Can it be possible to be wholeheartedly OS in London or am I just being a bumpkin?

gettingready

rubytuesday wrote: »

Edgware Road is totally different to Edgware.

You could get the 30 bus from Hackney.

This borough also has the most green spaces.

ERmm no it does not - MY area has the most of green spaces

(very fond of Epping Forest)

heheheh

gettingready

can it really be possible to continue my progress on OS in London? So far, I've got rid of all my store cards and my overdraft, nearly there with my one remaining credit card and really cut our outgoings. I really don't want to go back to the old days.

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh I see - so probably living NEAR a massive choice of shops is not such a good idea?

Where I live - no shops, nothing, nada. Geese over the block at 3 am....

If you want to spend money - you have to make an effort and leave the flat, take a bus.. or walk... works for me

vanoonoo

please dont use gumtree for letting as I've heard bad things about ppl having their deposits taken and then not actually having a place to live! try to get someone local to suggest a letting agent or private landlord

gettingready

Yup, Gumtree seems to be absolutely full of scammers now....

Had a phone advertised for sale as got a new one on contract, had 14 (!!!) emails within an hour - all asking to send it abroad... bless their white cotton socks.

All triick re flat lettings is - great flat in great location for next to nothing of course.. deposit dissapears and flat never materialises... so yes - if you are looking for a whole flat - do be careful.

Toonie

Check out Spare Room as they occasionally have flats become available. What I found when I was looking was that the best option was to look at local agents, email them what you were looking for (for me it was a 2 bed, preferably with garden, walking distance to tube station) and then I found I had a lot of people calling me with flats becoming available. They tend to go quite quick. The place I'm in was only just put up for rent and I was the second person to see it and after a viewing with my housemate two days later we took it.

I believe Hackney claims to be the greenest "inner" London borough otherwise it would easily lose out to Redbridge and Waltham Forest as we have the advantage of Epping Forest to call upon. It was great fun growing up with a forest on your doorstep.

Local agents who are good around here are Clarke Hillyer, Strettons and Churchill Lettings. They have always been professional with me and my friends who've used them.

gettingready

It is difficult to judge a flat/house from a distance though.

Do you have anyone you could stay in London with while looking for a flat here?

You do not want to sign a long lease (min 12 month for a flat/house most of the time) when you are in a rush and have nowhere to stay only to doscover mould/damp/roches/bed bugs etc.

Generally - avoid places above any kebab shops/take aways as you may have problems there (roches, mice, damp etc plus noise as they open late).

Daughter took on a flat over a year ago - lovely, brand new everything (new conversion) she was over the moon - till the first weekend. And every weekend. Al night Fri, Sat, Sunday - downstairs neighbours into "Jesus loves you" till 3-4 am, left and right rented to "2-3" people but living over 10 in each... TOtal utter nightmare it was. And it was a 1 bed flat off Lea Bridge Rd in Leyton , £750 per month plus all the bills of course.

Last month she went off to... Cumbria, rented a B&B there and will be running that. S

So in a way - she has done oposite to what you are planning LOL

Popperwell

Maitane wrote: »

Thanks Middymum. I know that area - we do have friends and colleagues who live in London and the area already, someone told me to try Kingston-on-Thames or generally South.

Thanks RubyTuesday, much appreciated.

The job is near Edgware Road, I think the nearest mainline is Paddington.

Listen to this, I only passed through London on the way to Bournemouth for my hols but I am sure and now I'll be tld I am wrong thougfh Edgewhere road is long it is near Kings Cross? Anyone tell me if I am right oir wrong. I have not been through London for almost twenty years...

Badger_Lady

Popperwell wrote: »

Listen to this, I only passed through London on the way to Bournemouth for my hols but I am sure and now I'll be tld I am wrong thougfh Edgewhere road is long it is near Kings Cross? Anyone tell me if I am right oir wrong. I have not been through London for almost twenty years...

It's not far. Paddington is right next door but you can get to King's Cross direct via Hammersmith & City or bus.

rubytuesday

gettingready wrote: »

ERmm no it does not - MY area has the most of green spaces

(very fond of Epping Forest)

heheheh

Parks and green spaces
Hackney has the largest expanse of green spaces in inner London. We have 62 parks, gardens and open spaces totalling about 330 hectares, ranging from the largest concentration of football pitches in Europe at Hackney Marshes to the beautiful and historic settings of Springfield and Clissold parks.

gettingready

Inner London - ok ok......