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Original poster

Need to rent in Richmond, help please

141 replies

bratnav · 07/07/2008 20:08

DP has had it confirmed that the job he wants is his subject to references, so we need to find a house!

At least 3 bedrooms and a reasonable amount of living space as we have 2 DDs and DSD every other week, also 2 dogs.

Anyone want to help? We are currently in Taunton, so don't know anything about the area really, any advice or tips, reccomendations for agents etc gratefully received

Oh, budget is probably around £2000 pm if we push it

OP posts:
Tutter · 08/07/2008 07:35

i already linked to the windsor rd, kew one! looks quite small - i've been in a couple of the victorian cottages in neighboroughing roads

Tutter · 08/07/2008 07:36

neighboroughing?

amidaiwish · 08/07/2008 07:48

soz, i thought TW9 was Ham!

MrsTweedy · 08/07/2008 07:50

Grosvenor Gardens in East Sheen is a great location - I know people who live there & whose children go to East Sheen Primary just opposite. If you want a villagey feel Barnes is great but maybe a bit more expensive.

Earlybird · 08/07/2008 08:03

No idea about schools or rental prices, but I visited Strawberry Hill this past weekend and it is absolutely lovely. Maybe worth looking into?

Or perhaps someone here who knows comment on suitability for those with dc.

amidaiwish · 08/07/2008 08:32

unfortunately i don't think you'd even get a garage in Barnes for £2k a month. Tis lovely but crazy money.

claricebeansmum · 08/07/2008 08:35

Hampton/Teddington very good for young families - cheaper than Richmond.

Tutter · 08/07/2008 09:14

agree, barnes as expensive - if not more so - than richmond itself

Tutter · 08/07/2008 09:15

strawberry hill is teddington/twickenham area - yes, lump them all in and consider together - all hav same pros and cons (except avoid twickenham town centre)

Original poster
bratnav · 08/07/2008 10:28

Thank you all so much for all your replies, very helpful

I am trying to get an idea of area, DP mentioned that when his brother lived Richmond that he thought there were some bits of Teddington that were not so good?

That house in Broom Road looks fantastic, as does that gym, although if I am working FT I don't know when I'd find time. Is it easy enough to find after school care?

Also are schools very difficult to get into? Is there anywhere that might be easier re primary school places?

OP posts:
poppetmum · 08/07/2008 10:47

Not sure about parts of Teddington that are not so good... all seems pretty good to me! Broom Road is lovely, by the river and close to the secondary school (rather than in more central Teddington, so a little walk to shops, but easily do-able)

Places at schools will really depend on whether people are leaving, so that places become available (certainly in Teddington they are pretty well all full at reception level and I'm sure that's the same across much of the boro - indeed, we still have friends without any place for reception in this boro for September but that is starting to get sorted).

We had a neighbour who did what you are doing now, 2 years ago. She basically called many schools in the areas she thought nice and then, based on who had vacancies coming up for that year, decided where to live and rent. I think you would need to call a few schools. They should all be listed on Richmond boro's website or we can help you out (positive thing, vast majority of the primaries here are very very good )

amidaiwish · 08/07/2008 11:57

re schools, how old are your DDs bratnav?

if entering reception this sept then you will struggle with primary place, although you will enter the waiting list depending on proximity to the school of your new house, not when you joined the waiting list.

the older they are the easier it will be i think to get them into schools.

are you looking for a Church school, non church school or not fussed either way?

CountessDracula · 08/07/2008 11:59

this?

SW14 has good schools

Original poster
bratnav · 08/07/2008 12:01

DD1 is due to start year 2 in September, DD2 starts reception then.

They are currently at a church school/nursery, but TBH we're not that fussed. We belong to the church of doasyouwouldbedoneby, respect yourself and others etc etc.

If we choose an area which is fully subscribed what would happen? Sorry, not very up on this sort of thing.

OP posts:
Original poster
bratnav · 08/07/2008 12:06

CD, I saw that last night and loved it!

DP is due to start at the beginning of August, but we have already decided not to move for then, he will commute for a couple of weeks whilst we get sorted.

ExH has DDs and DPs exW is taking DSD on holiday for the first 2 weeks of August, so I think this will be the ideal time for me to go up to Richmond with DP and actually look at properties. Also I think we have another child free weekend before then to look too.

OP posts:
Original poster
bratnav · 08/07/2008 12:09

Presumably if there is a space for DD1 at a school, it would be a lot easier to get DD2 into the reception class? Or is that just wishful thinking on my part?

OP posts:
amidaiwish · 08/07/2008 12:13

well i hate to tell you but there is a real shortage of primary places for reception in Richmond borough this year. i know of quite a few who are still without a place and have had to go private.

however, more positively, if you find a property near to your chosen school then you will enter the waiting list at a very high level, if not at no.1.

Teddington this year seems to have fared better than Twickenham - they put an extra class into St Mary & St Peter's which has removed the dire problems Teddington had last year. So much so that the most popular private school in teddington now has some places for reception this year - this is the school which had a full waiting list for reception when DD1 was 3 months old!

amidaiwish · 08/07/2008 12:15

and yes if DD1 gets a place then i think this automatically puts DD2 at the top of the waiting list. but you are talking about waiting lists at the most popular schools... Can you delay your move until later in the term? You're at a tricky time, too late for the applications, people still holding on for their chosen schools yet no one has had a chance to leave their school.

Original poster
bratnav · 08/07/2008 12:16

I cannot possibly post the words that are going through my head at the moment [shock}

We definitely cannot afford private school

OP posts:
Original poster
bratnav · 08/07/2008 12:18

We could leave it a little later, but we moved in October last time, and it seemed to make it quite difficult for DD1 to settle in initially, which is why we wanted to get moved and settled before the start of term this time.

Will call the LEA and see what they say, thanks for the heads up!

OP posts:
zippitippitoes · 08/07/2008 12:19

i know nothing about schools but think teddington is lovely

neart the park and the station is nice

and its so quiet

is it true that kingston has no sixth forms and you have to go elesewhere like esher college?

so secondary schools are a bit odd

amidaiwish · 08/07/2008 12:19

sorry,

why don't you give Richmond borough schools admission a ring before the schools break up next week. see what they think.

poppetmum · 08/07/2008 12:21

I would phone the Council as soon as you can to see what the waiting lists are like for reception. That will give you a better indication of the situation and where best to focus your efforts for renting

amidaiwish · 08/07/2008 12:21

when is DD2's birthday? she doesn't have to start school til the term after she turns 5, so you could move now, settle DD1 then DD2 could join when a space frees up, which it will fairly quickly usually, and you'll be top of the list.

bergentulip · 08/07/2008 12:23

Another vote for Twickenham. Used to live there.
Get more for less rental wise. Good schools. Good buses etc... to Richmond. Lots of places to take LOs, lovely walk along the river to Richmond too....

Just make sure you know when it is a match day at the weekend, cos the traffic can get pretty horrendous.

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