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Original poster

Relocation advice: north east to south (M4 corridor)

13 replies

Strawberry72 · 29/04/2019 16:20

Hi,

Basically, I need to leave the NHS where I work up north and I want to move into the commercial sector for my area. I was offered a job last May at a big, well known, company but they wanted me to relocate to Birmingham and I turned it down.
Anyway, I am still struggling to get anything up north and the same company has asked me if I am interested in the same role down south again. It involves travel as it is a field based role (along the M4 corridor). I really want this job BUT the house prices scare me! I also have kids here at school and didn't want to move them until next summer (2020) due to GCSE exams. I plan on going alone for a year to get things sorted etc. Will stay at home 3-4 days a week (I get free train travel and a company car).
So, I was planning on going alone as I can work from home 1-2 days a week so means living down south 3-4 days a week.
Has anyone got any ideas on where I can find reasonable accommodation (no more than £400 a month) to allow me to do this? We have inherited a house and our mortgage is almost paid. We can't have the house yet (inherited one) until my FIL's new wife dies (there you go).

If anyone can suggest anywhere I could rent in Reading, Bristol, Swindon areas for £400 that would be great! Only need the one bedroom as it's just me. Or, give some ideas.

NHS is killing me and I am bored. My health is suffering working crazy shifts in the NHS.

OP posts:
starbrightnight · 29/04/2019 16:33

I think Swindon area is the cheaper of the three towns you listed. However I am not sure you'd find anywhere to rent at £400 pcm, unless possibly a room in a shared house. I think that might be a possibility.

Are there any allowances given to NHS workers? Sorry, I'm sure you'd have thought of that if there are.

Could you consider the option of live-in companion to an elderly person which I've read about recently? I don't remember the organisation but it sounded like it worked well for both parties in the article I read, and in your case as it's only for 3/4 days a week might be something you could consider.

starbrightnight · 29/04/2019 16:35

I think this was the organisation:

sharedlivesplus.org.uk/shared-living/homeshare-uk/

Original poster
Strawberry72 · 29/04/2019 17:03

I guess I'm just gobsmacked at the price of houses down south! We can buy a 3 bed house up here for that.

OP posts:
Original poster
Strawberry72 · 29/04/2019 17:04

I don't really want to house share

OP posts:
starbrightnight · 29/04/2019 17:07

It is shocking, I agree. My son pays £1,100 + for a tiny 2 bed terraced and DD pays nearly £600 pcm for a room in a shared house.

OldSpeclkledHen · 29/04/2019 22:05

Swindon is defo cheapest out of those three... however have you looked around oxford? Not the town but more outlying villages? It's supposed to be cheaper... and then you've got the A34 to Junt 13 M4...

I think know £400 pcm will not get more than a room share in my area 🙄

EBearhug · 30/04/2019 00:07

I agree Swindon is cheaper, but you're going to need to double your budget at the very least, if not triple it.

Don't look only in those towns - I 'm in Basingstoke, which is about 15 miles from Reading and Newbury (in different directions) - though not much cheaper, as it's just under an hour from Waterloo on the train. If you've got a car, you're not restricted to being in the towns on a rail route, which can help.

St0rmoftheweek4 · 30/04/2019 13:01

If your job will involve car travel on M4, the traffic is always very heavy
Accommodation is expensive in all the areas you listed. It's cheaper the further you are from London

Original poster
Strawberry72 · 30/04/2019 17:24

I'm beginning to think this is a no-brainer. I am almost mortgage free up here in the north east and we have a 4 bed detached house in a nice area.

I really hope this company advertises up here!

OP posts:
Heratnumber7 · 30/04/2019 17:41

We rent a room out on spareroom.com for about £400 pcm. It has an en-suite but lodger shares kitchen with us. We are just outside of Swindon in N Wilts.

Swindon is pants - it has nothing going for it, you really don't want to live there. Loads and loads of big new housing estates on the outskirts and a very small, outdated town centre.

Nice places near Swindon include Newbury, Marlborough, Highworth, Devizes, Wootton Bassett, Hungerford, Purton, Cricklade, Cirencester...

Alarae · 30/04/2019 17:53

I live in Woodley, just outside Reading. Unfortunately there is no way you will rent on your own on £400.

In fact, it would be hard to rent a room for £400 that isn't a bit dodgy..

OKBobble · 01/05/2019 17:26

I own a one bedroomed flat in Reading that lets for £650 per month and that is the low end of the market. £400 would definitely only get a room in a house share.

MrsMoastyToasty · 01/05/2019 17:30

I'm in a small town called Keynsham , which between Bristol and Bath. Rent for a 3 bed house would be about a grand a month minimum, possibly more.

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