Page 2 | Moving to London: where to rent?

Jarra · 2023-02-16T10:16:32+00:00

My DS and his girlfriend are moving to London from their university town. They both have graduate jobs. Their combined pre tax income will be around £100-110k They need to commute into Liverpool Street station for their office. Can someone recommend a good area for them to move to? They are looking for at least a one bed, maybe two if the budget allows. DS’ girlfriend has mentioned she prefers an area with ‘pretty buildings’ and ‘cute cafes’.

SamSmithsOutfit · 16/02/2023 13:11

Angel / Upper Street
Clapham
Shoreditch

JimDixon · 16/02/2023 13:47

Barbican?

Someone will be along soon to suggest Penge. Don’t listen to them!

WombatChocolate · 16/02/2023 15:22

Op isn’t saying she’s going to organise it for them…just suggest some areas.

If they are new graduates starting out and wanting the post-uni young professional scene, Balham or Clapham has lots of that. No doubt they don’t want to just hang out together but want to make friends at work and amongst people in a similar situation. Lots of new grads do go to these areas. Expensive, but with 2 salaries they should be able to get a 1 bed and avoid house sharing if that’s not what they want to do. Flat sharing as a couple isn’t ever the same as flat sharing as a single.

WombatChocolate · 16/02/2023 15:23

These guys are 21/22. They are basically like students.

I think some of the areas being mentioned are for an older market or where some of the posters imagine themselves living if they were young….but their version of young is more like late 20s than early. I might be wrong.

Ireallydohope · 16/02/2023 15:29

I just want to know what their first jobs will be

Balham is probably a good start

MrsOnions0 · 16/02/2023 15:43

Dalston, Hackney Wick, Stoke Newington, Shoreditch etc

YukoandHiro · 16/02/2023 15:44

How are they earning so much in first jobs?! What sectors are they in? Me and DH have only just hit that and we are in our 40s (in London in graduate jobs)

MrsOnions0 · 16/02/2023 15:44

Clapton

YukoandHiro · 16/02/2023 15:44

@LIZS they do NOT need to live in Stratford on those wages! I lived there as a grad trainee on £17k!

MotherOfRatios · 16/02/2023 15:44

You can't be picky right now the London market is chaos

tonystarksrighthand · 16/02/2023 15:44

Clapham, Dulwich

squtable · 16/02/2023 15:45

East London is the hippest part for youngsters.

squtable · 16/02/2023 15:47

If they want to be SW, Tooting is much younger than Balham & has more going on.

YukoandHiro · 16/02/2023 15:47

Ideas: Brixton, Peckham, Balham, Tooting, Stoke Newington, Islington, Victoria Park, Bethnal Green/London Fields, West Hampstead, Kensal Green, Highgate, Archway, Walthamstow.

squtable · 16/02/2023 15:48

I think some of the areas being mentioned are for an older market or where some of the posters imagine themselves living if they were young….but their version of young is more like late 20s than early.

agree

KatherineJaneway · 16/02/2023 15:49

beguilingeyes · 16/02/2023 12:28

East London is best for commuting into Liverpool Street. Walthamstow has great transport links with an overground train straight into Liverpool Street and the Victoria Line which is 24 hours at weekends.

I agree. It is 18 minute to get from Walthamstow to Liverpool Street. The village area is nice to live but might be expensive now.

YukoandHiro · 16/02/2023 15:49

@JimDixon 😂😂😂😂

YukoandHiro · 16/02/2023 15:50

@Ursuladevinia82 Agree. There have been a lot of posts like this lately, including one with a mum worrying about her DS having to rent in his retirement because he and his gf couldn't afford to buy. He was 21. 🤷🏻‍♀️

Helloits2023 · 16/02/2023 16:03

So their join take home will be somewhere in the region of 6k a month (depending on exact split, pension contributions etc). Rent budget could be say 2k a month. Don’t know what that gets you where now, but the main thing I came here to say was strongly consider compromising (slightly) on location to get a 2 bed if one or both of them is likely to work from home on a regular basis- even if that means 1 or 2 days a week. Having a spare room/study is a game changer for me and hugely improved my quality of life. But with a chunky budget like that I think a 2 bed in zone 2 should be doable, so no great sacrifice on location!

BlackberrySky · 16/02/2023 16:11

I agree with the PP about going for a two bedroom, even if the second bedroom is very small. It makes such a difference if you have a bit of extra space, or the option to work from home should circumstances change. I suggest they start in the trendy East London areas near their work - Dalston, Shoreditch etc. They will definitely find something there, and may chose to move somewhere a bit quiter after a year or two.

dreamingbohemian · 16/02/2023 16:16

Any money they save by going out to Zones 2, 3, 4 etc will be eaten up by commuting costs.

Even going to Zone 2, that's 300 pounds a month (2 x monthly travelcards)

They can afford to live central and walk, honestly it's much easier

HundredMilesAnHour · 16/02/2023 16:18

Ursuladevinia82 · 16/02/2023 13:07

I think the best way you can help is to help them think through options and various budgets. What's their take home pay? How much do they want to save per month? How important is lifestyle (going out, traveling etc) and how much would they like to put towards that per month?

they are adults
in professional jobs
leave them be unless they ask i what I’d suggest

Exactly this. When I moved to London for my first job after I graduated, I wouldn't have dreamed of discussing my rental plans with my parents or wanting their (middle aged) advice. Let alone my boyfriend's mother asking a bunch of predominantly middle aged women on an online forum about where we should live. Jesus!

They're adults, they don't need babysitting.

Ursuladevinia82 · 16/02/2023 16:27

Helloits2023 · 16/02/2023 16:03

So their join take home will be somewhere in the region of 6k a month (depending on exact split, pension contributions etc). Rent budget could be say 2k a month. Don’t know what that gets you where now, but the main thing I came here to say was strongly consider compromising (slightly) on location to get a 2 bed if one or both of them is likely to work from home on a regular basis- even if that means 1 or 2 days a week. Having a spare room/study is a game changer for me and hugely improved my quality of life. But with a chunky budget like that I think a 2 bed in zone 2 should be doable, so no great sacrifice on location!

You can’t possibly guess their take home
student loan for a start.

Ursuladevinia82 · 16/02/2023 16:28

squtable · 16/02/2023 15:45

East London is the hippest part for youngsters.

You see this is precisely the comment from a middle aged mumsnetter that will have a young couple heading to London …. Heading West!

Ursuladevinia82 · 16/02/2023 16:30

YukoandHiro · 16/02/2023 15:44

How are they earning so much in first jobs?! What sectors are they in? Me and DH have only just hit that and we are in our 40s (in London in graduate jobs)

Op doesn’t actually say first jobs.

Loads graduate and get jobs in their uni towns. Then decide to move to London where earning potential higher

precisely what I did. Jumped from £23k to… £38k…. And this was 20 years ago