Renting for the first time!

Robi · 3 Apr 2011 at 11:25

I'm relocating with my girlfriend to Carlisle in the next few months (new job) and we're pretty set on renting. Aside from student flats, this will be our first real attempt at living independently. So, i'm after a little advice from those on OcUK who know a little more than me!

I have over £3,000 saved up from working after University, so furnishing the place and paying for the deposit won't be much of a problem.

I'm in the process of trying to put together a budget but finding an idea of typical bills, is proving to be a little difficult. The flat is going to be 2 bedrooms max, low tax band (either A / B, so cheap) and empty during typical working hours (8AM - 5:30PM).

So far, i've got (per month):

Rent: £400.00.
Water: £15.00.
Electric: £45.00.
Gas: £15.00.
TV Licence: £12.13.
Council Tax (Band A, -25% as partner is a student): £64.54.

Internet: £20.00.
Household Insurance (Contents with AD, no PP): £15.00.

TOTAL: £586.67.

That doesn't take into account miscellaneous things like car insurance, phone contract, petrol and food.

For a general idea, how does that sound?

Johnnytoxic · 3 Apr 2011 at 11:27

Try doing that on your own.

Jonny · 3 Apr 2011 at 11:29

Looks about right but the rent seems cheap at £400?

Robi · 3 Apr 2011 at 11:29

Water, electric and gas a little too low?

Robi · 3 Apr 2011 at 11:30

Jonny said:
Looks about right but the rent seems cheap at £400?

Looking at the lower end of the market. Quite a few properties at round the £400 mark. This isn't a permanent move!

semi-pro waster · 3 Apr 2011 at 11:32

Have you spoken to potential landlords or anyone in the area about typical costs for similar flats in the area? If not then what are you basing the utilities costs on?

I'd definitely suggest including food, entertainment and transport in your calculations as it can make a fair difference. Anything like gym memberships etc would also be worth considering.

vicisthebest · 3 Apr 2011 at 11:32

Jonny said:
Looks about right but the rent seems cheap at £400?

I rent a 2-bed semi with garden, garage and driveway in West Yorks for £450pcm. Rent can just be staggeringly different across the country.

OP, are those amounts each, or for both of you?

Gas & electric costs us £72pcm for our house, but flats tend to stay warmer I think so you might not spend as much on gas.

Also we were paying £25pcm for water when we first moved in but we got so far in credit, they've put our DD down to £9pcm.

I think you've got it all about right tbh.

cm1179 · 3 Apr 2011 at 11:33

Robi said:
Water, electric and gas a little too low?

electric too high imo. you're going some for two people to take out £45 worth of electric a month.

semi-pro waster · 3 Apr 2011 at 11:36

cm1179 said:
electric too high imo. you're going some for two people to take out £45 worth of electric a month.

Wouldn't it depend on the heating though - it may be gas for cooking but electric central heating. If it's the other way round then it might well be high but there's a few too many variables to give much more than a ballpark guess - I would say that budgeting for too much is obviously better than budgeting for too little in such cases mind.

kip02 · 3 Apr 2011 at 11:38

You've noted down your internet costs on there but don't forget your line rental.

BT or someone should release an internet only phone line, I wouldn't have a landline otherwise.

Robi · 3 Apr 2011 at 11:38

semi-pro waster said:
Have you spoken to potential landlords or anyone in the area about typical costs for similar flats in the area? If not then what are you basing the utilities costs on?

I'd definitely suggest including food, entertainment and transport in your calculations as it can make a fair difference. Anything like gym memberships etc would also be worth considering.

Potential flats are going to be quite close to the job, so either petrol is going to be minimal or i'll cycle / walk. I currently have a gym membership, but i'll be working out from home (or until I can afford the gym).

My girlfriend is only in uni 2 days a week so she'll be working part / full-time, therefore contributing towards income.

