Page 6 | Buying a London flat and moving back there in my mid 50s after separation...thoughts/experience?

JandLandG · 2026-09-15T00:42:31+00:00

I'm an empty nester and separated - mid 50s. This time next year, we're selling the family house, going our separate ways and splitting the loot - no mortgage on it anymore. I moved out a couple of years ago into a nice flat - bliss! (Wasting money on rent, sadly, but...that's coming through my wages and am happy to do so for 2/3 years). Anyway, for a long time I've thought of moving back to London. Haven't lived there since the 90s, but often there, tbh. 75 per cent of my work is there these days, a couple of our bigger kids live there after Uni - not sure where the youngest one will go to uni yet. Have always been a regular visitor to London and always enjoyed it. Friends there/near. So, I'm gonna go back there while I have still have the energy...hopefully. Even if it's just for 2/3 years maybe. No chance of retirement for me - freelance for 25 yrs and not much of a pension really. Budget: 400k -ish. Area: Zone 1 preferably. Bloomsbury would be my dream...but I may change that. Any thoughts? I hear flats are very difficult to sell atm...good for prices going down/cheeky offers, but that may prove a problem down the line for me. It'd be 2k a month on rent if I took that option; I think I'm gonna buy, tbh. Big deposit, small-ish mortgage - maybe 10k moving costs inc legal and stamp duty. Pros? Cons? Thoughts/experiences? I imagine myself gadding around town from galleries to coffee shops to theatres and bars - the reality would be quite different, I'm sure, but...maybe a bit of that, come on - I can dream! Anyway...let me know if you think I'm mad, or am onto something. Also, buying ex local authority housing looks the best bet for space/value; my kids have lived in those flats as students for a while...any thoughts on that as a potential option? Thanking you in advance - and apologies for the lengthy ramble.

Original poster

JandLandG · 30/09/2026 13:09

Namechangewegovyjune26 · 30/09/2026 06:54

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/156078956#/?channel=RESBUY Near Angel which is such a lovely buzzy area! I’d live there in a heartbeat.

The only thing is the studio /bedroom

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Thanks for taking the time...looks cute, but yeah, studio.

I don't think I could cope with that...but ...tbh, i
when it comes down to it, I'm going to have to make a decision - less cash layout, or stretch myself up to 425...a bit of wiggle room, but

All part of the fun for the future tbh...and I'm quite enjoying planning ahead, so all good.

Thanks again!

OP posts:

Original poster

JandLandG · 30/09/2026 13:29

Munchie1965 · 30/09/2026 06:42

I am the leaseholder and the LA is the landlord. The LA are responsible for the maintenance of the "outside" of the building. So the roof and windows etc are down to them. When they need replacing everyone has to chip in. I do not know how it affects council tenants - whether they pay anymore rent or not (probably not) but I do not think that the amount of council tenants in the block has any impact on how much leaseholders pay. ie cost per resident is worked out and leaseholders have to pay their share.

In terms of the door - that was maybe a post Grenfell thing as in all council properties have to have a "fire door" one that passes LFB rules and regulations. The door that I originally had might have passed with some adaptions eg it needs to close on its own and I could have fitted a self closing device but in the end it just seemed like a better idea to get a specified replacement.

They may one day decide to put an entry phone system for access to the block with new block doors and I will be liable for that.

Overall I cannot really see how private landlords would be any better and from what I have read are likely to be worse. The council has to be upfront and transparent about what it does and show costings - private landlords not so much.

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Really useful info here...thanks so much.

However, I'm struggling to believe that someone else can tell me what to do with my property ...

So if they want to change the windows but I don't want them changing, they can do it anyway?!

What about if it's the other way around...what if I accidentally break a window - can I ask them to come along and fix it?

And these local authorities...I'm all for communitarianism and collective, neighbourhood cohesiveness, etc, but they do sound inefficient and badly run...

It's a shame - people working for any public body should be bold and strong and filled with a vision for a better future...but they seem, meek and visionless and in the midst of a culture that could do with a huge overhaul.

