Moving to Glasgow areas

[Joanna9494]

I’m from Dunoon and want to move away I’ve currently been looking at the airdrie/ Coatbridge area and looks quite nice. I’m initially looking for somewhere with a decent town centre with decent supermarkets a few shops, some places to go with the kids, parks and greenery and nice areas with nice schools. Plus I don’t drive so good busses and trains. Does anyone have any recommendations of where to avoid in airdrie/ Coatbridge areas? Or know if anywhere else what might be a good fit for me and my family? Thanks in advance!

@I0NA

Forgot to say *@Joanna9494* you’ll need to go to £700 for that area or maybe £725.

Just out of interest, if it's a HA property, the tenant doesn't pay £700, do they?

Do you really need three beds and a garden in a private rental?
Two beds and no garden will get you a better area, then go for the bigger place when you apply for HA.
Once you're living in Glasgow it'll be much easier to scope out areas, even down to streets/schemes of HA properties.

@ISpyCobraKai 3 beds is needed preferably because my 8 year old needs her own space from her 4 year old brother, because we’ve been homeless for so long and living temporarily at my family’s home with very little space at all we want something we can all be happy in. And yes a back garden for the kids to play is needed. We don’t really want to move somewhere to move again within the year, so something what we can be happy in for a couple of years is what we will be looking for.

Just out of interest, if it's a HA property, the tenant doesn't pay £700, do they?

Sorry if I confused you, I’m talking about private rented properties.

The OP will struggle to get a HA Property right now as she doesn’t live in the area and she’s unemployed. Most housing associations want applicants who work full time or part time and earn about £ 15-35k ( household income ).

Some won’t allow under occupation ( she wants a 3 bed but she only qualifies for a two bed ).

And she wants a house with a garden and a lot of HA stock is flats.

There will be long list of existing HA tenants with local connection who want a 3 bed house with a garden in a decent area .

If of course she gets a HA Tenancy then of course she will have to pay whatever the rent is.

If she can find a tenancy ( any kind ) while she is on benefits she need to pay the difference between the LHA for a 2 bed ( for Glasgow City its about £615 pcm I think ) and whatever the rent is .

Coatbridge is a bit of a shit hole tbh, sorry if that offends anyone. I don't know airdrie but have heard people say the same.

I have a three bed just for me but will obvs have to downsize if I move.

Just to clarify what has been said earlier. HAs ( in Scotland ) cannot take income into account. They allocate based on housing need. What this means in effect is that the vast majority of homes are allocated to applicants who are statutorily homeless.
Social rents are “affordable “ so far less than private rents.
Agree that much of Scotland’s housing stock is tenemental. Perhaps look for something near a park or allotment?

That's true.
I got mine as I was homeless, still took 18mths and they tried all kinds of nonsense and offered me godawful places.
I've had it 9 years now and I'm v lucky.
When I move it will be on medical grounds.
(I've also never paid rent as I'm on disability benefits)

What about something like this OP?

www.onthemarket.com/details/7968625/#/map

I don't know the area well but I've jumped in the map and strolled around and lots of new builds which tend to pull an area up and a big park nearby. Technically doesn't have a garden but it's ground floor and set in lots of open green space. Also nearby train stations and a bus top. Says it walkable into town and it's walkable to Strathclyde country park.

Joanna9494 we used to live in Croftfoot too, it is a lovely area, and it should be within your budget. The local primary school is good too, or at least it was when we were living there.

@Timeandtune

Just to clarify what has been said earlier. HAs ( in Scotland ) cannot take income into account. They allocate based on housing need. What this means in effect is that the vast majority of homes are allocated to applicants who are statutorily homeless. Social rents are “affordable “ so far less than private rents. Agree that much of Scotland’s housing stock is tenemental. Perhaps look for something near a park or allotment?

When I was talking about HA properties I meant Mid Market rent properties, as that’s what the OP would be applying for. They all have an income criteria AFAIK.

