House prices in London are a disaster

[Elfinfeatures]

What irks me the most is smug middle class people who only got on the ladder due to rich parents looking down on others like people from my background who've no choice. It is disgusting. What is the acceptable level for hp to reach then if now 500k average? £1 million? £10 million? At a certain level it really does not matter anymore they may as well cost billions.

We were able to buy in central London but as I said upthread it's not a house and has 2 beds with no garden (we have made the sacrifice of having an only), and is on a council estate with a poor reputation. I expect many would complain that it has no 'character' as well - but we just want a roof over our heads really, and for it to be convenient for work and to visit family.

We don't tend to bump into people when out and about locally, and we don't know our neighbours very well. But we're quite introverted and private people anyway, and most friends/acquaintances are through hobbies or work, or long time family friends. I would hate to live in a village or suburban environment where everyone knew my business.

I met one snobby woman who looked down on me for my inability to buy in London. She lived in a house her parents had bought for her. She asked me why I didn't buy something in London instead of where I'd just bought my house. I explained I couldn't afford to (I didn't mention that I didn't want to either). She said simply said 'oh', then stuck her nose in the air, walked off and never spoke to me again. I'd hate to live in London.

We live in SW London in small flat because that was all we could afford. We decided that living in the area I had family in was more important even if all we could afford was a tiny 2 bed place. We have one dd who goes to school with kids that mostly live in huge million pound properties and I'm feeling the need now to move out because we are an anomaly where we live. It's a Sad truth but I wonder if there is a subtle type of social cleansing going on. If you aren't well off well then get out of London - that's how I feel :-(

mama l don't think the 'social cleansing' is deliberate but it does seem to be happening. I can see it in my dodgy part of SW London, houses are now ridiculously expensive as those with money are moving in being priced out of other areas.