Anyway, that's a conversation for another day - in the meantime, I've smash my window whilst engaged in vigorous air guitar, can you come and fix it please?!?!?!?

OP posts:

RealFlawless · 30/09/2026 13:36

BlackThumb · 29/09/2026 09:03

The facts are that most flats in London are leasehold. I really hope leasehold reform will start to change all of it, soon, but for now that is where we are.

However, not all freeholders are created equal. The positive of the council as the freeholder is they are FAR more accountable than a private freeholder. If they replace the windows for example they have to send you the quotes they got etc etc and they do actually fix stuff when you ask for it.

Private freeholders can charge you whatever they like for whatever they like, and mine frequently did! They also are far less responsive to repairs, as I found out when water poured through my roof. Will the council freeholder I would have called their emergency team and had it sorted quickly.

It’s not practical to write off all leasehold properties in London. I would avoid a building with a lift.

Final note on the scaffolding - and I know this from having scaffolding up for longer than needed for a job - scaffolding companies commonly leave scaffolding up if they don’t need it for the next job, then come and get it when they do. Saves them storing it and putting it up and down more. Crazy but true. They don’t charge more for it, it’s usually a fixed price so your friend shouldn’t have been charged more this.

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If it was me (and I am thinking of buying a London flat in the next 2-3 years) I'd only consider either share of freehold or (at a push) a leasehold period conversion with a resident freeholder. I would not touch anything with a LA freeholder (although it perhaps makes a difference who the LA are- my SIL's is Haringey who are notoriously shit in all regards). Obviously this reduces the choice but to me it's a key factor, in terms of the experience of living somewhere, running costs and resale. Definitely wouldn't be relying on leasehold reform as it feels like that's been promised for decades.

Northbynorthbreast · 30/09/2026 13:42

I bought recently in LA on Chelsea riverside . Long lease 2 beds 450k

BlackThumb · 30/09/2026 14:10

RealFlawless · 30/09/2026 13:36

If it was me (and I am thinking of buying a London flat in the next 2-3 years) I'd only consider either share of freehold or (at a push) a leasehold period conversion with a resident freeholder. I would not touch anything with a LA freeholder (although it perhaps makes a difference who the LA are- my SIL's is Haringey who are notoriously shit in all regards). Obviously this reduces the choice but to me it's a key factor, in terms of the experience of living somewhere, running costs and resale. Definitely wouldn't be relying on leasehold reform as it feels like that's been promised for decades.

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The prime minister just promised progress on leasehold reform by the end of the year, so hopefully not!

BlackThumb · 30/09/2026 14:11

Northbynorthbreast · 30/09/2026 13:42

I bought recently in LA on Chelsea riverside . Long lease 2 beds 450k

Churchill Gardens?

Original poster

JandLandG · 30/09/2026 14:50

Northbynorthbreast · 30/09/2026 13:42

I bought recently in LA on Chelsea riverside . Long lease 2 beds 450k

cool...sounds right up my street, tbh...I was looking long that stretch...maybe Notting Hill, maybe St John's Wood, maybe Maida Vale - dm me the link - sorry, cheeky request, but if at all poss...would love to be nosey...sounds fab.

anything you might do differently, anything I could learn from your process?

OP posts:

Namechangewegovyjune26 · 30/09/2026 19:28

SixtySomething · 30/09/2026 09:05

Use your imagination!
Of course 99% of London flats are literally bigger than a hotel room!
I said it would be LIKE one. It would feel like it because you could only have your essential belongings with no room for storage.
is that clear now?

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Nope!

Edit to add - a flat can still have big cupboards, built in storage and shelves, perhaps even a garage or a garden with a shed! Maybe your hobbies don’t take up much space as London is right on your doorstep and you can access most things you want to do really easily. Except maybe mountain biking but doesn’t sound like that’s a priority for OP 😅

Original poster

JandLandG · 01/10/2026 00:37

Namechangewegovyjune26 · 30/09/2026 19:28

Nope!

