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Original poster

Talk to me about London living?

60 replies

iloveeverykindofcat · 08/09/2016 06:40

Here's the situation - I'm a college lecturer in my late twenties with 2 cats. I'm currently working on a fantastic but temporary contract in Wales, after which I may have the opportunity of a central London position on about £36k. What kind of place would I be likely to rent for this? (Could live outside London and go in by tube). Could I make a deposit on anything? Could I get a garden for the kitties - their welfare is very important to me. Obviously the social scene would be amazing for me - I'm a vegetarian and huge alternative/post-punk music fan and I'm really missing the Cardiff scene where I am now, which is rural, but how would the rest of my life be? Thanks

OP posts:

Brown76 · 08/09/2016 06:47

You're probably looking at being able to rent a 1 bed flat in zone 3/4 or a room in a shared house (cats might be an issue?). Have you got a deposit for a property saved up? If you have a modest deposit and a permanent post you might be able to buy a share in a shared ownership home. Bear in mind that this is sometimes allocated to people who live or work in the borough of London where the development is based. In terms of day to day life I think you'll probably expect to spend a lot more time commuting to work and going out, on the plus side we have just got the night tube so as you are into music you'll be able to take advantage of that for nights out in London!

GinIsIn · 08/09/2016 06:52

You'd be looking at a house share or studio flat in zone 3 for that I think. If a garden is important to you you'd be more likely to get one looking for a shared house. What kind of savings do you have? As PP said - if you have a decent amount saved you might be able to go down the shared ownership route?

Original poster

iloveeverykindofcat · 08/09/2016 06:54

I do have a modest deposit saved, yes. Part ownership sounds like a possibility - I'll have to look into that.

OP posts:

LittleBearPad · 08/09/2016 07:02

Where in London. The areas differ so much

YelloDraw · 08/09/2016 08:32

So you'd have about £2,000 to £2,200 after tax and pension contributions?

The max you're going to want to spend on accommodation is £800-£900 I would think? Max £1k?

That essentially puts you into the range of having a nice room in a nice house share in a nice zone 2 area, or a studio maybe 1 bed flat somewhere like ilford or Croydon.

Look on RM for the whole of london for your budget and see what kind of things are available where.

Cats are an issue - you're going to need some outside AND a LL willing to take cats and probably rules out house shares.

YelloDraw · 08/09/2016 08:34

Where would the post be? Look at tube and mainline routes out along from there.

I think you'd have a great time in london, but £35k is more suitable for house sharing than renting on your own.

Artandco · 08/09/2016 08:36

A flat share without the cats. That only gives you about £1000 a month max for accomadation and bills. That's not enough for a 1 bed flat with garden. The further you go out the higher the commute costs.

bibbitybobbityyhat · 08/09/2016 08:40

Do you know anyone who lives here?

Sadly, you would not be able to buy anywhere with outside space (if at all) on a single salary of £36,000 and a "small" deposit. It is true what you hear - it is ridiculously expensive for housing here.

I think you would be better off in a cat friendly flat or house share.

Gowgirl · 08/09/2016 08:40

I think you would struggle tbh, might be worth looking for a house share....ive seen a couple recently around 800 in Ealing...

Original poster

iloveeverykindofcat · 08/09/2016 08:40

It's near Elephant and Castle. Hmmm. It's doable, and I would probably have a lot of fun - but I'd be taking a significant cut in disposable income and living space. OTOH I'd probably spend less time at home. I think I need to get a more realistic idea of the cost of things in London v North Wales. TY for all input.

OP posts:

Artandco · 08/09/2016 09:34

Oh and on £36,000 you would struggle to buy. A one bed flat would be in a cheap area £360,000. That's 10x that income so unles a you had a 50% deposit it isn't possible

GeneralBobbit · 08/09/2016 09:44

http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-to-rent/property-61201079.html

Walk to work in 15 minutes, own patio for £1053 a month. Really good area (the Shard area)

And yes, you'll be out all the time There's so much to do

bibbitybobbityyhat · 08/09/2016 09:46

You are coming across as somehow gleeful that op wouldn't be able to buy in London Art&Co. It's the "oh and ..." at the start of your last post. I hope you don't really feel like that.

