How do working class ppl manage to afford to live in central London

[Qae]

Just that really. Housing in London so so ridiculously expensive. We were slightly lucky because we purchased our house before prices went mad, but I don’t understand how working class families, particularly families who haven’t been settled in London for decades, can afford to move and love in central London.

They don’t, most people I know commute, or live in huge (and often grim) houses shares well into their 30s

Well they dont or else they scrimp all the time

I imagine a lot of them will be renting, living in social housing and/or claiming housing benefit.

We live in London (Acton). There are loads of kids in my kid’s class who are recent arrivals to this country. Their parents are doing working class jobs (taxi drivers, security guards etc). I don’t know how they manage: rent £2k just for a 2 bed house.

I'm a single parent, I work full time and get about £500 a month in UC living in the east midlands. I did a benefits calculator using a London postcode and I'd get about £1800 a month in UC if I lived there as housing costs are much higher.

Maybe they’re sharing a house with another family or in a one bed flat.

They will be getting Universal Credit on top of their wages, it's simple. You'd have to earn a huge amount in London to go over the threshold for UC.

What do you mean by central London? I don't think there are many working class families living in places like Chelsea and Westminster in private rents and purchased houses. There is, however, a lot of social housing stock in these areas still (The World's End, estate, for instance).
But there are a lot of houses and new builds in the peripheries which up to a few years ago were still relatively affordable. Places like Camden, Archway, Forest Hill etc. - all within 10-15 min train/tube ride to central London.
London salaries also help, I imagine. I moved out of London a few years back and earn 20% less as a result but housing prices here are not far off London.

People don't often realise that 2 parent families can get UC too.

They either:

live somewhere else
are in social housing
live in completely awful overcrowded housing

>They arrived with some money, but are unable to get high flying jobs straight away.

>They receive UC to top up rent.

>They reside with family.

>They are in social housing.

>They are renting from friend / family who charge reduced rent.

Could be for any / many reasons.

There is loads of social housing in central London.

They might work a ton of overtime- I remember one guy I interviewed worked two jobs and just got by on very little sleep.

I live in central London. There is a lot of social housing in my ‘posh’ area.

In my experience a lot of immigrant families help each other out with housing, all clubbing together to buy. Or just work extra jobs or just live in overcrowded housing.

Not necessarily in central London though.

This ^

Either, like you, they bought years ago. Or they inherited.

Or they live in social housing (yes it still exists) and there are numerous estates even in the centre. Or they are in rentals supported by HB/UC (which may have a higher ceiling to try to keep pace with the going market rate)

Multigenerational families in small houses. We are in a 3 bed terrace (3rd bedroom is s boxroom), 2 adults, 2 kids and its tight.
Neighbours on one side are grandmother, parents, 2 kids in thr same size house. Another house is grandparents, parents, 4 kids. And we aren’t even in central london.

I used to know someone who worked incredibly long hours across multiple jobs, all cash in hand, and made decent money (around £8k a month).

Lived in East London but could definitely afford to live in Central London if he wanted to.

Well you can be working class and still have a large salary.

There are 800,000 social housing homes in London, at a guessed average of 3 people per place, that's 2.4 million people housed.
Out the (official) population of 9 million, 2.7 million live in private rentals so the remaining 3.9 must live in their own homes.

My ex lives in zone 2 on benefits in a HA house and has his rent paid for him, he affords it because his house is in a very affluent area of London that most people could only dream of living in and he rents out the rooms whilst claiming benefits

Not easy to get with long, many years long waiting lists.

Working class people can get high paying jobs too. Class does not equate to ability!

I don’t think the post meant housing available, just that there are lots of people living in existing social housing.