how much would you need to earn to live in London, comfortably?

JeLaw

hazyjo wrote: »

Take a look on rightmove at rentals. No one bed flats to rent in Hampstead for under £1,100 a month. Do you really want to live in a studio (ie everything in one room)?
Jx

I would add that any "studio" in Hampstead even for £1,100 a month is likely to be incorrectly advertised. You can pay more than that for a houseshare in Hampstead. Sometimes agencies (and private landlords) do advertise bedsits or rooms in house-shares as studios.

I'm a life-long Londoner and have had to manage (struggle) on a low income at times due to health issues. However, I have the option of living with my parents. I don't currently live with them - but wonder whether some of the people you hear about who manage in London on low incomes are living with family.

Others on low incomes who live in London may be in social housing. Or, like a friend of mine, live in their childhood home that they never moved out of - and inherited when their parents passed away.

Perhaps also some of the people you know in London moved here a while ago. Even ten years ago things weren't quite as difficult on a lower income. It wasn't easy but wasn't impossible if you were frugal. This was before housing benefit for private tenants was drastically cut. Previously it was possible to have your rent topped-up with some housing benefit if you had a low income job. Now the LHA for a large part of London doesn't come close to covering private rents. Including shared accommodation rates. Bear that in mind.

Regarding courses. I concede that London does have some wonderful opportunities, but there are also some amazing courses elsewhere in the UK. It does depend to an extent on what you're interested in studying or training for - but some areas are actually better catered for outside of London.

arbrighton

kingslayer wrote: »

but as of right now I need to find a job with good prospects first. It is such a nice area though and I'm aiming to buy there in the future *crosses fingers* and London does have so many more opportunities than where I am in rural essex.

Don't you need to sort out your basic English and maths qualifications first?? There won't be any jobs with any prospects never mind enough to live on in London without those

kingslayer

arbrighton wrote: »

Don't you need to sort out your basic English and maths qualifications first?? There won't be any jobs with any prospects never mind enough to live on in London without those

Of course. I need to attend some courses, but living in london would be nice. London isn't a destination that I really, desperately want to live in (Although, Hampstead is the exception), but there are so many more opportunities there once I can get more qualified. The pace of London is little bit disconcerting, and also how reserved and non-communicative a lot of Londoners are renowned to be.

kingslayer

JeLaw wrote: »

I would add that any "studio" in Hampstead even for £1,100 a month is likely to be incorrectly advertised. You can pay more than that for a houseshare in Hampstead. Sometimes agencies (and private landlords) do advertise bedsits or rooms in house-shares as studios.

I'm a life-long Londoner and have had to manage (struggle) on a low income at times due to health issues. However, I have the option of living with my parents. I don't currently live with them - but wonder whether some of the people you hear about who manage in London on low incomes are living with family.

Others on low incomes who live in London may be in social housing. Or, like a friend of mine, live in their childhood home that they never moved out of - and inherited when their parents passed away.

Perhaps also some of the people you know in London moved here a while ago. Even ten years ago things weren't quite as difficult on a lower income. It wasn't easy but wasn't impossible if you were frugal. This was before housing benefit for private tenants was drastically cut. Previously it was possible to have your rent topped-up with some housing benefit if you had a low income job. Now the LHA for a large part of London doesn't come close to covering private rents. Including shared accommodation rates. Bear that in mind.

Regarding courses. I concede that London does have some wonderful opportunities, but there are also some amazing courses elsewhere in the UK. It does depend to an extent on what you're interested in studying or training for - but some areas are actually better catered for outside of London.

Yeah, I looked at Hampstead property prices and the cheapest flat I saw was a studio room for 975 pcm so, like you say, it is more probable that the landlord/estate agent has listed it as a studio and not a shared room.

http://www.zoopla.co.uk/to-rent/details/35726985?search_identifier=5a812392f52e66033286f30e7d9f88bd#cXuTs2ubXrAdmfsI.97

that's the thing; a lot of people who are living comfortable lives in London are over a particular age and moved or grew up there many years ago when it less costly.

975pcm for a tiny room is madness. I don't know how anyone would want to live like that, unless it was short term.

benjus

You can still be in a nice area of London but not pay prices that are quite that silly. Up until we bought a place last year, we rented a very nice, spacious (about 65 sq m) 1 bed flat in Blackheath for £1050 / month with an off-road parking space and a shared garden. OK, it doesn't have as good transport links as Hampstead, but it's almost as nice an area.

ANGLICANPAT

ringo_24601 wrote: »

£18k is about £1260 after tax a month. The cheapest flats around Hampstead start at about £700ish a month. .

Wow , my nephew could have done with you to show him round last year,he couldnt find anything under a grand a month in Hamstead, and that would have been a less than wonderful 1 bedder.

Caroline_a

I think you're going to need more than just basic Maths and English if you want to live here!

barbiedoll

My husband and I earn less than 50K between us and we live in London...albeit in one of the cheapest areas on the outskirts. We bought our house more than 10 years ago, just before prices went sky high (although we still paid almost double what our friends did for a similar property a couple of years earlier)

Ironically, we only live in London because we couldn't afford to buy in Kent, where I grew up.

It is doable if you're poor and working but transport costs can be prohibitive if you live in the outskirts. Although you can get a seat on the train in the morning, it will cost you plenty. Driving in is no fun, the traffic is horrible, especially if you live anywhere near the tunnels (Blackwall, Rotherhithe or Dartford)

Hampstead is indeed lovely, but on £16-18K, the only place you'll be able to afford will be made of cardboard and situated under a bridge or railway arch!

Jhoney_2

barbiedoll wrote: »

My husband and I earn less than 50K between us and we live in London...albeit in one of the cheapest areas on the outskirts. We bought our house more than 10 years ago, just before prices went sky high (although we still paid almost double what our friends did for a similar property a couple of years earlier)

Ironically, we only live in London because we couldn't afford to buy in Kent, where I grew up.

It is doable if you're poor and working but transport costs can be prohibitive if you live in the outskirts. Although you can get a seat on the train in the morning, it will cost you plenty. Driving in is no fun, the traffic is horrible, especially if you live anywhere near the tunnels (Blackwall, Rotherhithe or Dartford)

Hampstead is indeed lovely, but on £16-18K, the only place you'll be able to afford will be made of cardboard and situated under a bridge or railway arch!

Don't exaggerate...there's always the Heath:rotfl:

kingslayer

Caroline_a wrote: »

I think you're going to need more than just basic Maths and English if you want to live here!

Wow! Over 900k average price for a flat, wih 89% of the area being largely flats too. Those prices are unjustifiable tbh.