Relocate to Cambridge - Looking for 2/3 house to rent near Cambridge - early Jan 2017

[Kangli]

Hi

We are relocating to Cambridge early January 2017 (ideally the first week of January) as I have got a job in Cambridge, we are looking for a 2/3 bed house (with parking & ideally garden) to rent within easy commute distance to Cambridge, we have a two year old and our budget is around 700-900 rent per month. Does anyone has a house for renting or know someone who does? Thank you.

Kangli

Hi Kangli,

How far/long of a commute are you willing to do? You won't get a 3 bed in Cambridge for your upper limit, But should get a 2 bed although it will probably be quite basic. Have you looked on right move?

3-bed here in Bottisham, with garden, at £950: www.rightmove.co.uk/property-to-rent/property-62627390.html
One here in Sawston at £950: www.rightmove.co.uk/property-to-rent/property-24326837.html
One about 25-30 mins away by bus (no garden though as far as I can tell): www.rightmove.co.uk/property-to-rent/Abington-1602.html

Thank you Tid1, I am hoping to travel within maximum 30 minutes by car to Cambridge, I understand my budget probably won't get me a 3 bed but I did see a few on right move, just thought I give it a try here in case someone has a place for renting :)
Kangli

Thank you Tingalingle, I had a look of the links you shared and the first house looks lovely, I will give them a call :)

Is that 30 minutes to the park and ride (then 15-30 mins on the bus) or 30 minutes to a central car park ? Do you need to be in Cambridge during peak hours ? If not, the commute time will drop. I'm 5 miles past Bottisham, and I allow 45-60 mins into central Cambridge on a week day if I absolutely need to be there after 9:30. There's that strange blimp in traffic such that getting in 8:30-9:30 takes more than 1 hour Monday-Wednesday or any day it rains.

Thank you didireallysaythat, thanks for the information which is very helpful :) I will be traveling by car during peak hours so I guess I will have to find somewhere a little close and maybe rise my budget up a bit. To be honest I am quite surprised that it takes more than 1 hour to travel to central Cambridge as from google map it looks very close. I currently live in Hampshire and normally it takes half a hour with that kind of distance. Is traffic to central Cambridge particularly bad compare with other areas?

Yes, peak hour traffic in Cambridge is a disaster. Where exactly will you be working, try to get the 'right' side of the city for easy access. Also, bear in mind that from next week, several of the park and ride bus services will no longer go right through from one side of the city to the other - they will break in the city centre and you will have to change bus to continue your journey. Yes really, this is in Cambridge in the 21st Century!

Try and find somewhere within cycling distance. Most people cycle to work in Cambridge as it is almost always quicker. People with young children to drop off at school or nursery use cargo bikes. There are lots of cycle lanes/paths and numerous places to lock up bikes.

Oh thanks so much for these helpful information, it is really good for me as I am not from local area. Cargo bike sounds like a very cute idea maybe I will ask my husband to get one. I personally am not a bike person though, had an accident a few years back broke my collarbone when got hit by a car when I was riding bike and have since then been afraid of going on bike :(

I will be working near the Cambridge University Botanic Garden, about ten minutes to the station, it looks like I will need to have a look the right side of the city.

Have a look in St ives. You could travel in by the guided bus in 30 mins.

Maybe you could live in Waterbeach, and come in by train?

On another note: if you are working close to the Botanic Garden, then consider becoming a member (only about £35 a year) and you can pop in on your lunch breaks. It's a wonderful place, one of the real gems of Cambridge.

Hi Kangli
Sorry to hear that cycling is off limits, as that is definitely the best way of getting into and around Cambridge. Maybe once you've moved here you'll get the chance to try it out again and build some confidence.
I would weigh up the extra cost of renting in Cambridge versus the cost of driving or catching a bus/train in every day. Your travel time to that central area of town will rarely be under half an hour from even the closest villages, and will often be much longer (unless you can work well outside of peak hours). Of course you can't put a price on your wasted time at the start and end of every day and the general stress and frustration of battling Cambridge traffic.
You don't mention what your husband does and where he needs to get to every day, but if you're a two car household you could consider going down to one car if you're within walking distance of work, as the running costs of the extra car, especially depreciation, would be well in excess of the circa £200-£300 extra you'd be paying in rent.
Also if you live in Cambridge itself you will find there are loads of free and cheap activities for kids, whereas in the villages these can be quite limited and you can end up driving about at the weekends as well.
Having said that, school and nursery provision within the City is another story!
David

How about Cambourne?
You might be able to get a 3 bed for your budget.

Thanks for the useful informations :) I actually prefer to live in Cambridge if I can afford, have been looking at 2 bed houses in Cambridge as well but prices are pretty high though :(

But I will keep looking and fingers cross I will be able to find somewhere to move in in January!

My other half work freelance from home so he doesn't mind where we move to at all so it's really depending on whether we will be lucky enough to find the right place which is convenient for me

Have a look at Sawston or Whittlesford.
They are on the south side.
Any area you live in apart from say trumpongton/shelford is going to take a while to get in.
Traffic is so slow at rush hour.
You could also consider using a bus instead of driving. The trumpington park and ride is about 1.5 miles away from the botanic gardens.

Have you seen the houses in Trumpington- Byron Square & Foster Road. They are 3 bed, in your budget, walkable to Botantic gardens (and there is an off road cycle path which might help you build confidence), local shops.

Thanks everybody, so many new ideas :)

Anyone know about Duxford near CAMBRIDGE? How is it? Is it far to travel by car to Cambridge? An estate agent sent me some info of a 3 bed house over there.

Don't travel in by car - just don't!
From Duxford, get the train at Whittlesford station. It'll take you 10 minutes, and the Botanic Garden is pretty close to the station.

Oh, and I hope you enjoy having the Red Arrows doing a free flypast over your house a couple of times a year...

Hi Tingalingle

Do you mean there is an air base near Duxford? Thanks :)

Kangli

Not an air base, but the Duxford air museum -- it's a bonus!

Ah, that sounds great! My little one will enjoy that definitely :)

Just saw a really lovely 3 bed house on rightmove in Hardwick:

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-to-rent/property-33369408.html

Had a look on the map, it is about 7 miles to city centre of Cambridge, there is bus link as well just not direct one. Anyone know this area at all? Thank you :)

I'm not far from hardwick.
It's ok. Close to Cambridge and has a great pub.
Not much else apart from a shop.
It's not one of the prettiest villages around.
You should visit and scope some places out.