Oxford Rental Market

[Ligt]

I am moving in August with dp. He has a job with the university there. I'm going to continue with my job as it can be done from home.

We are looking to live somewhere fairly central and know the city fairly well. We have narrowed it down to Jericho/Walton Manor/Park Town/Norham Manor/St Margarets. Basically anywhere that is north of the city centre, but south of Summertown.

Looking for a one or two bed flat, as ideally I would like a home office for work.

But good lord is the market moving quickly. I've had viewings cancelled on the day I've booked them, as the property has rented without being seen. Another property I liked the look at had over 10 interested parties (prepared to offer) , so we didn't bother viewing.

There doesn't seem to be a lot of rhyme or reason to prices. I've seen some foul 2 beds for 1700 and gorgeous two beds for 1400 pcm. I've seen one beds for 1600.

Is Oxford always this crazy, or is this just a symptom of the market in the UK at the moment? (well bar London I guess). I had hoped the rental market would be different to the madness of the buying market.

Oxford is (or was a couple of years ago) second only to London for rental costs and when you take into account the difference in salaries, one of the most expensive places to live.

It's the mix of easy access to London, well paying jobs at the universities, lots of medical students/junior doctors on rotating placements, plenty of student houses and the "Oxford" premium. This means there's quite a lot of movement, even in more "professional" rentals.

The good thing is that public transport and cycle lanes are pretty good so the centre is easy to access from places that aren't quite so "Oxford".

The Oxford market has always been a bit crazy and the areas you’ve mentioned are probably the most popular with everyone (and the most expensive). If you’re only looking through rightmove then it might be worth trying local networks - all of my friends who’ve found rentals recently have found them through word of mouth. I’d get your husband to ask his future colleagues, ask on local social media sites and check out local adds in www.dailyinfo.co.uk/

Everyone wants to live where you are looking! They are London prices. North Oxford is very very expensive with houses worth several £ million everywhere. I would widen my search to include Headington and roads off Cowley Road and Iffley Road. Look at bus routes - they are numerous. There are attractive areas in Oxford without the huge price tags.

Oxford has been mad for a long time for both buying and renting, and North Oxford is terribly expensive. A dd lives in Headington, which is somewhat less crazy price wise and IMO is very nice - Old Headington is lovely, like a country village, and there are lots of buses into the centre in about 15 mins. Plus of course there’s the the big Waitrose, which some locals think helped to whack prices up whenever it was, probably over 10 years ago now.

The speed in which properties is happening everywhere. I'm looking all over the country and as soon as they appear they're snapped up in hours.

Thanks for the heads up about Old Headington, that does look nice.
We have considered St Clements as well, but not a fan of Cowley. Great if you're a 19 year old student, not so much for us.

North Oxford is so pretty. Our idea of hell would be a run down semi somewhere out in Suburbia. Again, great if you've got a young family, but for now, we don't.

It's weird isn't it. In London, it was always about finding somewhere we could afford and was nice. Here it isn't a matter of being to afford it, it's a matter of something suitable coming onto the rental market!

This is the result of the plan to drive out private landlords - it is working, as there's no alternative being arranged demand is high and hence so are prices. Go speak to shelter - oh wait, they don't provide shelter, they campaign for this kind of thing.

Don't let the shortage make you rent a dump from a crook. There will be a lot of those about.

It's over a decade since I've lived in Oxford, so I may be out of touch, but back then Daily Info used to be a good source for rentals. It used to be just a big printed sheet that went up on notice boards but is online as well now: www.dailyinfo.co.uk/

P.S. I always considered North Oxford to be a bit snobby. East Oxford is much better.

@Ligt Try some of the specialist academic letting sites, such as Sabbatical Homes (you don't have to be an academic to use this site). A quick browse brought this one up, for example www.sabbaticalhomes.com/rental/145204.
There are several other sites that specialise in renting within the university, and that would, I think, be more fruitful than high street agents.

I didn’t say Cowley. I said off the Cowley Road. There are plenty of pleasant roads between the Iffley Road and Cowley. Old Headington is very nice and you could look around Headington school too.

Where do you think suburbia is in Oxford? I’m curious. There are lovely villages around Oxford too.

What about Woodstock? Very pretty properties, Blenheim Palace on your doorstep (residents get in free) and a short drive into Oxford.

@Ligt I would recommend you other half asking at the university and also visiting local letting agents. There are a lot of them around. Where you want to live are lovely roads but agree with many there are lots of nice pockets in Oxford that are so near to the centre. I grew up in Cowley road but now my parents are in old Headington and it ticks a lot
Of boxes definitely worth a think.