cheap - and commutable to central London - possible?

kunekune

Hi.

There is a job I might be interested in, but it is in central London (Bloomsbury). I wouldn't be making any more money than I do here in West Yorkshire, and we can't guarantee OH could work, and if he could, it isn't going to be long term because of his medical condition, so it is only possible to apply for the job at all if we could live on my salary. But - it is a prestigious institution and a real step up.

This means our maximum budget for a three bedroom house plus study would be £180 ish. A longish commute isn't too bad, as I wouldn't have to do it every day, and probably wouldn't have to do it during rush hour either.

Is there anywhere we could live where this is doable? I don't want to give up the idea without at least checking it out. For family reasons I can't do what a lot of people in my profession do and live the other end of the country and just travel to London for two days a week.

devils_advocate

Have you factored in the cost of the commute? The relative cost of properties across London does tend to reflect this, and also its probably as cheap to commute 5 days a week as it is to do 3.

And shouldn't you think about renting if its not going to be a long term job?

chartreuse_2

I commute to Bloomsbury every day. We live in a village called Arlesey (Beds / Herts border, but in Beds so more house for your money), which we moved to from London 2 years ago.

An annual Season ticket costs £3000 and I walk to the office from Kings Cross. Looking at your budget, I'd say that you should be able to find what you want for that price round here.

kunekune

There's nothing temporary about the job, devilsadvocate. The person who has a shortened working life is OH. I get the point about season tickets, but there are some months of the year when I only need to go in once a week. So it's probably better to have a bigger place (room for study) and a longer commute than a tiny place closer.

joshiesaunt

hi kk
plumstead/shooters hill in SE18 is a 20 - 25 minute overland train ride from charing cross (from which it is a 15 minute walk to bloomsbury area). Woolwich station is the most central station in this area but there is also plumstead station. It is a multi-ethnic area with its full share of london problems (crime etc) but on plumstead common there are many many families, nice green areas and relatively cheap housing for london (£180,000 will buy you a 3 bed victorian terrace close to the common)and buses that take you to the station in 5 mins. It is also an 'up and coming' area as there is a lot of regeneration taking place - the Docklands Light Railway will be up and running within next year or two now. Rents also very cheap for london - £800 per month for similar equivalent house. However there are sure to be much nicer areas with a longer (albeit) more expensive commute. further out from the above line are the kent areas which are very popular for commuters and there are some lovely small villages and towns on the train line (about and hour into london). As an aside, I would also say that although medical services are stretched in london, your partner may well find more specialist services are available to support his medical condition too.
Living costs are higher in general in London (not least because there is so much to do) but like anywhere you will be able to root out the cheaper shops etc.
good luck - I would say go for it! london is a great city and whatever people think about it it's worth living there for a while at least.

churchrat

hi
have you looked at Kent?? some parts are awful, others not too bad. £180 would buy an ok place in Rochester, not sure about train fares tho, but the coach is really cheap.
goodluck

misskool

how far is too far for you to commute?

kunekune

I know of someone who commutes from the north of Scotland to London (it's the kind of job where you don't need to be in every day).
I wouldn't do that!
I think 1 1\2 hours is the maximum, including getting from station to UCL. I currently often spend 1 hour in the morning and about 1/2 in the evening.
Of course, I'd never get this position, but it's useful thinking about it, just in case ...

Running_Horse

churchrat wrote: »

hi
have you looked at Kent?? some parts are awful, others not too bad. £180 would buy an ok place in Rochester, not sure about train fares tho, but the coach is really cheap.
goodluck

The coach is slower, but cheaper and you get a nice comfy seat. Also on the route from Rochester to London there are nice 3 bed village houses within a mile of Longfield and Farningham Road stations. Avoid Swanley like the plague, and you won't afford Bromley.

Austin_Allegro

If you're commuting to Bloomsbury you'll want something on the King's Cross or Euston mainlines so you can walk to work from the station. For £180k you'd be looking at somewhere like Luton, but in the current market I would rent rather than buy, especially if it's not a long term job.

beingjdc

Northampton, or Wellingborough, are possibles in this situation. The travel costs are horrific but the houses are cheap and getting cheaper every day.

But yeah, rent, and look while you're there with the luxury of falling prices, I'd say.