Another how much to live in London

[alx]

I mean when they are working.

Flat shares in Clapham/Balham/Fulham - although it's not cheap (and depends what they do for a living).

I know 3 mates who live on North End Road (near Fulham Broadway and West Brompton) - 3 bed flat, medium sized bedrooms and lounge, 1 bathroom - fairly average really. Each pay about £630 a month in rent.

 

[MacRS4]

Don't feel safe walking around stratford? Some people are wimps or like to exaggerate. Stratford city centre is incredibly busy and so relatively safe.

Quite. 5 years ago maybe, but now it's just a modern but inner City borough. I go out around there quite a lot, and have never had any trouble. Sure, it's not the nicest of areas, but it's getting far better. Just look at what's going on with property prices around there - gives an indication that people want to live round there. Great transport links.

 

[MacRS4]

But on the other hand you couldn't pay me to live there

To the original OP, try Pimlico/Victoria. Lived there and use to often walk to the City to work - great walk in the summer. Also, victoria line is awesome.

 

[krooton]

Yeah 5 flat share a crap hole near london fields being trendy.

My London history:

2002:

Arrive, live with my brother and his wife in a 1-bed in Beckenham for 3 months.
He's made redundant and we downsize to a 2-bed in Bermondsey above some shops (Southwark Park Road) with a friend. It is a complete dive, and I sleep in the lounge as still struggling to find a job.
Bro gets new job and he moves to the Docklands to a flat I can't afford. I finally get a £14k job and room-share in a 3-bed ex-council flat in Deptford, not a great area. This was £300/month all inc.

2003:

Move with same flatmates to a much nicer 3-bed flat in Surrey Quays. Only up the road but a much nicer area. Got my own double room for £450/month all inc.

2004:

Move in with gf to a room in a huge house-share in Manor House. Massive room, sharing with 4 other people, but it is a massive 3-story Victorian house. £360 all inc!!! Split between 2 people!!! Not a great area again though.

2005:

Split with gf and move to the Isle of Dogs, 4-bed flatshare with flatmates from hell. Large room though and £500 all inc. Nice area.

2007:

Move to a house-share near Island Gardens. Not a great house, and surrounded by large council estates. Double room for £400 all inc.
End of the year I move in with gf to a small double in a house-share in Tooting Broadway. House is large and 4-bed, but hasn't had any work done to it since the 70s. Room is £360+bills, split between 2.
Feel that Tooting is good value for money, in between Wimbledon and Clapham, but at a fraction of the price.

2008:

Break up with gf, stay in the house but move to the largest room (Victorian terraced front room). £480+bills.

2009:

Move to a newishly renovated 3-bed flat in Tooting Broadway with friends. Take the largest room. £700 all inc.

2010 onwards:

Move in to 1-bed brand new build with gf in Morden. Nothing in area, but really cannot complain for the price, given the links in to London and being 5 minutes from Wimbledon. £580 mortgage + bills.

 

[megakid]

snip... Islington is pretty cool, but pretty expensive and I would say not as safe as Clap/Bal/Toots. Not had any real problems in any of those places, although friends have had some lucky and close encounters.

I've lived in Islington for quite sometime now since I got back from Sydney and I've probably felt safest in and around Islington. I've never felt threatened walking around Islington (If you're talking about around the canal, Angel tube, Upper St, Essex Road, Liverpool Road etc and that's late at night. I don't hang out much in Clap/Bal/Toots but they must feel exceptionally safe and nice to feel safer than Islington.

I'm just purchasing a flat very close to Shoreditch High Street station and whilst it has good transport links nearby (Old St, Liverpool St, Whitechapel for X-rail), it's not blow-your-mind costly. Not ideal for OP because it's a bit of a faff getting to the West End, which suits me because I avoid going there at all costs.

 

[Freefaller]

If you're serious about moving there be ready to spend at least close to £2k on rent.

Why not just go further afield and commute into town? Even a 20min commute you could find a modest place for under £1k pcm.

I don't think I'd ever rent anywhere again for more than £800pcm - it's just pointless. In the 8 years I've been renting I've spent a hideous amount of money on rent

 

[megakid]

I don't think I'd ever rent anywhere again for more than £800pcm - it's just pointless. In the 8 years I've been renting I've spent a hideous amount of money on rent

An innocent question - why does rent above £800pcm become pointless? Is this because a mortgage becomes within reach when you're spending this much?

Also, won't this approach just result in you having to move further and further out (Unless you've got a friendly landlord of course ).

 

[Haircut]

In the 8 years I've been renting I've spent a hideous amount of money on rent

I've been in London since 2002 and recently worked out I've spent over £70K on rent

I know many people will ask why I haven't bought somewhere, but I've not been in a position to do that until reasonably recently.
I'm currently renting a 1-bed flat in zone 5 for £825pcm, and looking to move to zone 2/3 in SW London.
The mortgage costs are scary, even when taking into account the low interest rates at present and the fact that I have a healthy deposit.

 

[krooton]

Well £800pcm will give you a £100k mortgage paid off in 15 years at 5%, or £150k paid off in 25 years at 5%.

 

[Freefaller]

An innocent question - why does rent above £800pcm become pointless? Is this because a mortgage becomes within reach when you're spending this much?

Also, won't this approach just result in you having to move further and further out (Unless you've got a friendly landlord of course ).

Basically yes, but also, I don't want to live that close to London, as I quite like having a bit of open space (I'm not a die hard city person) - so living further out I expect to pay less and taking 20-30 mins to get into town doesn't bother me - furthermore, I like to have some money for holidays, and frivolity.

I've been in London since 2002 and recently worked out I've spent over £70K on rent

I know many people will ask why I haven't bought somewhere, but I've not been in a position to do that until reasonably recently.
I'm currently renting a 1-bed flat in zone 5 for £825pcm, and looking to move to zone 2/3 in SW London.
The mortgage costs are scary, even when taking into account the low interest rates at present and the fact that I have a healthy deposit.

I lived in Southfields in a big 2 bed maisonette for £1200 pcm - but there was 2 of us - lovely part of town and right on the tube but distric line only The overground train went to Waterloo and victoria however in 15 mins.

I'm in the same boat as you in terms of rent paid over the years (depressing isn't it?) - however I have lived in some lovely properties and have been spoilt with space and green land. Whilst I love my family, as a young 20 something I couldn't live at home any more - as a 30 something I couldn't live at home either.

Fortunately I'm cohabiting at the moment and able to save up some money and take a plunge into owning property when a suitable deposity has been accrued.

 

[Haircut]

Yeah, I'm the same with wanting to live somewhere that doesn't really feel like London. That's why Twickenham is great as you get the likes of Richmond Park, Bushy Park etc. all around, but it's still only 20 minutes to Waterloo.

Some of my friends live in Holloway, and while it's really convenient it's not somewhere I could ever see myself living.