Where to live in Southend?

OUNN

Hey folks,

So my job is transferring to Southend. Essex I'm a little familiar with, but the area around and including Southend is completely new to me.

I'm not sure yet if I will be renting or looking to buy. But I'd love to know the areas to start my search. Nicer areas, avoid areas (traffic, noise, neighbours, the usual).

It doesn't necessarily need to be in Southend itself, just easily accessible to the airport I guess - I know traffic there in the summer can be a nightmare!

Thanks

hazyjo

I'm in Leigh-on-Sea which is hugely desirable, but pricey so depends what your budget is. Yes, traffic can be a major prob in and around the area!


What size property do you need and what's the max budget?


Southend itself has some very dodgy bits, but I still believe it would be a fantastic place (in parts) to invest. There's talk of it becoming a City (I always said that was a definite in the future). I don't think it'll be for a while, and won't necessarily add anything to Southend, but will put it on the map. There's been a lot of money invested (and more regeneration planned for the future) and they do seem to be trying! There's a very smart lovely new boutique hotel with a highly regarded (albeit new) restaurant/bar, and I have noticed similar things (the odd decent restaurant, etc) creeping into the area. Okay so the crime rate is higher and there's a lot of homeless and alcohol/drug issues in the area, but I think it has an awful lot of potential.


Same with Westcliff. There are some lovely houses in the area and I know people looking to move there. Lots of the large houses have been used as HMOs so bear that in mind.


Rayleigh is okay nearby - got 2 friends living there, along with family.


Is it just for you?

pimento

Hockley and Rochford are close to the airport but not under the flight path like Leigh.

I live in Hockley and it takes me seven minutes to get to the airport by car.

No drug problems here, good schools and close to the smoke if you want it. No parking problems, either. Only down side is the property prices are a bit steep.

ETA: Not much of a rental market here, either.

AndyBSG

A lot depends on what you're looking for.

Are you looking for something a little bit outside Southend and a bit more rural or are you looking to be Southend itself? Also, are you looking to commute to the airport by train, bus or car? Are you looking for a flat/apartment or a house? What sort of budget are looking for?

For me, if I was working in or around the airport i'd actually want to live the 'other side' of the airport rather than the Southend side purely because traffic in and around Central Southend.

So, that would be places like Rochford, Hawkwell, Ashingdon and Hockley.

Those places are a bit more rural but they mean you can avoid the A127 and Central Southend traffic.

Obviously if you're looking for somewhere with a bit more night life and don't mind the traffic or travel issues then Central Southend itself would be a better bet.

Leigh On Sea is also a very nice area(although it is becoming more and more 'TOWIE' like as time goes on)

OUNN

Thanks for the replies so far.
To answer a few of the questions if I can:

Hazyjo/AndyBSG- Ideally at least two bedrooms and preferably not a flat. I'm not moving for a social life or nightlife. It really will just be for work, so rural is fine as is town. Budget wise at the moment I'm looking at a maximum of 300k. Less if I can manage it. (life would be easier for us if it was 260-280k)
Commuting wise, because it will be shift work up at the airport, I will be driving to work. (perhaps cycling if I ever pull my finger out and try and get fit)

Basically I'm only going to be there during the working week so 5 days at a time. The second bedroom gives me the opportunity for my wife and daughter to come up occasionally (friends and family Chelmsford way) - so it's not always 5 days at a time that I'm away from them.

Any extra bedrooms are a bonus and give me the opportunity to explore renting one of the rooms out.

If the budget stretches to it I'd rather a semi than terraced.
But like everything with house hunting, I'm realistic!

There doesn't appear to be much in the way of rental properties out there in the area at the moment. I might look into seeing if any work colleagues have a room to rent while I try and explore.

Thanks again for the replies so far, it helps focus the search somewhat!

hazyjo

Forget Leigh, you don't need to be paying for restaurants and nightlife you don't need.


I would definitely stick north of the A127.


If you don't need a station, don't buy near one as you'll pay a premium for that.


This is nearish to the station, but seems to tick a lot of boxes.


http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-71519600.html


It's pimento's neck of the woods so am sure they can advise better than me

pimento

Ha! That house happens to be in my mum's road. Very quiet, close to the local pub, close to the bus stop. Ten minutes maximum by car to the airport. Eight minute walk to the station.

hazyjo

Blimey what a coincidence - it's a small world :laugh:

jungle_jane

Eastwood is a bit cheaper if you don't want to be near a station and most houses have off street parking. Rayleigh has got very expensive recently but is a really nice place to live. Thorpe Bay is nice but pricey. I'm not a fan of Westcliffe - too many bedsits, few driveways, not so nice in parts at night. Benfleet is also affordable and on the C2C trainline.

hazyjo

jungle_jane wrote: »

Benfleet is also affordable and on the C2C trainline.

Was going to suggest Benfleet but prob easier to be north of the A127 if needing to drive to the airport every day.


Eastwood would be fine too - my aunt and uncle both live there separately (bro & sis, not husband and wife).

OUNN

Thank you again for the replies so far folks.
Looks like it will be a drive round to have a look and get a feel for the area this weekend!

hazyjo wrote: »

north of the A127 if needing to drive to the airport every day.

Is the A127 a bit of a pain then? There seem to be a lot of properties up for sale/auction along it into Southend.

pimento wrote: »

close to the local pub

Sold! Joking aside, what's the local like? Sometimes the local pub is a good way to get a feel for the area. Food pub? Ale pub? Accepting of outsiders?

pimento wrote: »

ETA: Not much of a rental market here, either.

When you say there isn't much of a rental market, is that because people aren't making properties available to rent, or there isn't much demand from people looking to rent?