Graduates returning to the nest, a new start for all!

[VanCleefArpels]

Carrying on from the 2019/20 Uni students thread let’s talk about what it’s like to have our fresh graduates home, for some of us invading our nice empty nest, for all of us creating a new household dynamic…….

Thanks

Whee has he been looking so far @ssd?
Central London is obvs much more pricey than further out.

Look at places that go into Waterloo or Vauxhall. Walkable over a bridge to Westminster from there. Many bus routes that connect into those transport hubs direct from East/SE/SW London.

Does he have any London-based contacts (uni friends/school friends/family friends/friends of friends who have migrated south) that he could ask for a 'sofa surf' with while he finds somewhere? Local FB community groups could be quite helpful once he's shortlisted potential areas of interest.

That’s true @LouisCatorze!

Somewhere like Tulse Hill, West Norwood, Streatham with good links into central might be worth looking at. Less trendy than Clapham/Balham which are the usual graduate magnets but really well connected by public transport. Would he consider an Airbnb or even a travelodge for say a month while he starts work so can look in person once he’s in situ?

Oh some great ideas here thanks.
He doesn't live at home and isnt great at sharing his plans but i think hes starting to panic a bit. And if he isnt, i am! Not sure if he can sofa surf with anyone but a travellodge or airbnb is a good shout.

Yes tomorrow is f2f induction @bigTillyMint . It’s only 2/3 days f2f pw. So commuting for time being as only 1 hr by train into Euston, until her friends start in September. They’re also having difficulty findings somewhere. The problems is her friends will be earning more so are willing to pay more but Clapham/Balham pricey and they keep being out bid. Didn’t even know that was a thing. They’ve stated to look at Tooting. Bec I’ve no idea what that’s like apart from Citizen Snith. Londoners help me out please.

I changed names 😁

@Benjispruce4, what do you mean outbid? Do flats or rooms not just go for the price advertised?

@VanCleefArpels, are you a SELondoner too?!

Buses are cheaper than trains. Or if he can cycle, there’s LOADS of cyclists going in/out of London!

Well that’s what I though@FayeGovan bit apparently it’s very competitive with several people interested and offering to pay more

@FayeGovan, yes that’s what’s happening.

@Benjispruce4, I think people sometimes have a blinkered view of being on a tube line. The Northern line has always been a crush (maybe less so since covid) - it was in the 80s when I lived in Clapham. Lots of SE London has trains/buses - no tubes. Does she want to live with uni mates? I can see that they might think Clapham was preferable if moneys not an object.

Tooting is OK, but they could look at Peckham/Camberwell/East Dulwich/Forest Hill too - lots of young people/professionals. I’m sure DS could help with advice!

Yes thanks @bigTillyMint ! OK?! Safe?

Have you got a tent @bigTillyMint ?? 😂

Yes they’re looking at Northern line. Uni housemates earning more and have higher expectations. Obvs I’d like her to be with them as they all know each other and get on well.

@bigTillyMint no but I’m very closely related to a young professional whose adopted home is in one of the places I mentioned 😉

Thameslink and Overground trains and lots of buses if no tube nearby. Bus prob the cheapest way to go if possible. But I hear your pain about friends who are earning differently- It can cause problems if sharing

Happy to advise on safety in individual places in local areas! There are loads of nice, normal areas around. Most houseshares will be in Victorian terrace houses which are usually decent neighbourhoods.
However, we are used to London life - you do need to be a bit streetwise when out and about anywhere in London!

It is always hard to know where to live in London. My son has friends not far from the City of London (square mile and one daughter lives there). My other daughter lives in Maida Vale where my son has some ex university friends renting and other friends in Hampstead - latter are lawyers so can afford Hampstead. I slum it out here in zone 5 as even in the 1980s we couldn't afford further in.

Tooting Bec area is more like Clapham Common really in terms of the type of properties and cost (they are different Underground Zones though). Tooting has gentrified a lot since Citizen 'Wolfie' Smith days. Still quite diverse culturally and socially but gentrified enormously in the past ten to fifteen years. Having the hospital and university (St George's both) as the main local employer also help the cause enormously in attracting young professionals to the area. And really quick to get into London from there (Waterloo only 20 minutes away).

Oops repetition of the word 'gentrified' but you get my drift!

Thanks @LouisCatorze . DD would live in cheaper areas but hard to please 4 girls with differing incomes and needs/wants.

Regarding bidding for houses.

Dc2, (first/second year LSE student) was looking for rooms (with friend). She said by the time she had arranged a viewing the advertised rooms were already "snapped up". So for the one she now got, she bid £420 (or 410?) from £360 (or £380?) asking price. I can't remember the exact prices, but they are per week for 2 bedroom flat near Guy's Hospital

@Notagardener ·outrageous having to bid for flats/house-shares. I guess the thing about living close to Guy's is that you would scarcely need to use public transport to get about if you work relatively nearby.

I know. Government need to do something about greedy landlords. They seem to be untouchable in terms of buying up properties, charging extortionate rents and not paying tax.