Where to live in the south for <£1000pcm?

[Newstart26]

Is there anywhere left in the South where we can rent for less than £1000pcm, 1 or 2 bedroom, relatively safe/nice area (i.e. not constant worry about crime/antisocial behaviour).

A couple of years ago we were paying £950... over £1200 now and likely to increase again this year. Starting to face-up to the reality we've been priced out and need to start planning a move 😔

Well what do you mean “the south”? Pressumably, most places will require a move. To you need commuting distance to jobs etc?

Hundreds in Ipswich

You could get a 1 bed flat in a meh (but safe) area of Portsmouth for £700/month by the looks of it.

Pretty much nowhere when renting. I live in Essex - my mortgage is £1020. Next door pay £1800pm in rent.

No commute - WFH. In the SE currently and would love to stay but likely not realistic. All key family/friend ties are London/SE but accept that moving away with infrequent visits is likely the only way to stay housed.

So can consider anywhere - main consideration is price.

Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, Wiltshire, South Wales? Maybe a 1 bed in Hampshire?

Any specific areas to look at?

Locally I know where to avoid but flying blind any further afield!

Loads of 1 and 2 bed flats in either Colchester or Ipswich for that price. Railway goes direct to London Liverpool Street.

Kent? Rightmove shows one bed flats in Ashford, Chatham or Canterbury

Bristol. Not much but I found this. Stone's throw from the Wells Road- buses to town, buses to station, shops. Decent enough area.
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/170772176#/?channel=RES_LET

Thank you - any specific areas to look at? I don't have local knowledge so not sure where to discount (low price due to undesirable area) vs good price for ok area.

Thank you, I'll note the area. Have several months until lease ends but starting to draw up a short list of potential areas for nearer the time.

Current agent has said competition is fierce with 10s (or in some cases 100s!) of applicants per property atm so would like a few areas as options.

I would look east and north as opposed to west

There's a one-bed flat very near me in Colchester for £850 per month - nice, quiet safe road 10 minutes from High St and station.

Bedford? My friend lives in Bedford, good trains onto Kings Cross

2 bedroom mews property for rent in Flat The Old Mews, Clarendon Street, MK41

2 bedroom end of terrace house for rent in College Road, Bedford, MK42

Plenty of one bedroom flats for that price in Milton Keynes. A few to avoid, but many in nicer areas. We moved from London and have found it a great place to live.

Any tips on spevific areas in milton keynes to target (or avoid)?

Wouldn’t want to offend anyone on here, so I won’t mention particular areas. The older parts like Newport Pagnell and Stony Stratford are nice, but it depends a bit on what you need. These are in decent areas:
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/170056718#/?channel=RES_LET

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/170359709#/?channel=RES_LET

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/170288255#/?channel=RES_LET

I agree with Bedford. Lovely town with nice local feel, river and great train connection to London. Castle Road area is particularly nice.

It is almost impossible to get a long term rental in much of the SW for a realistic price because so many are holiday lets - local people really really struggle here (not helped by Birmingham council offloading lots of their problems here)

Try New Move Letting Agents Crawley . This Maisonette is in Maidenbower