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?

How about buying a one bed to stay on the ladder and then renting it out and then rent yourself a bigger 2 bed I know people who do this

@lastminutedotcom22 yes, I thought about doing that. Unfortunately, by the time I pay taxes/estate agents fees i.e. 50% - it wont cover my mortgage. Plus, a two bed flat is at least 1,700 -2,000 in my area which I cant afford.

@poppop2

I mean if you got a buy to let you don't have to buy it in London you could buy further out as if you aren't living in it that wouldn't really matter

If you can't afford to rent a 2 bed tho that's an issue I think your best option is to move a bit further out to a cheaper area

Could you get a one bed ground floor maisonette with private garden - that you could either extend into or add a home office which would allow space as your DC grows?

It is but it's an auction property.

I live in southgate North london and you can definitely get a 2 bed flat for </=450k. It's a nice enough area with lots of good schools primary and secondary. Explore all your options OP.

You work in UCL or SOAS?? I take it for Bloomsbury? Works perfectly on the picadilly line. Commute would be manageable.

Get professional advice on separating finances. Eg could you get a bigger share of current property offset against DH'S pension. This might be advantageous as presumably you have your own pension.
The other option might be to seek a post outside London, as DS gets older family support will probably become less of an issue.

I’m Rubbish with areas of London but those who know and have linked the properties look lovely

fwiw my friend had the same problem and she did buy a one bedroom and regretted it within 6mths as hated lack of space for her stuff and no privacy /sleeping on sofa bed

so def get a 2 bed

I bought a one bed and was able to reconfigure it by turning the bathroom into a bedroom and putting a new smaller bathroom into space taken off the original bedroom. Would not have been able to afford a 2 bed.

Mine is a purpose built 1970s apartment so had the space to carve out part of the bedroom for the new bedroo, and access to it from the hallway. I couldn't afford to get the work done for a few years and shared the bedroom with my daughter, her stuff on one side, mine on the other. I think sleeping in the living room would be really tough.

Location was my key concern so that i would have support from family as a single parent, and they lived in nice area which was handy for me to travel to work, good schools etc.

Good luck with the search - if you look at one beds with the view to being able to reconfigure into a 2 bed you could get something you can stay in forever in the area you want to live in.

That’s a good idea. I have also seen it where the original kitchen becomes a 2nd bedroom and then the kitchen is added as an open plan part of the living area but you would need a decent footprint and building is very very expensive these days. Also would need consent from freeholders and it may not be possible depending on the plumbing for the block

I recommend looking at Surbiton. Currently 54 2-bed flats on rightmove for 450k or under, search radius 0.5 miles from the station. Very good infant/primary schools in central surbiton (Maple and SSMJ, next to each other), a bus ride from the grammar schools in Kingston but also other decent secondaries around. Plus fast trains to London Waterloo (16 mins) which connects by tube to where you need to be.

You have got £450k to spare and you are looking to inflict one bedroom living on yourself and a growing child! Come on and face reality. If you can’t afford to live (properly) in the location of your choice then sorry but you need to look elsewhere, like we all do.

You could get a wonderful house in the majority of the UK on that budget and you certainly don’t need to go far from London. I can get into central London in 35 minutes and you would definitely get a two bed house and very possibly a three bed house here (Herts). But you don’t even need to go as far as that.

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/123651053#/?channel=RES_BUY

NW6

There's quite a few 2 beds under 450 around the area

As a lone parent of teens part of me thinks support network trumps all. Even with older children.

Really try and get a two bed if you can. I have a two bed with DS7 and already the flat is being overtaken by vast amounts of Lego and train track and board games 😆 they have soooo much stuff!!

Thank you everyone. I have looked at moving out if London but the train plus running a car would add another 700 pounds per month that I don't have, same with flats and high charges. Ideally my budget is 420-430k in an area where I don't have to run a car and service charge isn't 2k. I agree that a two bed would be better though

Is there a tube line which serves both Bloomsbury area where you work, and wherever your parents live? Work your way outwards on that until you can find something you can afford. Quality of life will be much better for you and your son in the long run.

If you look in outer London you can easily get a two or even three bed maisonette or garden flat for £420k: eg. Southgate is on the Piccadilly line and has excellent schools (Ashmole is the one every fights to get into) - you could easily get a spacious flat there and it's only 23 mins straight into Kings X.

Sorry do I have missed this but will your child be living with you 200% of the time?
It would work in the very short term. There will come a time where you both neee your space. I would make adjustments now because this just won't work.
You will have to accept some life changes/sacrifices.

London prices are crazy. I live in the north west and you would get a 4 bed detached in a lovely area with excellent rated schools for that price!

For example this is 430k, in a lovely part of town right close to everything including the good schools, the nice park and the station, a walk or short bus to Kingston with more shops etc, no car needed www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/122400386#/?channel=RES_BUY

I think this is very achievable. In your situation, I would definitely be looking to stay fairly central, with your parents/siblings within easy reach if you can rely on them to help with holiday and emergency childcare. And with a reliable commute that will fit with any wraparound care offered by schools.

I think being the sole carer and being further out would be hugely stressful as ime the trains aren't reliable. I spent a couple of years commuting in to London and if the trains were disrupted, it could easily be 8-9pm before I got home. This doesn't work if you don't have someone local who you can rely on to collect your DC if necessary.

I don't think you should compromise on 2 bedrooms but I don't think you need to. Even in nice, fairly central locations like Ealing and Wimbledon, you should be able to get 2 beds for your money even if you have to compromise on space.

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/122412926

Good flat - close to tube stations - close to Bloomsbury- outstanding primary and secondary schools

I would try for a flat that is part of house . So that you maybe had a your own garden or loft that you can use . Try and flat with extra space a large hall . Even if you have to go 1 bedroom .