Moving to heartfordshire - advise please!

[Singlemumof2boysemma]

Hi there

I’m a single mum to two boys and we’re moving to Hertfordshire. I’m originally from Teddington, SW London which is lovely but too expensive for me and we desperately need more space.

As I’m on my own, my budget is small. We need to rent initially, with the intent to buy eventually. I don’t want to keep moving around so would like to stay within a close area.

I looked into Stevenage as it’s within my budget and good links via the A1. I’m not looking at commuting to London, more finding work as (an executive assistant) in the area. I have my eye on GSK….!

I’m also looking at Welwyn Garden City, Hitchen, Letchworth and Hemel Hempstead. I know St Albans etc is the nicest but I can’t afford it. I can afford around 1500 a month rent. I just want a nice place for the boys to grow up with a community feel.

I’ve heard awful things about Stevenage which is really frustrating as you can get a lot for your money there :(

Really appreciate some advice please!

@Singlemumof2boysemma

Aw thank you. I’ve seen a really nice house in broad water - it’s just the area felt a bit council houses!? Which I don’t mind, just want to make sure the other families will be nice. Not being snobby xx

I live in broadwater in an ex council house and I love it! Some roads are a little bit scuzzy but I think that's the same with most areas tbh. I love it, it's very residential and feels extremely safe - we always have packages left on the doorstep and none have ever been stolen. Me and DP have also embarrassingly left the front door unlocked/front windows open more than once (we are very scatterbrained) and nothing has ever happened. Our neighbours are mostly families or elderly people and we live right near a lovely little primary school. The house itself is well built with a beautiful garden and was so much better than houses we'd viewed elsewhere. In general Stevenage is so convenient, you have everything here you could want. You can be at kings cross in 25 mins but tbh we rarely need to venture past the old town if we want to go out for dinner or drinks. And we're getting a huge M&S this spring! You get so much more for your money here which is what attracted us in the first place. Have previously lived in north London and welwyn garden city.

Also Barnwell got a good in its recent ofsted inspection

@iabvvu

I thought I read that about barnwell. Good for them 👍 it's nice to hear good news.

I grew up in one of the villages just outside Stevenage and go back regularly to see my mum. I have never felt unsafe in Stevenage. It's got lots of people with small town attitudes but that's true of most Hertfordshire towns tbh (in the 80s, having racist comments shouted at us was not fun). People are very snobby about Stevenage- I have been guilty there too. check out Lewis Hamilton comments about it, describing his childhood as having grown up in the slums! He certainly pissed off a lot of the locals there. Joyriding and illegal drag racing was a big problem a few years back due to the straight dual carriageway roads but the police seem to have a handle on that since there was a widely publicised accident involving some spectators.

Hi Darling,
I personally think stevenage is a wonderful place to live, you seem like you would get on well there You get a lot for your money and there are loads of interesting things for you and your wonderful kids to do .
XX