs up to front door, which maybe a nightmare with baby in pram.

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/105786524#/
Pro - very central and looks very secure
Con - £1,200 per month

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/78881862#/
Pro - within price range, and street is lovely
Con - doesn't say what floor apartment is on

Quality Street does look lovely and I love the name. Old Merstham definitely has a very different feel

@minou123
Thanks for that! Will see if there’s any flexibility in the 1nd one! :)

Are all the drug problems etc not on the old side of Merstham?

Tbf is rather live with the parents than in a part of a town that’s dodgy/council estate also don’t like the sound of the forest part.

I’m in Caterham which isn’t too far away, I’ve always liked it here, or the surrounding area

The drug 'problems' aren't any worse (and imo actually better) than any other suburb, even some with a 'posh' reputation.

If you don't like the area, fair enough. But honestly, drugs do not inflict on daily life in Merstham (other then the actual drug users).

Forest? Not sure where you mean. Earlswood is very urban and on street parking difficult. Merstham has green open spaces at least.

I happily lived on the ‘council estate’. We bought our first house there. It was a nice place to live. We never had any problems at all

@Katamakana

Yup they do look pretty grim! Yes 2 bed flat/house if poss. Budget 1000 per month

There are a couple towards Earlswood or even in Reigate around £1k mark.

I found a couple in Reigate.

(Sorry, I've become a little obsessed finding rental properties for you )

www.zoopla.co.uk/to-rent/details/58093704/
Pro- Gated Community
Con - literally on the rail station. So might be noisy with train noise. (But could be a Pro if you need to commute)

www.zoopla.co.uk/to-rent/details/58360704/
Pro - lovely little close, 3 bedrooms
Con - £1,150 per month and carpet doesn't look very clean