1 bed flat as a single parent

[poppop2]

Currently in the process of separating. Looking at my finances and because I live in London - I would probably be able to buy something for 420k or thereabouts. That would get me a one bed flat in an ok ish area with good schools. Would it be so terrible to live in a one bed flat if you are a single parent? Ds is 5 but am not sure that I will be able to afford to move again. I am an academic so my salary is unlikely to increase all that much over the years as am already at the top of my payscale.

I guess the plan would be that I sleep in the living room and Ds has the bedroom. It's not ideal but am looking at 500k plus for a two bed flat and I just cant afford that. Cant afford our current mortgage on just my salary so we have to sell that but my 50% would only add up to 220k which will only get me a one bed.

I am reluctant to move out of London because my parents and siblings are all here which does provide a bit of a support network. Plus it's hard to move universities so I would have to commute into London anyhow.

What do other single parents do?

It might work short term but it would be difficult long term. My friend shared a 1 bedroom flat with her son but moved when he was 5 as even at that age she found it very difficult, the lack of privacy or alone time particularly. Also as your son makes friends at school it will be difficult for sleep overs.

Also what happens if you meet a new partner down the line?

Could you look at cheaper areas? We're in zone 4 - South East and you'd get a family home for that. 35 mins on the train into Waterloo.

Your child is 5, how much support network do you need? I would move out of London, there are plenty of good commuter towns where you could afford the travel card and a 2 bed flat.

You definitely can get 2 bedrooms even in central areas.

i wouldn’t choose a 1 bed.
A) harder to sell

b) you and child will want own space over time. he can then have desk/ tv in bedroom when older, you can’t really even have light on to read in bed if sharing.

I am in North London. Plenty of 2 bedroom flats in the Enfield/Southgate area for under £400. Good schools too. My sons attended the local primary and secondary and did well.

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/121267034#/?channel=RES_BUY

example : 2 bed in Wimbledon. Lovely looking flat imo

Yes as someone else has said, you may well get more than 50% of the current equity, especially if DS with you the majority of the time. You don't mention any contact plan?

It's certainly do'able with the kids having the bedroom and you having the living room (a murphy bed or day bed would be a good option), but think longer term:

• potential future partner being introduced;
• kids having sleepovers;
• as the kids get older you won't have the option to go to bed before them, etc.

Short term while kids are young I think it's OK, but I wouldn't want it as a longer term option.

I appreciate the problem good catchment does to property prices though, especially in London. The only real area of compromise may be the connections to your support network.

How much time/effort is it currently to get to your friends/relatives? If it's, say, 15 mins, what would the impact be if you increased that to 30mins? Would that extra 15 mins each way open up other more affordable areas to you?

Are you married and getting divorced, or not married and separating? If getting divorced you may be entitled to more of the house as a PP has said.

We are married but husband is currently refusing to move out. We will be going through mediation but am trying to get a grip on my finances in terms of what I can afford. I've tried to look around online in terms of house equity but nothing is very clear. We have 350k equity in the house and realistically am assuming he will see our son every other weekend because of his other commitments.

In terms of location - my parents are in central West London but my work is in central North London. South London though great might just be too far for both. I dont drive so it will all have to be by public transport.

In my head - I would sleep in the living room (as I do already) and my son can have a room, so when he has sleep overs etc, I guess they can just use his room.

Yabu a 1 bed will be far too small.

Don't get a one bed OP, you'll grow out of it quickly and the cost of moving is substantial. What about Ealing? Easy to get to Central West and has the new Elizabeth line, plus lots of good schools. Lots of 2 beds in your price range.

You need privacy as much as he does as he grows up. You can afford a two bedroom if you compromise on area.

Kentish town? Not sure about the schools but I have a cousin with children (primary and young secondary) living there who seems quite happy with them. You could get a 2-bed flat:

www.zoopla.co.uk/for-sale/details/61859481/?search_identifier=6e7bdd2e5bc6454687ed2713c6f061e9

Is it going to be more important/convenient for you to be close to your work or close to your parents (for wrap-around care etc.)? Will they be doing regular before and after-school childcare for you (in which case it makes sense to be as near to them as possible) or could you usually cover that and your job on a daily basis without their help so it will be more occasional help and support?

Single mum/lone parent here, don't do a one bedroom.

I co slept until DD was about 5 but things change very quickly in terms of what space they and you need.

Try and work out how to have a two bed.

Ealing is a good choice. I have a friend who is a single parent who lives in Ealing she loves it. Her son is thriving at his local primary school.

Lone parent academic here. I really wouldn't do the one bed. Most academics work from home a fair bit, which is wonderfully flexible but is going to be really tough in a one bed. Mumsnet are brilliant at suggesting areas to move to and London has great public transport. Listen to the wisdom here, it shouldn't be too hard to find somewhere close to work and family where you can have your own space too. Good luck

Move to west london eg Hanwell/Northfields (zone 3/4) plenty of 2 beds with gardens and excellent primary and secondary schools. On the tube and Elizabeth line plus good bus routes

Insane prices.

You definitely can get two beds for that sort of money in decent areas. It sounds like you have a preferred area in mind though.

I have a two bed but it's a one bed converted into two. It's absolutely fine with our DD who is 4 but the second bedroom is a very obvious child's bedroom and she will outgrow it in a few years.

I'm not sure I could cope with having the living space being my sleeping space as well. I'd seriously consider other areas before accepting a one bed was my only option.

(I'm in zone 2 and around some great primaries and a couple of outstanding secondaries).

Go to zones 3 and 4 rather than 1 and 2 and you get more for your money

Personally I’d look at somewhere like Bromley - so a bit out of London - in grammar catchment area.

I do know where you are coming from in that at first I thought I could name 10 areas off the top of my head with decent schools and 2 bed flats for that budget … butttt, secondary is an issue and most of the areas are difficult for that.

Yes that would be fine. Dc has their own room and you have a sofa bed in the lounge which gets turned into a sofa if visitors come. I can't see a problem with that.

Most people commute to work even outside of London. Your Son is 5 too old to be sharing with you OP. My DS is 7.... and for a couple of reasons it's not really appropriate for you to be sharing a bedroom.... I would compromise on the area.

Also is your used to having a partner finicially in the household you may find it a shock to pay full expenses solely. Would your child's father help with childcare? And pay CMS?

It's not just where to sleep though - it's your stuff. Clothing, shoes, nightwear, cosmetics, hairdryer and other bulky electronics, suitcase storage, fan in winter, books. All of that stuff is in wardrobes and drawers in bedrooms in our house.

Sadly, I dont think sxh will help with the childcare side of things, perhaps in the holidays but not during the week. I hope he pays for cms but there is no guarantee. However, I take on board that me sleeping in the living room is clearly not ideal. In answer to PP - I am quite concerned about how we'll manage without a second income. Hence trying to think of an area that would work long term and has ok secondary schools because I really dont think that I will be able to afford to move twice. Will have a look at flats in Ealing as some people have suggested though I'd assume that it might be over my budget.

@Palg68 and others thinking the OP is suggesting sharing a room with her son: she's not, she's thinking of sleeping in the lounge.