Where to move

[Fifita]

Hi there,
Im moving down south and been looking for a 2 bed glad for me and my 2 girls (14) and (5 ) and i was wondering around areas in Greater London or around as all my friends live there. I just want a. Safe area with good primary and secondary schools. Please help !!! Thanks

Bromley/ beckenham for good schools and transport links.

Do you guys feel like mordem would be a good place ? I found a fantastic flat so I was wondering if it’s safe ?

Surely estate agents will also want proof of employment to know you can pay rent after the 6 months?

I would suggest you may want to visit to get an idea of some of these areas.

Well I’ve been renting like this for the past 6 years and haven’t had any issues yet.
Plus I can update my details as soon as I get a job.

You will probably also find that good properties inside m25 let quickly especially with the return to office working, so you need tobe very focussed.

What year group is your 14yo, does she want to move away? In Year places for year 10 may not be readily available.

Yes she will be going to year ten , but I have to move as I might be working with my cousin and We don’t have anyone up here and I have to get out of my flat by middle
Of august.

For a 2 bed you need at least £3,500. No you absolutely don't OP!

I live in Putney (near your friends in Richmond - Plenty of 2 bed flats for your budget of £1500 or just under.

I know thanks ! I’ve been and there are plenty between 1300/1500 maybe she meant a Mansion 😂

Some in Putney just for reference OP
Unfurnished but as PP suggested shouldn't be difficult to find cheap furnishing. Schooling is good here and very easy to get into town. Richmond Park and the river all nearby.
Southfields is also a nice area .

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/107109599#/
www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/97072142#/
www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/110364398#/

There are still loads of places in Zone 3/4 London where you can get a 2 bed for 1500/month, at least in South London

BUT I think you will have problems getting a place without a job. I know you say it's been fine having 6 months rent in Leeds but flat hunting in London is very cutthroat. Paying 6 months upfront is helpful in cases where you're just a little under the salary threshold or have a bad credit score, not when you have no job at all.

Also you have so many people viewing every flat it's important to be one of the first ones to see it, will you be able to come down from Leeds at short notice quite often?

My advice is to rent an Airbnb somewhere cheap in outer london for a couple weeks in August, get a job (any job) and flat hunt like crazy.

I'm in a 2 bed flat in Bexley (the station) and there were plenty between 1100-1500.
The area is safe, very green and schools are fantastic, also it's only 30m from London bridge. There's lots of grammar schools so less completion. It's not as diverse as London but still some Diversity (looking at my DDs school)

I was able to rent with the letter with an offer of a permanent job and 2x the deposit.

Hope this helps

L

That’s so helpful I did consider bexley but I hear it depend on which area you are. What do you mean nos as diverse ?

I wouldn’t be able to work until the kids are in school in September and for that I need to know where I’ll be living to apply for schools so that’s not really an option but thanks for the idea if I had family around maybe it would have work

Not as diverse = noticeably more white people, obviously not very statistical.
Im in old Bexley right in the centre - the borough is huge and ranges quite a bit in terms of economics, suburban / urban, transport links and so on. Where I am feels safe but there's definitely some sketchy areas nearby too

Would you be able to tell me a bit more about the safe areas and the doggy areas as I think it’s a really good option. I would really appreciate it.
Thanks 😊

I've only been here a year, and half of that in Lockdown but my impression is that the centre of Bexleyheath (bit further out seems okay), welling and crayford seemed a bit sketchy.
Best thing to do is to visit the area which is obviously hard right now.
When I moved from up north i spent a weekend doing that, then a weekend looking at flats with estate agents.

I've lived in Morden and it's okay. There's not loads there employment wise but you're near Wimbledon which has more going on and at the end of the Northern line for travel into the city. There is a lovely park at Morden Hall.

I've also lived in Bromley Borough which might be a better bet. Bromley itself is quite pricey, but maybe take a look at Orpington. There's more going on there than Morden and a lot of people do work locally. Alternatively, there's great transport links to London Bridge / Charing Cross / Victoria. Primaries are good across the board. Secondaries it depends on what you're looking for and where in Orpington you live. If Orpington is out of budget, St Mary Cray is nearby and cheaper (though not as nice).

Good luck finding somewhere OP!

That’s really good information as I want to find a place that offer jobs as well instead of having to commute of course. Even tho with good connections I guess I could
Work anywhere.

Thanks that helps ! And schools are also good right ? I need primary and secondary.

Also if I get furniture from free cycle how can I move a couch or a bed ??

I use this as a measure of dodgy-ness. You can also look at the police website for how much crime has been reported in each area.
vis.oobrien.com/booth/#

@Fifita

Also if I get furniture from free cycle how can I move a couch or a bed ??

Hire a van, find a friend.

Also if I get furniture from free cycle how can I move a couch or a bed ??

I’m not sure it’s realistic to furnish a whole house from Freecycle but you will find adverts for “ man with van” locally that you can arrange to move furniture. Once you know the area join a site like Nextdoor.com because people in that locality will be a good source of contacts and recommendations

I wouldn't worry too much about unfurnished. If you are moving into a fairly well-off area, join the local Facebook group and ask for any furniture people don't want, explaining you're moving down with your children for a fresh start. You'll be surprised at what you're offered; people are very kind.