Long-time renter and sick of it - but what do we do?

ruggedtoast

I sympathise with the problem of living in London and not being able to save. Anywhere commutable is unaffordable for the most part, until you start going so far out that the saving is completely offset by train fares.

A job in Brighton however is a great opportunity to live somewhere cheaper and commute. Brighton long since ceased to be a place that normal people live unless they have inherited there.

TrickyTree83

@OP It's all just life choices.

Every decision you've taken up to now has resulted in the job you do and where you live. As other have said a move outside of the SE is not impossible, difficult yes, but not impossible. It's about your priorities, family? DINK living? Owning your own place?

If owning your own place is your #1 then you need to look at the aspects of your life that affect that. If you can't afford where you are then what affects that? Your salary, your OH's salary, location, lifestyle? If you don't change anything you will remain where you are. So ultimately it will involve one or both of you changing jobs to one which pays more, changing where you are looking to buy (possibly radically), changing lifestyle so that you can afford what you want. You may need to change all 3 in order to achieve it. But if DINK living is more important then you wouldn't change any of these apart from perhaps salaries.

westernpromise

jennifernil wrote: »

Have you considered what you may think of as a radical move .....to the north of England,or even Scotland? Life is good up here, and much less expensive.

Places that are cheap are usually cheap for a reason.

ReadingTim

The sad fact of the matter is that there is no universal human right to own your own home, and indeed property ownership is seen by many as a peculiarly British obsession.

However, in Britain itself, property ownership is rapidly becoming the preserve of the wealthy, as mass housebuilding programmes and property ownership initiatives from "Homes fit for heroes" after the First World War, Council Housing and the Welfare State after the Second World War, and even Right to Buy under Mrs Thatcher hasn't been repeated.

Furthermore, governments of all political shades have been moving away from the idea that the state has much of a role at all in the provision of social housing, believing that "the free market" is a more efficient provider of this service than the public sector. However, the private sector isn't building the number of properties required by the growth in population or the changes in society as we shift further away from even the nuclear family so single person property ownership (ie I own my house, my girlfriend owns hers - in the past we'd probably have lived with our parents before getting married and setting up house together).

So unfortunately mate, you aren't special, and politics, economics and demographics are stacked against you. Not everyone can, or perhaps will ever be able to afford to buy their own house, and you might well fall into this category.

However, whilst earning lots and having rich parents and grandparents who can help you certainly helps, it's not completely impossible for individuals to get 'on the ladder' no matter how how far away that first rung seems. Mainly it's about compromise and managing your expectations, but I can see how some might have problems with accepting a lower standard of living than either they currently enjoy, or their parents have in the pursuit of property ownership.

Sorry if this is a depressing view, but the sooner you accept the grim truth and start working within the constraints of the current reality, the better for your mental health and long term well-being.

chelseablue

Have you thought about doing a second job in the evening and/or weekend?


That's what I did when I was saving up to buy my first place.


I bought a 2 bed flat in 2010, and that was buying alone not with a partner.


Was also in the SE (Berkshire)


I recently sold and we purchased a house together


So, it can be done, even in high priced areas

FBaby

You're no different to half if not more of people working in Brighton and face the dilemma of living close by with little disposable income or further away with the ability to save but a dreadful daily commute. You shy hehe it both way as everyone dreams of!

AirJoe

It depends whereabouts in Brighton you actually work but have a look at Lancing. It's more affordable than Brighton and well connected.

By car you've got quick access to the A27 and the stretch to the East of Lancing tends to flow reasonably well. You can be into Brighton in 15 minutes outside of rush hour and during rush hour you avoid the worst of it (Lyons Farm on the edge of Worthing is horrible). In the next 5 years the road is due some improvements too although that will probably benefit Worthing more.

By train you've got Lancing station which is walking distance from anywhere in Lancing itself.

By bus you've got the 700 that goes along the coast.

By bike you've got a flat ride to the Old Steine along decent cycle paths. If you've not got the fitness then think about investing in an ebike but you'll need somewhere safe to secure it whilst at work. I agree about the cost of fuel so the ebike should pay for itself over time and also keep you fit and less stressed about the commute too,

An EA told me they'd seen rises of 17% in Lancing over the last year so the ripple effect has definitely reached that far and with it I think there will be some regeneration of the area. The new cafe/restaurant on the seafront is already a good start.

hazyjo

If it's just 1 or 2 of you in a car, get a smart car. Mine's 10 years old but still very cost effective. Fill it up for around £30, and I got back from Scotland on one tank! £30 tax, although I believe others are nowt.


Jx

pinkshoes

It is about deciding what you want from life, and what is important...

I wanted to own my own home. i also hated renting, as it was expensive and not my own space. My compromise was living in a house share (so paying a much lesser amount) rather than my own flat so i could save.

What are you currently renting? Bedsit? Two bed flat?

It is also weighing up pay vs rent. I live in the south east, where we have a 4 bed detached and large mortgage. My hubby is a design engineer and although his salary is slightly higher here, it is not significantly higher, so I am hoping that one day he will see sense, get a job elsewhere in the country, and we can have a 4 bed detached with a tiny mortgage! My salary is the same anywhere in the Uk except London.

Work out what you want and what compromises you are willing to make.

We are a very over crowded island, and in some areas rent is extortionate due to demand.

kitrat

Sorry to question what you've already said but are you sure that moving further out and commuting in would be the same cost as living where you are now?

A lot of people say that but it doesn't really tally up when you look at it (provided you already own a car and pay insurance on it etc which I think I read you do).

I have moved 45-60min from work outside my city and the house I live in is a world away from the hideous flat I was in in the city (same price in rent!) And yet my petrol costs are only £100 a month. If I was going to live somewhere equivalent to what I was living in I'd definitely be a couple hundred pounds up a month.

The commute isn't ideal but I tell myself it's not forever, because that's the longterm plan. I don't live in or near Brighton though so I don't know what it's like there, you'd think similar rules would apply though.

PS. I really sympathise with your situation, most people do. Unfortunately you have to make some choices because no amount of being upset about things is going to change the situation. "The system might have failed you but don't fail yourself" etc.