Edit to add - a flat can still have big cupboards, built in storage and shelves, perhaps even a garage or a garden with a shed! Maybe your hobbies don’t take up much space as London is right on your doorstep and you can access most things you want to do really easily. Except maybe mountain biking but doesn’t sound like that’s a priority for OP 😅

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Aaaah, well, you're half right there...but actually, I do go cycling a few times a year, tbh - did a coast to coast over a weekend last year.

But some scrote nicked my bike in the Spring, so currently without - but bike storage would be a plus.

As I say, currently in a flat that has more storage than I need, really, tbh - but I don't store anything much other than the boxes `I need to move and the Christmas decs.

OP posts:

Siala · 01/10/2026 06:07

I live in a house now but it has no garage (rare in a London house) or loft (mine was converted to a bedroom, which will be the case for many London houses). So no guarantee that a house would have that storage either. When I lived in a London flat, the layout was similar to this one, which has several floor to ceiling cupboards and an under stairs cupboard, which is plenty enough for bedding, Christmas decorations, suitcases, important documents etc. You also get savvy with furniture, putting boxes on top of wardrobes and kitchen cupboards, high shelves, ottoman beds etc. I have never got the hang of minimalism! We also had a balcony (you could store a bike there, or I've seen people hang them on walls) and communal gardens like this one so you can't assume there will be no outside space just because it's a flat.

People always recommend avoiding lifts because they mean higher service charges, but for me it was well worth it - we were on the third floor and lugging bags of shopping, occasional furniture and a sleeping baby in a buggy was far easier with a lift! You might be beyond your buggy days but you might have gdcs visiting, or an injury which could leave you housebound if you couldn't make it up several flights of stairs. You could limit yourself to ground/lower floors but then there's a security risk, and it's nice to be able to keep windows open in summer.

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/172682180

Check out this 2 bedroom flat for sale on Rightmove

2 bedroom flat for sale in Thoresby Street, Islington, London, N1 for £450,000. Marketed by Kinleigh Folkard and Hayward - Sales, Islington

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/172682180

Original poster

JandLandG · 01/10/2026 13:47

Siala · 01/10/2026 06:07

I live in a house now but it has no garage (rare in a London house) or loft (mine was converted to a bedroom, which will be the case for many London houses). So no guarantee that a house would have that storage either. When I lived in a London flat, the layout was similar to this one, which has several floor to ceiling cupboards and an under stairs cupboard, which is plenty enough for bedding, Christmas decorations, suitcases, important documents etc. You also get savvy with furniture, putting boxes on top of wardrobes and kitchen cupboards, high shelves, ottoman beds etc. I have never got the hang of minimalism! We also had a balcony (you could store a bike there, or I've seen people hang them on walls) and communal gardens like this one so you can't assume there will be no outside space just because it's a flat.

People always recommend avoiding lifts because they mean higher service charges, but for me it was well worth it - we were on the third floor and lugging bags of shopping, occasional furniture and a sleeping baby in a buggy was far easier with a lift! You might be beyond your buggy days but you might have gdcs visiting, or an injury which could leave you housebound if you couldn't make it up several flights of stairs. You could limit yourself to ground/lower floors but then there's a security risk, and it's nice to be able to keep windows open in summer.

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/172682180

That's not a bad place at all, is it? Right at the very top of my price range, tbh, but...a cheeky offer could go in.

Good location, 2 beds...so, as you demonstrate, my plan is very do-able...I think ideally my perfect place would be. similar to that but with a scruffy kitchen and bathroom to reduce the price and so I could get things just how I wanted.

Add value to it to offset the falling value in this market, get it painted nice how I like it, get a cozy, boudoir set up...carpetted and dark and `way we go....

MAybe ...in 18 months time!

OP posts:

MrsDanversGlidesAgain · 01/10/2026 13:54

So if they want to change the windows but I don't want them changing, they can do it anyway?!

Who has responsibility for something like changing windows depends on the terms of the lease.