Accommodation help!

[DoreenCorkhill]

Looking for a flat to rent for a friends son who has secured a place on a graduate program - in Falkirk .
Have tried the usual suspects Rightmove etc - estate agents don’t seem to have many rentals Anyone know of any local sites or where to look ?
They are trying to coordinate it from England & not having much success .

The private rental market everywhere is pretty dire, and there's not much movement. Try local Facebook groups. A one bed will be almost impossible to find, can the employer help at all? Budget?

Falkirk is also a very small town but has a vast area of surrounding villages. Where exactly will he be working? Is it Ineos? Then I can suggest which areas to widen the search area to. There are also many areas in Falkirk that would be no-go for me such as Langlees, Bainsford, Tamfourhill, The Bog.

Falkirk is also very easily commutable to Stirling, Edinburgh and Glasgow which might be better options for a young person.

This is very central
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/165026138#/?channel=RESLET

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/164942138#/?channel=RESLET

Thanks so much Tartanmummy !
that’s helpful . It’s not easy trying to arrange viewings from a distance then arranging to travel only to find the property let while en route to view !
Budget quite healthy I thought at £800 max but it’s proving a struggle .
Such a struggle for young grads to get a job then it’s looks as though the bigger problem might be accommodation.
Thanks x

Christ, don't let the poor lad live in Falkirk, it's not the most exciting place for a young person just starting out in work.
He should get a room in a shared flat in Glasgow and commute until he gets to know the area and the job a bit better.

spareroom.co.uk ?

IMissSparkling !!I agree with that advice but family just desperately seeking a roof at moment . They have looked at Glasvegas but very little available .

Thanks MiddleAgedDread !

He may be able to stay in student accommodation through Unite ?

I don't think there's any student accommodation in Falkirk.

If you can give me an indication of whether he'll be based to the east or west side of Falkirk I can give a steer on areas to look at. E.g if it's the east try Polmont, Brightons, Laurieston, Redding or even Linlithgow. If it's West try Larbert, Stenhousemuir, Denny.

Does he drive and have a car?

You're unlikely to be able to view, good rental properties don't hang about for long, usually go within 48hrs, many don't even make it to the websites as the agents will have lost of people waiting for a suitable property to come up and offer to them before listing online. Perhaps ask for a facetime viewing if it's really important to you.

£800 is do-able but probably in one of the less desirable parts of Falkirk (madness as that's 3x my mortgage payment on a 3 bed house!) One beds are hard to come by so he'll probably end up paying for a two bed unless he wants to flat share, which makes the budget tighter.

Thanks for all the tips I’ll pass them on . (And keep them coming if you think of anymore )
I’ll will pass on to my friend tomorrow . Good tips on the areas . In fact all the info has been fab . My friend isn’t a Mumsnetter - I had every faith you would have some ideas / suggestions / top tips .

Hiya,
My son was in a similar boat a couple of years ago, when he got his first job out of university, and looked at starting in Falkirk. After a bit of a struggle he found somewhere to stay. He quickly found that the public transport in the town was hopeless and unreliable for him to get to work and go and meet friends.

He left the role before his contract finished as he ended up totally miserable in Falkirk, the town itself was a dump. I agree with IMissSparkling - there's nothing really to do in the town, he'd be much better off in Glasgow or Edinburgh! He ended up taking another job in Aberdeen and enjoyed himself much more up there...

Thanks The FirmPink Critic - the lad in question has been on a recent visit & wasn’t too impressed - however it’s a job & in the field he’s interested in so that’s where he’s heading . Fingers crossed gets accommodation soon . Hope your son doing well now & settled .

One in Falkirk just added today
https://www.onthemarket.com/details/11164403/

Fairly central location, close to Grahamston station. One train per direct from here to London! looks decent from the pictures.
There are also a few 2 bed places to rent in budget in Grangemouth and Polmont. Both connected by regular bus service to Falkirk, Polmont has the advantage of having a train station so easily accessible to Edinburgh & Glasgow for social activities.

The bus service is absolutely terrible! If the job is not central and close to where he lives he will need a car.
Although there is a very good, reliable, albeit expensive train service to Edinburgh and Glasgow.

Thanks all ! What a smashing bunch you are - in a side note my pal ( whose son is moving) is joining Mumsnet - she’s never heard of it !! 🤔