While I was at uni, I ate quite comfortably on £25 a week. This cost can fluctuate quite a bit so accounting for about £50 a week max should do us both.

cm1179 · 3 Apr 2011 at 11:39

i suppose. it is better to over budget and be in credit but even better to stick another jumper on and save the environment!

cm1179 · 3 Apr 2011 at 11:41

internet for £20 a month? i'm paying £15 pm for the supply and about £13 for the line rental (which has gone up 50p a month from the robbers that are bt)

Robi · 3 Apr 2011 at 11:45

vicisthebest said:
I rent a 2-bed semi with garden, garage and driveway in West Yorks for £450pcm. Rent can just be staggeringly different across the country.

OP, are those amounts each, or for both of you?

I'm moving from Lancaster and from what i've seen, I would be very lucky to find anything under £450. There are loads of places under £450 in Carlisle and they aren't as bad as you think, mostly modern unfurnished flats.

The rent is for both of us.

Robi · 3 Apr 2011 at 11:46

cm1179 said:
internet for £20 a month? i'm paying £15 pm for the supply and about £13 for the line rental (which has gone up 50p a month from the robbers that are bt)

Not really bothered about next level speeds as i'm changing from 1MB, so anything is going to be a big improvement. If I searched around, surely I could pick up internet / rental for £25 a month?

buckeejit · 3 Apr 2011 at 11:49

good luck with the move mate. I tried this on my own a few years back and only lasted 8 months as I wasn't earning enough to keep the house.

vicisthebest · 3 Apr 2011 at 11:50

Robi said:
Not really bothered about next level speeds as i'm changing from 1MB, so anything is going to be a big improvement. If I searched around, surely I could pick up internet / rental for £25 a month?

Line rental £13 for us (that's just standard).

O2 broadband, because I'm an O2 customer, is £9.50 a month (£5 cheaper than joe public can get it for) - that's for 20mg (get about 11mg here though). See if your mobile provider does a deal, could be a way to do it.

There's TalkTalk too - wouldn't particularly recommend them, but its faster than 1mg. Broadband is free IIRC.

J-FRO · 3 Apr 2011 at 11:53

Robi said:
Not really bothered about next level speeds as i'm changing from 1MB, so anything is going to be a big improvement. If I searched around, surely I could pick up internet / rental for £25 a month?

If you're on o2, you can get broadband and line rental ("unlimited" downloads) for £20p/m or about £25p/m if you're not on o2 and you get your first 3 months boradband free.

http://www.o2.co.uk/broadband/

Spook187 · 3 Apr 2011 at 12:27

Robi said:
I'm moving from Lancaster and from what i've seen, I would be very lucky to find anything under £450. There are loads of places under £450 in Carlisle and they aren't as bad as you think, mostly modern unfurnished flats.

The rent is for both of us.

I pay £390 for a one bed apartment in carlisle,landlord has not raised this once in 6 years,i cant believe i jacked in my mortgage in 2001 then prices rocketed so imm stuck with renting forever now. :mad:

Internet here is BT or sky,Be is very limited as is 02,Few areas that have Fibre not much though.
I pay £135 a month for electric lol was on economy 7 but changed plans to get cost down(i have no gas)band A c tax a year is £1032.54 here.

Which part of the city are you looking at Robi..

Robi · 3 Apr 2011 at 14:10

Spook187 said:
I pay £390 for a one bed apartment in carlisle,landlord has not raised this once in 6 years,i cant believe i jacked in my mortgage in 2001 then prices rocketed so imm stuck with renting forever now.

Internet here is BT or sky,Be is very limited as is 02,Few areas that have Fibre not much though.
I pay £135 a month for electric lol was on economy 7 but changed plans to get cost down(i have no gas)band A c tax a year is £1032.54 here.

Which part of the city are you looking at Robi..

£135 a month on electric? Are you living by yourself? Even without gas, that seems a bit excessive...

Not sure yet, as close to the train station as possible (my girlfriend is commuting). I've been told to avoid Botcherby, Currock and Raffles like the plague.