And a one bed flat in a cheap area would not be as much as £360,000 either. It would probably still be too expensive for our op, but you are exaggerating.

bibbitybobbityyhat · 08/09/2016 09:50

Just found 37 properties under £250,000 in London SE6, which is a less expensive but very well connected area, with an overground journey time to Elephant and Castle of about 15 minutes.

Artandco · 08/09/2016 10:02

Bib - Se postcode is one of the roughest areas in London. For somebody who knows nobody in the area or is new to London, it isn't exactly where they are thinking of living.

£36,000 is a great income. Just not unfortunately for somebody living alone in London. Somebody who bought years ago sure, but not today. It's the reality and allows op to consider if she would be better on a Lower income elsewhere, or if she wants to live in a flatshare or in a not particular nice area. The reality is also that cats aren't welcome in many rentals, even if it's a 10 bed mansion, often no pets allowed.

GinIsIn · 08/09/2016 10:06

There's the cost of everything else to consider too. London prices: large glass of wine in a bar or pub - £6. Medium cappuccino -
£2.70. Gym membership - £45-60 Cinema ticket - about £12

bibbitybobbityyhat · 08/09/2016 10:09

I LIVE on the doorstep of Catford and have done for 20 years! When I first came to London I lived in Brixton for heaven's sake. Do you honestly think the whole of SE London is some sort of ghetto? Don't be utterly ridiculous.

Scribblegirl · 08/09/2016 10:18

Come to Croydon! We have loads of affordable flats down here and you're on the right side of London for Elephant and Castle:

1 bed garden flats to rent > 0.5 miles to East Croydon station:

£950pcm www.rightmove.co.uk/property-to-rent/property-44111688.html

£950pcm www.rightmove.co.uk/property-to-rent/property-41067063.html

£975pcm www.rightmove.co.uk/property-to-rent/property-61040855.html

Scribblegirl · 08/09/2016 10:20

Oh and totally agree with Bibbity. 'SE postcode is one of the roughest areas' - that's 25% of the entire city ffs!

Artandco · 08/09/2016 10:36

Ok, every time I have been to lewisham/ Croydon, it has been a dump. That's my opinion. If you like it then great, but many will not

FunkyChunk · 08/09/2016 10:42

Working in E&C, I'd definitely stay in the SE postcodes. Generally cheaper than the rest of town, easy to get to work and low/no commute costs.

Having a look on Rightmove, you could rent a 1 bed flat for around £1k-ish a month. How about Bermondsey/Rotherhithe?

YelloDraw · 08/09/2016 10:48

Ok, every time I have been to lewisham/ Croydon, it has been a dump. That's my opinion. If you like it then great, but many will not

OP hasn't got a massive salary and has a specific requirement (outside space for her cats) so it is going to be less about how 'naice' the area is and more about finding something that is suitable and she can afford, and has ok transport links so she can enjoy london.

lalalonglegs · 08/09/2016 10:50

You'd also be able to rent a one-bed in Crystal Palace area (very lively and trendy) for less than £1000pcm. I think you should take the opportunity to live in London even though it will mean less disposable income. It's a fantastic city (even the SE bits ) and there are lots of opportunities so you might not be on £36k for ever.

Pradaqueen · 08/09/2016 11:32

OP some useful posters here with actual places to rent for your approximate budget. I agree that if you are going to work in e&C then SE is best. e&C is undergoing a massive regeneration and I would be happy to stay around there and I am very picky. The whole of the SE of London is not 'a dump' but if you were hoping for Mayfair on your likely budget you'd have to reconsider

I would say that if you are going out as far as Croydon you will get more bang for your bucks but you won't be 'experiencing London' in the way I imagine you might hope and you might not be faffed to go back in on your days off....The pp studio flat near the shard is a realistic proposition so I guess you need to decide if you can deal with a space of that size plus leaving the fur babies behind.... Good luck though. London is ace.

kirinm · 08/09/2016 11:32

SE includes Peckham - very trendy and now virtually unaffordable

Telegraph Hill - conservation area with grand Victorian buildings.

SE1 - errr, that's central London.

Brockley, Crystal Palace, Forest Hill.

Lots of places to live, some even vaguely affordable. Bakerloo line is rumoured to be extending to Lewisham. Then we shall see how rough everyone thinks SE London is.

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