Live in London on a budget

Hi

Long time reader first time poster 

I was wondering if it's possible to find a decent studio in a safe are in central London for 900 GBP?

I know that a lot of people share accommodation, but I'm used to live by myself. And my budget don't allow a higher rent at the moment.

What do you consider 'central London'?

Good question  About 20 - 25 min with the tube to nearest station to oxford street. Something like that.

So that's...Zones 1-3? Maybe Zone 4?  I think you'd need to give a bit more info about what you're looking for.

Is that 900 with bills/council tax or just rent?

Is that 900 with bills/council tax or just rent?

Just rent 

Hi simonee, welcome!

My husband and his brother are currently renting a 2 bed flat in zone 4 SE20 for around 900 pounds monthly. So like the others have asked, what exactly are you looking for? Do you want to be in the North, South, East or West? The location will really decide how much you're looking at. I can personally tell you that the SE and E London are more affordable. However, You'll find more overground options rather than tube stations. Husband and I have discussed it and are deciding to move to N or NW since there are better schools, more transport links, better shops and closer to The City. This means it will cost us 1400 + to get a 2 bed flat similar to what he currently has. Just food for thought..

I had found a flat in Swiss Cottage (right between Swiss Cottage and Finchley Road tubes) for £910 a month plus bills...I appreciate now how much space it had really and kind of miss it. But there was no washer and the communal pay one was exorbitant!

We're now in Willesden/Cricklewood area for the same rent (but it includes council tax and water rates) and less living space but more perks (washing machine and garden mostly). My husband's commute to Leicester square (getting off and walking from Piccadilly Circus) is about half an hour...

So I'd say it's possible...I'd spend some time looking around for areas you like and spend some time on rightmove/zoopla and the like and seeing what properties similar to what you want are going for and then you can really narrow your areas down.

Also I would say it's worth looking along the Jubilee/Bakerloo/Central/Victoria tube lines for areas first as the fewer changes you have for your commute to Oxford Street the easier/faster it will be even if you're a bit further out.

Good luck!

I was wondering if it's possible to find a decent studio in a safe are in central London for 900 GBP?

I know that a lot of people share accommodation, but I'm used to live by myself. And my budget don't allow a higher rent at the moment.

I wouldn't write off a house share if the location is the most important thing to you.  Studios tend to be tiny (by my standards-- unlivable).  If having enough space, a washer/dryer, stove and oven, etc, are also important to you, a house share would definitely help in keeping rent costs down!  Have a look at Spare Room to get an idea of what's available. 

Apart from being in "Central London" -- what other things are you looking for in a place to live? Shopping? Coffee shops? Bars? Restaurants? Just a cozy home with none of this?  Rentonomy may help give you a better idea on the various areas of London, and the typical people who live there, which I find to be pretty accurate.  The drop downs are useful, as you can easily compare rent and council tax versus crime, or areas best for families/shopaholics, etc.

Hope this helps

Hi simonee, welcome!

My husband and his brother are currently renting a 2 bed flat in zone 4 SE20 for around 900 pounds monthly. So like the others have asked, what exactly are you looking for? Do you want to be in the North, South, East or West? The location will really decide how much you're looking at. I can personally tell you that the SE and E London are more affordable. However, You'll find more overground options rather than tube stations. Husband and I have discussed it and are deciding to move to N or NW since there are better schools, more transport links, better shops and closer to The City. This means it will cost us 1400 + to get a 2 bed flat similar to what he currently has. Just food for thought..

Is the underground somehow preferable to the overground?  Or even buses? 

Is the underground somehow preferable to the overground?  Or even buses? 

I guess it would depend on who you ask.. I personally find the tube quicker, but more crowded. Overground seems to take a bit longer (from where my husband currently lives). My daughter loves overground and underground, I just hate the thought of us being trampled during rush hour 

I had found a flat in Swiss Cottage (right between Swiss Cottage and Finchley Road tubes) for £910 a month plus bills...I appreciate now how much space it had really and kind of miss it. But there was no washer and the communal pay one was exorbitant!

That's pretty good for Swiss Cottage area! 

Hmmm one area I would recommend is Vauxhall (both zones 1/2) It is on the Victoria line, which goes to Oxford Street. It also has the overground train which is one stop from Waterloo. There are a lot of new, modern flat buildings, which would be pretty good for a single person. I remember rent being pretty reasonable despite it being zone 1.

I guess it would depend on who you ask.. I personally find the tube quicker, but more crowded. Overground seems to take a bit longer (from where my husband currently lives). My daughter loves overground and underground, I just hate the thought of us being trampled during rush hour 

On our last journey to London we stayed in SE5 where there is no underground station at all.  But the trains and buses were plentiful.  I personally found them a bit more "civilised" than the crush of the underground. 

I personally wouldn't look for a flat based on proximity to an underground station.  I would look where I could afford the rents and then work out whether the commute (by whatever means) was something I could live with daily. 

I personally wouldn't look for a flat based on proximity to an underground station.  I would look where I could afford the rents and then work out whether the commute (by whatever means) was something I could live with daily. 

I think it depends on the individual. I have lived both close to stations and quite far away and it's much much easier to be close IMHO. Having a 15 minute walk to the nearest train may be fine in the daylight hours but it's a different kettle of fish when it's cold, dark, raining and you're lugging 3 bags of groceries home. 

I think it depends on the individual. I have lived both close to stations and quite far away and it's much much easier to be close IMHO. Having a 15 minute walk to the nearest train may be fine in the daylight hours but it's a different kettle of fish when it's cold, dark, raining and you're lugging 3 bags of groceries home. 

I think you are right!  As for this individual (moi!) I wouldn't care to walk fifteen minutes to a train station all the time    .  The location we were in had bus stops within a five minute walk that one could hop on to get to the train.  Handy for that rain and grocery lugging.  On lovely days, the fifteen minute walk (uphill!) to the train station was invigorating for these "mature" legs. 

London is so dense that one has to be willing (and financially able) to pay for "close in".  My experience was not to dismiss an area just because it didn't look convenient at first blush.  London's transport system often coughs up "doable" alternatives.