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?

@JanglyBeads yes I stand corrected. OP budget seems generous but I understand she's in London. It's still not great though sleeping on the sofa? What OP meets someone? Feels unwell? Period pains... I mean she needs her own room her DC does too. Like @DashboardConfessional said.

Even for a friend to stay over OPS friend I mean .. there's no sofa because OP would be on it. OP needs to have a good look at other areas I wouldn't fancy shelling out all that money for a 1 bed... to try and move again.

Having read all your posts. I definitely think you can stretch to 2 bedrooms, you say your parents are in W London and you central north.
If you are willing, perhaps take a look at areas like Ruislip/ Ruislip Manor/ Ickenham/ Eastcote. Excellent state schools and property is good metro land stock. great connections into town. Good restaurants/ parks/ safe/ leafy.

Loads of 2 bed flats for £450k in Ealing x

And with garden

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/82461597

You can make the CMS pursue him for child support if he won't contribute to raising his child.

Yes, am hoping he soes pay for Ds but I guess that we can't rely on it. Hence trying to find something that works and that I can afford. Will have a look at some of the areas pp have already mentioned

I’m a single parent in London and bought a (tiny!) two bed house in zone 2. It’s shared ownership so I bought 50% for 250k. Rent plus mortgage together is c. 1200 which is at least a grand less than rent for a two bed locally. If you’re eligible have a look at shared ownership - I wouldn’t recommend it for everyone, but it’s great in this kind of circumstance. Like you I am unlikely to earn substantially more and it was the only way of affording a 2 bed and also staying near enough to ex to coparent effectively.

I'd suggest moving out of London to a commuter town. Hitchin is 25 minutes into King's Cross, you could buy a 2 or 3 bed house for under £400k so could afford to commute.

Something like this maybe? www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/121924478

There are lots of 2 bed flats in London - I just looked in Finchley and found this, near a tube station
www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/124104176#/?channel=RES_BUY
I'm assuming you work in Camden?Kentish Town? So Northern line tube stop would work for you. You really don't need to buy a one bedroom flat.

Bexleyheath, sidcup areas might be worth considering. Mainline stations into central London too.

Was coming on to suggest these areas too. Great schools, primary and secondary and a decent safe area.

I bought a 1 bedroom flat and there was a family of 5 living there, youngest childwas about 2, the others were around 9-12ish. The bedroom and living room were both large, though they were glad they could finally afford to move. (Had been stuck in negative equity)

You could get a bunk bed with a double on the bottom. Or if living room is big enough screen off an area for a proper single bed sofa beds is obviously an option but not the most comfortable longer term.

There are comfy and supportive sofabeds available: I recommend sofabedbarn.co.uk's range.

Single parent here living in 1-bed with 17 year old son. We've been here for almost 3 years and while its been fine (I'm on an Ikea sofa-bed in the lounge, and our flat is spacious), we are hopefully moving to a 2-bed soon and I must admit I am so looking forward to having my own room, privacy, my own things around, not having to unpack and pack away my bed every night. I think it's fine in the early days (we were both relieved to be away from a toxic situation) but it does get wearing. Can you upgrade in a few years, if not can you choose somewhere with a 2nd bed, even if tiny? There are nice and still not too expensive areas in South London - which is very family-friendly, green spaces, etc.

Following this thread am now rethinking the one bed idea. I guess Ds is still so little that is seems feasible but I guess it wont be in the long run. Now I just have find a two bed for 430k somewhere with good secondaries. I've had a look at moving further out but the train will just be very expensive coming in from places like Hitchin etc.

@poppop2 . Also you'd need to take into account any increased costs for breakfast club/wraparound care to cover your commute if you lived further out, which you might not need if you live close to your work.

I would recommend reconsidering the south. From Wimbledon you can get Mainline train direct to Waterloo in 15mins with the fast train. The Tube straight up towards west/ north for family. You Also have the tram system and buses so it’s really good for transport.
You can get a 2 bed with balcony or garden, in safe area, with decent schools.

It’s easy to get anywhere for work even north central, sounds like father would only have at weekends anyway and he can come collect half the time, and it’s easy enough to family. With Wimbledon common close by you have good outside space when family come over and as son grows a large area for bike rides and walks away from huddle and bustle.

Kilburn/ Maida Vale area?

www.zoopla.co.uk/for-sale/details/39260088/?search_identifier=a1e921f2ec8120ef07f46f0b242bba7f - this is a 3 bed with garden area. Could have two bedrooms, and third one as nice dining room overlooking garden

@Caspianberg Thank you and maybe I should have a look at Wimbledon again. I actually grew up just opposite the common so I used to know it well. My only concern was always that I basically have to get all the way to Bloomsbury and I think that will end up taking over an hour. It would be fine but if am the only one responsible to pick ups and drop offs, it might just be too far. Are there any boy schools around there that you'd recommend. The only ones I used to know was obviously the private one and the catholic one - neither of which would really work.

have you thought about south Norwood? There are lots of secondaries around there. And you could definitely get a 2 bed for less than 430, probably less than 400. There’s a direct train to London Bridge which takes 12 minutes as well as the overground and trains to Victoria, kings cross etc, so you could be at work in Bloomsbury within an hour. I live there and used to work on regent street and was at work in 45-50 mins on a good day.

@poppop2 - www.locrating.com/the-best-Primary-schools-in-Wimbledon_London_England.aspx

• you can see here there’s several non private, non catholic schools with Outstanding.

If you're looking at Wimbledon, South Wimbledon is cheaper (although less leafy) and Northern line would get you where you want to be fairly quickly. Primary schools are fairly decent (almost all good, lots outstanding) with very few exceptions but do your research as catchment areas tend to be tiny for the outstanding ones. Secondaries more mixed but there are some good ones. Lots for kids to do locally... it's a very family-friendly area.

I had a 1 bed for years when DD was small. She had the bedroom and I had the lounge. I had a double bed with a heavy-duty throw cover for daytimes and lots of huge pillows to turn it into a couch.

For me it was worth it to be walking distance from both her school and my job. I was never far away for emergency pickups if she was ill etc.

It does get wearing though, especially in winter or when she wanted to host sleepovers. And it wouldn't have worked for us when she became old enough to stay up much later. It's also difficult when you're sick.

Still, if you could stay open to the probability of moving again one day, somehow, it's more doable (and fun!) than some of the replies here are suggesting.

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/110128289

That's lovely!