How much should a small decent flat cost in the UK?

[verywell]

If the flat in question is
- very small, one-bedroom, -- just for a single individual, with a neat bathroom;
- probably old, but rather clean and not requiring expensive repairs;
- not supposed to require high taxes and annual service fees;
- located in England, but not in London or other big cities;
- property type is leasehold or freehold;
- ownership is not shared,
how much should it cost?

Of course, there are sites like "Zoopla", but there are flats meeting these criteria that cost, for example, £ 50 000 or £ 150 000, and, as a foreigner, I have a hard time figuring out the difference. Are there typically any hidden issues with cheap flats? I'd appreciate someone enlighten me on the veracious average cost of such a small, clean flat. Thank you.

 

[verywell]

Concerning.

e: Mods? Mods!

May I please clarify, why? Why concerning?

 

[verywell]

i don't really have much knowledge but i would be looking at how much fixed those service and maintenance charges could be raised ,this flat near the ocean for instance is freehold but the land around is maintained by a management company at 1100 a year

Thanks for the suggestion. In this particular case, do you believe the price indicated in the listing is fair? As a foreigner, I'm not quite sure whether having the ocean in close proximity is a downside or the opposite. Also, the listing says "refurbishment is required"...

 

[verywell]

I hear there's cheap flats above the chippy in Aberdeen

Thanks for the tip. I noticed there're listings for quite a few cheap flats over there. The flats mostly look neat, and the buildings are OK, too... What could make them this affordable? Location in the northern part of the country may be?

 

[verywell]

it all depends on location, location, location.... what part of the UK? places in Wales are generally cheaper, what town or city? London is crazy prices compared to somewhere like Nottingham, then the area that the flat is in that town and city.

In most towns and cities there are great areas with catchment areas for highly rated schools and then there's the slums...

Figure out roughly where you want to live and see what type of area for that town/city that you can afford to live in.

I see. Good point. So if we talk location, for instance, the above suggested Aberdeen, -- is it considered a good area? Not living in a big city like London is a don't care to me. I prefer small cities. After all I can just commute to London on rare occasions, if need be. You also mentioned slums. How does one tell such places from better areas? Is it just unpleasant street views or being too remote from certain places of interest? Forgive me my ignorance..

 

[verywell]

Almost every flat in the UK will have an ongoing (monthly/annual) cost associated with the maintenance and management of shared spaces. These costs can be ridiculously high. The seaside flat above (the one that said refurbishment is required - means you will need to get work done to make it habitable) has £1100 a year, which isn't insignificant. And it will go up over time. Also, you do not own the land under your property. I would always recommend buying a house.

Yep, that flat needing refurbishment concerns me exactly in that sense, -- as a foreigner, I'll find it difficult to gather all needed resources to get that work done to make it habitable. As for the maintenance fee, -- yes, £1100 is quite steep. But which figure would you deem reasonable? Thank you.