Yes of course she could apply for Social Rent in theory, but she would never get anything as she’s not in any housing need now . Nor would she be in her 3 bed house with a garden.

I agree that MMR might be an option although the rents are higher than social rents and you are right that there is usually an income criteria.
In my experience if the HA is struggling to let the MMRs (unlikely but not unheard of) then they will sometimes consider applicants on some types of benefit income.

@I0NA with universal credit when I find a property I’m actually entitled to the local housing allowance rate. Over here I’m entitled to 3 bedroom rate which is around £550, anything above that I’d pay on top. Plus I’ve rented on benefits before I was homeless and have a great reference from my previous landlord. I’ve also a guarantor if needed so i should be fine renting privately.

3 bed with a garden is highly unlikely.
I got a three bed only after I dug my heels in, but I don't have a garden, I do have my own back door and a really big communal area.
They've since adapted it for me.
As I've said, I'm v lucky but I knew my rights and absolutely made sure I got the best I could, according to their rules, which they still tried to dodge.

Actually, I live in the same County as you, would you consider a smaller town with great access to Glasgow, decent schools, v set up for kids etc?
You might be able to go straight for HA then.

Two things : Knightswood is not a dump! Especially at the Scotstounhill end.

Have you considered Dumbarton?

@ElephantOfRisk

What about something like this OP?

www.onthemarket.com/details/7968625/#/map

I don't know the area well but I've jumped in the map and strolled around and lots of new builds which tend to pull an area up and a big park nearby. Technically doesn't have a garden but it's ground floor and set in lots of open green space. Also nearby train stations and a bus top. Says it walkable into town and it's walkable to Strathclyde country park.

That’s one of the properties I actually had a look at online and liked the look of, even if there was somewhere close by like a park or something we wouldn’t need a garden.

And @ISpyCobraKai I would consider anywhere really, as long as the kids can go to a nice school and I can hop on a bus/ train for some decent shops 10 minutes away. Think once I’ve rented privately for a good while I’ll be putting in a HA form when I’ve a good idea of areas etc

Take a look at Helensburgh then.
It has everything you need and great transport links.
I brought my Dd up here.

I wouldn't move to Dumbarton even though I go there all the time and am a member of the leisure center.
Tbh, if it wasn't for the leisure center, and B&M I'd go less now we have a Morrisons.

I am from Helensburgh . Just thought it would be too expensive! And probably a bit like Dunoon really.

Oh really?
Ha, there's a few of us on here.
Nothing like Dunoon in terms of transport for one, I'm not sure about private rental costs, but since its the same County I wondered if OP could possibly get HA?

I've actually wondered about staying put, but its the hospital issue I have.

Op that link to the flat in Airbles Rd, Motherwell is in a pretty decent area. There are some high rise flats across the road but they always look fine when I drive past.
There's a park 5 minutes away (Dutchess park) and Baron's Haugh is a local nature reserve 10 minutes walk away with some lovely trails.
School wise you'd probably be in the catchment area for Knowetop Primary and Dalziel High School which are great schools.

I don't know Motherwell but I just got a nice feeling from that flat. The owner has clearly spent money on it to enjoy living in it rather than done up to sell type of improvements. You don't do that if you don't like the area. There just didn't seem to be any obvious red flags. It has a drying green as well as the open areas.

Seems like it might be worth a look OP.

@ISpyCobraKai I had a look at where Helensburgh is and it just doesn’t look like a good fit for us, so looking for Glasgow areas.

Thanks everyone I got a good feeling from looking at it too, unfortunately we’ve still a little bit to save up so will probably start looking at areas at the end of the month, so most of the places I’ve seen online and like the look of will have gone I imagine 😂

The best way to get 3 beds and a garden would be a cottage flat, I reckon. I've no idea about outwith the city but there are loads in croftfoot, kings park, Cardonald, etc.