Moving dilemma WWUD

[jjW29]

Hi everyone,first time posting and will keep it short.I’m a single parent with 2 almost adult children and no extended family in UK.Moved from London to Norwich around 15 yrs ago with my now ex who has married and isn’t really in children’s lives much now apart from phone calls and meet up maybe 2-3 times a year.My issue is that I will soon be an empty nester in a large house and I’m thinking of leaving Norwich as although it’s beautiful,I miss that excitement of London and can’t see myself living here for the rest of my life.I don’t think that I could afford anything more than a 2 bed flat in London and would have to start all over again(I’m 58)
Im wondering what living somewhere like St Neots,Cambridge,Ely etc would be like or would it be just the same as Norwich and should I compromise my space for being in London?

Hi,around £400-450k ish depending on if and whether I can get a small mortgage.My income will only be around £25-26 not sure though.I think I will probably rent a room out as a last resort also as don’t want to move to London and not be able to afford to do anything! I’ve worked term time only for the last 12 years and am still only earning £19k as school admin(full time equivalent £25k)

Also OP, the new Overground Lines have opened up speedy transport routes from many areas further out.

And places around Norwood Junction, for example, are now popular because of the very fast rail link. The O/60s Oyster also addresses the travel cost of moving further out.

Ealing is nice...good shops and variety of restaurants, plus lots of green spaces and on the Elizabeth Line

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/163394441#/?channel=RES_BUY

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/144720821#/?channel=RES_BUY

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/162041780#/?channel=RES_BUY

DC are still young adults and you’d be selling the ‘family home’ before they have or are in a position to pay for stable housing. For the medium term I’d therefore seek somewhere with 3 bedrooms, which might mean the commuter belt or and outer zone of London.

I’d rent first if possible.

For yourself, my main concern about London would be the public services, eg healthcare, which are all under pressure, more so than other places IME.

Really?

I find medical care v easy to access in London.. and IME (numerous experiences with elderly and other relatives) you can’t get worse than the N&N

@Dozer
The OP is only 58 ......not 88

Get yerself back to London missus 🌞

Once you've trawled the property sites and have areas in mind come back on and ask for opinions/advice.

You don't want to be older and living in the back of beyond, IMO. As a pp has said you get free public transport when you're 60 - and when you reach official pension age you get the big girls Freedom Pass.

I'm surprised you say this - do you live in London?

My local hospital is a major teaching hospital and over the past few years I've had reason to be an outpatient - appointments easy, no waiting for months, scans etc organised quickly. Just last year my optician thought there was something not right so referred me to Moorfields and I was seen within a week.

Plus I have an all-women GP practice - what more could I ask for!

I suspect Londoners get more than our fair share of public resources.

I suppose my comment was subjective! Based on personal experience of health, childcare and education services in London (zone 2 area), London outskirts and a northern UK city.

chat GPT says ‘Yes, London's health services are generally under more pressure than other areas of the UK. This is due to a combination of factors, including a larger and faster-growing population, higher demand for specialized and complex care, and pre-existing health inequalities.’

As for a poster’s comment about OP’s age, many of us need health and other services at any age!

@Dozerapologies… I was only teasing, but it did come on the back of people discussing the over 60 oyster!

edited to add often people in their 30s assume 58 is ancient. I know I used to!

OP I’d try to get a 3 bed ( unless the rooms are huge) , if only to have one as a laundry or junk room.
And I think your “children” will love having their home in London when they come home from university.

I'd definitely do it. Streatham Hill is a good suggestion, it's pretty quick to get onto town, West Norwood also worth looking at. You might find a big flat around Sydenham/Crystal Palace too.

I’d rent first if possible.

Why shell out money on rent, at London prices, which could go towards buying a property?

One of the advantages of London living for older people is that, as pp have said, you don't need to be able to drive. (Free) buses, tubes and trains will take you anywhere you want to go, at any time. OP can go and ride the Night Bus if she fancies it.

Yes was thinking that also,I can’t really afford to rent,as I’ve previously mentioned my income quite low and won’t have any child maintenance,child benefit or tax credits this time next year when DD finishes school.Even renting a one bed flat for a year is going to be something like £15k or more and is just going to eat into my lump.Need to just get down there for a few days and stop shopping/sightseeing 🤣 and do some groundwork.I visited Excel earlier this year and was pleasantly surprised at that whole area and loved DLR.Different story living there though xx

.I visited Excel earlier this year and was pleasantly surprised at that whole area and loved DLR.Different story living there though xx

Woolwich, which a pp mentioned, is just across the river from Excel. It's got DLR as well as regular trains. And ferry and foot tunnel for getting across the river too. Handy for Greenwich too, which is a nice place to spend time.

I spent today traveling round Royal Docks/Excel/North Greenwich peninsula and love the architecture, public art works, open spaces... but not sure about living there.
Newham has the youngest demographic of any London borough and lots of those areas are very new developments with quite transient populations. Couldn't find many shops either!
Come and check out Lewisham borough - we've got DLR too and Overground (although not near each other) and fast trains to London Bridge and Charing Cross for central London.
Lewisham High Street and area round station are a bit grim, but just 10mins walk from station (in certain directions!) you're into areas with a very different feel.
Then Ladywell, Hither Green, Catford and St Johns/Hilly Fields are lovely neighbourhoods.

For your budget there is variety of property types, e.g.:
flat in period property
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/165481448
Ex-council flat https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/163898114
Modern flat https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/159816656
Period terrace house: https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/153667952

Thank you so much,they are all giving me hope! Think I’m just worried about leaving a beautiful house that I’ve worked so hard on but there’s no point if I’m not happy there 🥺

Don’t recommend moving into an ex council flat. You would be financially responsible for a share of the repairs which can be very high especially if there is a roof involved.

OP could you rent out your house in Norwich and rent a flat in London to make sure?

If you don’t mind me asking did you move first and then look for work? I don’t know how I would synchronise the 2! Or did you look for a job once your house went on the market or had an offer? Luckily I will have 6 weeks off next summer so am hoping I could move then but it’s stressing me already.I don’t want to put it off too much longer as will be 59 next year and will probably have to work for 10 more years