Help with relocating to London

[PaperAngel]

I am desperate for advice on relocating to London. My head will implode with all the thoughts racing around it on the issue... and I really need some impartial practical advice from other mothers.

I left London when I started my maternity leave and took some an extra couple of years leave on top of that. But my old job is being held open for me.

I really want to return to London (I never meant to leave in the first place but my baby's dad was living somewhere else)But I am getting really stressed out looking at the price of flats to rent. Although I do have a partner, he will not be working as he will initally be looking after our toddler while I work full time.

Does anyone know of any websites or forums where families can hook up with other families or single parents that want to house share?

And how on earth do I manage the practicaliies of relocating? How do I pack up a house, flat hunt etc when I am looking after a baby and am two hundred miles away?

I know I'm ranting... people say that we should stay out of London, where mortage is cheap and clean air etc. But it would mean my giving up a good job with a good salary in London... And I may not be able to find a job outside of London.

I suppose I would like to hear from other mums in London who do manage to survive with rental costs etc and get some tips. And opinions...

sorry i dont know of any websites that can help regarding sharing of houses.

if you want to rent your own house, first of all tell us what your budget would be, and then some of the london folk will come along and tell you what is affordable where. Narrow down your area to one or two areas otherwise finding a flat will be like a needle in a haystack.

A few questions

Do you have a start date for your job?
Do you have enough money for a deposit for a flat? Will your rent be paid partly through housing benefit?
Do you have to give notice where you are living at the moment?

sorry i did just think of one website... the gumtree...

Hi HerHonesty,

Thanks for your reply! My prefered area is Wandsworth borough, but people normally fall about laughing when I tell them that.

My ideal budget is £800, though would stretch to £900. Would rather not stretch to £1,000 and £1,200 is too much.

Won't be getting any housing benefit. And don't need to give any notice where I am so flexible about moving date.

Have enough money for the rent in advance, deposit etc. Would rather not go through an estate agents because of all the additonal charges etc.

I am flexible on when to move - between March and September 2010.

Hope someone can give advice...

Did you see this first-person piece in the Guardian a couple of months ago? The writer found her single-mother house sharer through Gumtree.

PaperAngel: I'm a bit worried about your chances of finding a place for you, dh and your child for £800 - £900, even if you are sharing.

I live not too far from Wandsworth, cheaper area, and rent here is £900 for 1 bed flat to £2000+ for 4 bed 1 bathroom house.

I do wish you luck and think Gumtree is probably your best bet.

have you checked findaproperty

have a check here, just type in the area you want

I think you need to expand the areas you look at tbh

if I was you, I'd come down for a day/few days to look around and see what you think (when you've thought of other areas to look at)

But if you take the budget as half the rent on a house because she wants to share, she could definitely get somewhere for £1600-1800pcm in many parts of Wandsworth (and I speak as a resident of the borough). The difficulty will be finding someone to share with but if she has up to nine months to crack that one...

I wish you find a rent were you are looking (Wandsworth), but if it is too expensive come to South Norwood. That is where I live and I love it. Enough green, great community, and most importantly, great train links to London. I work in the City and the train takes me to London Bridge in 11 mins. I work 9-5 and have a childcare 8-6 and can easily make it, which is crucial to me. Well, if your partner will be looking after your toddler, that might be not an issue. Also, you could even get a 2 bed house for £900pcm here. I just love, so I thought I'd let you know too.

borough of wandsworth is massive, i think you should be able to find what you want if -wandsworth council tax is very low so bear that in mind, it may be worth stretching to stay in that area.

what you want to do is completely doable. you just need to make an ordered list and do things one at a time - find the flat/place to live first i think. good luck, keep us posted, as it were!

Second vote for SE25. I'm close to Selhurst station - 15 minutes by train to Wandsworth common. You can get a lovely 2 bedroom flat for £800 pm here.

Toja555 - nice to hear someone else being enthusiastic about SE25. I love it here!