Anyone familiar with Reading?

I'm looking for temporary lodging in Reading to stay while we look for a house or flat. I found a temporary apartment that looks nice in the pictures for 450 pounds a week. It's on Caversham road, located between TGI Fridays and Caversham Bridge. Is this a decent area?

£450 a week?  For two of you?  That's VERY expensive for a stop gap apartment.

Vicky

450 was by far the cheapest I could find. If anyone knows of something cheaper that rents on a weekly basis, please let me know.

I live on the outskirts of Reading and thats really steep for this area. I just did a search on rightmove.co.uk for short term lets and it pulled up a number of them for much cheaper.

I live on the outskirts of Reading and thats really steep for this area. I just did a search on rightmove.co.uk for short term lets and it pulled up a number of them for much cheaper.

I've looked at short term lets, and they usually mean a six month's lease when they say "short term." I'm looking through right move and haven't seen any yet that look like they would rent by the week. Of course, I'm on hold on the phone with a bank in England at the same time trying to find out about opening an account, so I'll look closer when I get off.

How about here? http://reading.gumtree.com/

Vicky

It would probably be cheaper to pay a relocation agent to find you a place you can move straight into. Or stay in a B&B, rather than a short term let like that - they are really geared/priced for companies renting them for their executives.

How long and when do you need to be there? The Uni has a 'hostel' that's part of their newest student accomodation. Not sure what kind of availability they have during term time but if they have room, it's more or less a brand new building. You'd have your own room and bathroom but share a kitchen.

How long and when do you need to be there? The Uni has a 'hostel' that's part of their newest student accomodation. Not sure what kind of availability they have during term time but if they have room, it's more or less a brand new building. You'd have your own room and bathroom but share a kitchen.

I checked hall accomodation (my husband is going to work at the uni and as such could stay in faculty rooms), and they didn't have anything. But we're going to check again tomorrow. We could stay at the Black Horse House (don't know if that's the hostel you meant), but it's 70 pounds for a double room per night -- which is more than the furnished flat I found that includes kitchen and washer/dryer for about 65 a night.

No, Black Horse House is sort of an on-campus hotel.

The hostel is here:

http://www.thesummervillage.com/index.php

I sent off an e-mail to the Reading hostel, but before they could reply a friend of my husband's found us an inexpensive B&B, so we took that. It won't have all the amenities of the 450 pound a week flat, but it will only be 150 a week.

We're still undecided about hiring the relocation agent. It would make things easier, but it's pricey. Ah well, hopefully by this time next month we'll have found a place and can relax a little.

Glad you found something, but honestly, beware those cheap B&Bs. My husband has stayed in a few in Reading that were just awful. The food is the cheapest of the cheap and the rooms not very nice. Not trying to scare you, but you get what you pay for there.

I agree with Balmerhon, inexpensive does not necessarily mean good value in Reading.

I forget but aren't you moving over for your husband's new job? (I might be wrong?). If so, aren't they providing any relocation assistance or is it all on your dime?

Given your requirements for a house/apt, I have a feeling you may be in temporary accommodation for longer than a week. I know relocation agents can be pricey but I think you will find trying to do it on your own is going to be tough.

Wish I had a suggestion for an inexpensive but decent place but Reading as a whole is relatively expensive. Sometimes...shockingly so (in my opinion).

try this b&b : Two for £54 per night with free wireless connection
and nice free Breakfast in morning.

You can take the bus 17 to univerisity , it is very near
to Oracle office  ( Thames Valley Area )

http://www.a1tourism.com/uk/elmhurst.html

NB  dont pay in advance... the hotel will not pay you back when you  cancel


you can also look at

http://www.a1tourism.com/uk/reading.html

The B&B was found by a friend of my husband's. She actually went in and saw the room we'd be staying in, so I'm sure it's fine. She said it was nice and clean. And the rate is low enough that if we had to stay a few weeks it would be OK.

I'll decide about the relocation agent shortly. My husband says since this is all so stressful, he's not against paying the 450 pounds for a relocation agent to help us out. We'll see. I know lots of costs and expenses will come up that we hadn't considered (they always do when moving), so I hate to spend money we could avoid paying. His company is paying just for the movers.