Need somewhere within 1.5hrs of Cambridge

[runlikeagirl]

We need to find somewhere to rent within an hour or hour and half of Cambridge. Dh job will be there. Can't afford Cambridge itself.

Need 4 bedrooms (one as an office for Dh who will work from home 2-3days a week). All the usual, good schools, need reasonable transport links (A1?)

Renting to start with, budget of £650-£750 a month. Help me find somewhere, I'm driving myself mad on rightmove!

He's been doing the job for 18months so far. He works remotely in Leeds. But he has found it very isolated, and difficult to work as part of the team and get to grips with some of the work when he's so far away. He's also finding 5 days a week at home hard (especially on the days I'm at home with dd and school holidays).

But yes I have suggested he does a month of 2 days a week from Leeds first.

I have always felt that Ely station in the depths of winter is the coldest place on earth. Brrrr!

Me too. I have some very cold memories of sitting on Ely platform, waiting for a train, with Siberian-type winds whistling around. I used to hate it.

Me too but at Castle Hill in Cambridge, and numerous other places. Our house backed onto the Fens and it was bitter in the midst of winter.

Perhaps I am completely misinterpreting you here but you seem to be proposing that your DH stays overnight in Cambridge 1 night a week when you move closer to Cambridge. Even at rock bottom accommodation prices and Cambridge isn't cheap, that would give you at least another £200 per month to spend on rent if he came home in the evening?

If he hates it that much, I would only consider locations with a direct train line into Cambridge unless he is based in one of the industrial estates on the wrong side of town and so driving is really the most expedient route.

You could also register with some of the teaching recruitment agencies? If you are offered your ideal job close to Cambridge then logic would dictate that you could narrow your search to somewhere close to that work location. Plus it might give you a bump in terms of budget?

With another £200 a month you could afford this. Two "good" local primary schools, 5 miles from Stansted stn for DH to commute 30 mins by train or drive if preferred. It's quite possible that the difference in a weekly train fare would cheaper than an overnight stay.
www.rightmove.co.uk/property-to-rent/property-50661770.html?premiumA=true
There are 6 secondary schools within 10 miles of the village.

Actually, if he was close enough to cycle to work, could that free up some extra housing budget? I'm thinking Sawston at £850 for 3-bed, maybe Cambourne?

Otherwise, oodles of 3-beds for pretty much spot of £750 in Haverhill -- not pretty, but serviceable, and on the bus route to Cambridge.

'spot of' = spot on. Sigh.

What about Great Barford? close enough to Bedford (and also far enough away!) and the right side to get out to Cambridge when you need it.

Is he going to be working near to (say) the train station/centrally/outskirts, as the trip through or round Cambridge itself could add substantially to the time taken?

He will be working outside of town centre, to the north of Cambridge.

I've had a rethink. The cost of petrol etc each month would be better spent on rent. Dh is a keen cyclist and would happily cycle to work each day. So we could up budget to £1000 pcm, but would need to be a cycle distance to North Cambridge, near Histon.

Impington. Even.

How about being near the guided busway.
That goes through to north cambs.
There are quite a few villages along the route.

And there is a cycle path running right by the guided bus way!

Saw this 4 bed detached house in Soham at £900 pcm- short drive into Cambridge.
www.rightmove.co.uk/property-to-rent/property-50525657.html

Here you go. Not the most exciting looking property but it has 4 beds and is 100 yards from an outstanding primary on the right side of Cambridge. Minimum salary requirement for the tenant which may or may not be an issue
www.rightmove.co.uk/property-to-rent/property-47475034.html

Village location, also 3 beds, "good" primary
www.rightmove.co.uk/property-to-rent/property-50109923.html

Impington and Histon are not cheap, sorry. Schools are excellent though and it's definitely cycling distance if your DH is keen plus on the guided bus for horrible weather.

Cottenham much cheaper. You could also think about Girton; primary school is OK but it's in catchment for Impington Village College for secondary.

Have a look at Letchworth, Stevenage and Luton.

Harry, she needs north.

North of Watford is north, isn't it?!

North of Cambridge. Read the thread.

Yes, ma'am!

Waterbeach is within that price range used to be an army base, still is really but not busy anymore. Houses are very military but cheap for that close to cambridge, possibly a slightly tricky cycle route as you'd be the wrong side of the A10, not sure what the route from bar hill or cottenham would be but might be worth trying

I would definitely consider the house in Swavesey which Treadsoftly suggested. Right side of Cambridge, 4 beds, your dh could easily cycle to Histon along the Guided Busway, nice schools. ...