Moving to Leicester - where to live?

cifpower

I have been offered a new job with my employer in their Leicester head office with a start date of hopefully end of June/beginning of July.

I had a 5 person grilling last week and I asked if they could help with moving expenses. They agreed to help with:

- initial rent & deposit
- moving cost
- paying off my current tenancy until end of August

Half will be classed as a bridging loan with repayment out of my wages and the other half will be held over if I agree to stay with the company for 2 years. If I leave early I will have to repay that too.

The head office is based on Melton Road (LE4) and, not being from there, I'd need advice on where to live. I've looked at properties in Stoneygate, Humberstone and Hamilton with rents of sub-£500.

I'd be looking for a decent furnished 1 bed.

What sort of areas should I be looking in and what areas should I totally avoid?

Wyndham

It really depends on the sort of lifestyle you want. I got a job at the University of Leicester, then lived in a flat by Burley's flyover, which I really liked, and was close to the city centre with all that brings. But, I was elsewhere on a weekend, and especially in summer when it was hot, I was glad to get out of the city! I had a 2 bed flat, and paid £650 a month, and I think you would struggle with city centre for sub-£500 per month, but you may be OK for a 1 bed.

I was told to avoid Highfields, and did, and now think that was the right decision. Melton Road is close to Birstall, which I looked at and seemed OK, and I know that Stonygate is OK, but I think you may struggle to get something at the rent you are looking for, and as a general rule, you can tell a fair bit about an area by the average rent. I don't know Humberstone or Hamilton, so don't feel able to comment. Belgrave may be another area you look at, and it is fine, but (at the risk of sounding prejudiced) has a high proportion of the population who are Indian in origin - and while that's fine, I decided as a white woman living by myself that there were other areas I wanted to consider (I know, I know!)

But, it all depends what you are looking for and how that fits with your budget. If you want to know more about where I was, PM me and I'll tell you.

snaffs

Will you be driving to work or using public transport?

What do you like to do in your spare time?

Answers to both of those would impact on your choice of areas.

cifpower

I'll be driving to work and I prefer being at home instead of going out

Hump

If you're driving then avoid anywhere that means crossing the city centre - Leicester is really anti car. Avoid St Mathews and St mark's areas. Avoid Catherine St and Bel grave as parking there is impossible. Take a look at Hamilton

snaffs

Agree with Hump about avoiding crossing the city centre, especially if you are working office hours.

Syston might be worth a look

LogisticsGuy

Birstall, Syston or Mountsorrel are all nice. Given the budget I would agree with Hamilton - also reasonably close to the shopping park at Thurmaston which has a 24hr supermarket which is handy...

corker

Used to live in Hamilton, although was a fair amount of years ago. Used to be pretty quiet there and easy to get into work for me.

How much of a commute would you be willing to do? Not sure on the rental prices but maybe worth looking outside Leicester, am thinking Oadby or Wigston, maybe even Market Harborough although that would be more suited to a train commute.

lemontart

or move outside as bus services are pretty good, Oabdy etc

HappySeagull

lemontart wrote: »

or move outside as bus services are pretty good, Oabdy etc

I live in Oadby, and it's a nice enough place. However, I think getting a bus to/from Melton Road in the rush-hour would be a nightmare.

Driving may be okay, IF you have somewhere to park!