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Original poster

Kent or Essex

58 replies

Gorgygeorge · 29/03/2018 18:24

I am planning to get a new place. I have four young children - eldest 12 years and youngest 2 years.

Would like to know where would be good for a family between Kent and Essex?

OP posts:
Grace3569 · 03/04/2018 20:28

West Horndon
Noak Bridge (village just outside Basildon)

Also worth a look if you’re on a smaller budget

PeonyTruffle · 03/04/2018 20:29

I live next door to Dartford (in Crayford)

I don’t really rate the area, and would be more inclined to look at Bexley Village/Sidcup. I feel safe enough in the day, and would also feel comfortable walking home from the station to my home in the dark. Some parts are far worse than the other, but I guess that’s the same everywhere.

Schools I can’t really comment on as my DS is only 3 (and starting into reception class in September) but there are definitely grammar schools within travelling distance from me.

For me to get into London, it’s around 40 mins on the Southeastern line of doom (they are the worlds shittest train operator)

Hope that’s of some help

penguinsandpanda · 03/04/2018 20:38

Saffron Walden is lovely and brilliant schools, Chelmsford would be my second choice. Bishops Stortford is worth a look too. Depends on where in Kent.

penguinsandpanda · 03/04/2018 20:40

Tunbridge Wells is nice.

mintich · 03/04/2018 20:42

Brentwood! Full of families

Original poster
Gorgygeorge · 04/04/2018 18:36

Between 700 and 800 pcm for a 2 or 3 bedroom

OP posts:
PeonyTruffle · 04/04/2018 18:43

You won’t get much for £800 PCM in dartford and surrounding areas I don’t think, we paid £850 PCM for a 2 bed flat before we bought our house. You’ll need to be further into Kent to get a 3 bed for that

shartsi · 04/04/2018 19:10

OP there is nowhere in Essex that you can pay that. I have checked in rightmove and you can get 3 beds in Dover, Chatham and Canterbury. I have not been to those places so can't advise.

shartsi · 04/04/2018 19:13

Sorry I only checked 3 beds. There are 2 beds within your budget in some parts of Essex.

PeonyTruffle · 04/04/2018 19:20

I also checked because I’m bored. You will get a 1 bed flat in dartford for £800. There is not a single house on Rightmove with min 2 bedrooms for that budget

Sugarhunnyicedtea · 04/04/2018 19:26

You may get a 2 bed in Basildon or Laindon within that budget but not any of th

Sugarhunnyicedtea · 04/04/2018 19:27

Sorry...posted too soon
Not any of the other areas in Essex I don't think. 2 beds where I am start at 900 pcm

penguinsandpanda · 04/04/2018 19:51

It's going to be tricky to get for that price though sometimes they will take £50 off the advertised rate.

Trouble is some of these places people commute to London from pushing up prices. There's this one in Bishops Stortford where think schools are good (just over border)

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-to-rent/property-65841497.html

Original poster
Gorgygeorge · 04/04/2018 20:06

Thanks everybody. @ shartsi, I just read about Chatham and Canterbury on a BBC link. It says "North Kent has always had good value for money".

The only thing for me to find out is how nice the communities are.

Here is the link : www.bbc.com/news/business-42578164

OP posts:
PeonyTruffle · 04/04/2018 20:14

Chatham is horrible (sorry to anyone from Medway Blush)
I grew up there, and I wouldn’t move back in a million years

LillyBugg · 04/04/2018 20:20

I agree Chatham and the Medway area are not nice. If you can afford Canterbury it's much nicer.

scaredofthecity · 04/04/2018 20:21

I don't really know anywhere in Kent that is really commutable to London and in a safe area, with ok schools in your budget. Everyone wants the same! and I'm afraid you have to pay.

Sugarhunnyicedtea · 04/04/2018 22:06

Exactly the same for Essex. Commuter towns are expensive because everyone wants to live there

Original poster
Gorgygeorge · 05/04/2018 12:52

It seems that the BBC findings is not reliable Confused.

And from the comment's so far, it looks like that are more places in Essex (probably South) that are better commutable to London and nicer communities than Kent.

I would research South Essex more and increase my budget to £900 pcm.

OP posts:
Saz1995 · 06/04/2018 07:14

The commute from Ashford, Kent is good:) 40 mins on high speed

Sugarhunnyicedtea · 06/04/2018 09:08

Within your budget you will be restricted to Basildon/Thurrock areas. Neither of which are particularly nice. Westcliff is possibly doable but south Essex generally is expensive. Good luck x

MistyMeena · 06/04/2018 09:28

You can rent a 2 bed house in the Gravesend area for less than £900 a month. Area not great but bits are ok and only 20 mins to central London on high speed train.

MistyMeena · 06/04/2018 09:28

Hmm just seen you will need more than 2 beds.

lou1221 · 06/04/2018 09:41

I'm in North Kent, I've lived in village areas and towns Crayford, Erith, Gravesend to name a few. The village area was nice, but expensive, out of the towns I would say Gravesend better. Good rail links, lots of good schools primary and secondary along with Grammar. There are good and bad parts of course, but you would get that where ever you live.

Original poster
Gorgygeorge · 06/04/2018 17:00

@Saz1995, thanks. Do you live in Ashford? If so, how is the community for family? - schools, community, safe etc...

OP posts:
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