New job in Oxford - anyone know of affordable areas to rent around there?

gr8thingshappen

The plan was to commute by car but if public transport is good then he is flexible. I have rented in Leamington before but thought a commute via car would be too far. Thanks for the suggestion and wish of good luck

gr8thingshappen

Thanks to all of you for your advice and suggestions, I will look into it all.

SquatNow

Public transport to Oxford is great..

Public transport to Wheatley is non-existent.

benood

You might take a look a Bicester I think it would probably be an OK drive down the M40 to Wheatley. I agree that Witney would be a complete nightmare of a rush hour commute. Cowley might be OK - you'd be travelling against the traffic.

pinkshoes

donna1987 wrote: »

Me and OH lived in various places in and around Oxford for a few years. Two areas that are very cheap, but I personally wouldn't recommend is the Cowley and Blackbird Leas areas. I lived there as a student and I was scared to leave my house after 8pm!

Avoid Blackbird Leys like the plague, and most things outside the ring road can be a bit rough. Most areas of Cowley are lovely though, and the bit about it being dangerous is a bit of a myth... it's not more dangerous than any other areas or some towns!! I know East Oxford pretty well, so PM me if you want more information about where to live. (or where to avoid!)

You can rent a decent 2 bed flat in East Ox for about £800 a month (if you can pay several months in advance landlords will give a discount).

You really ought to rent a room for a few months, to help you save money, and get a feel for the area. Rooms can be found on:

http://www.dailyinfo.co.uk/accommodation/accommodation.html

or

http://oxford.gumtree.com/


Witney's nice (and nicer than Bicester), but a bit dull, and the road between Witney and Oxford in the morning is hell on earth!! Infact, alot of the roads coming into Oxford are busy in the morning, so allow lots of time if you plan on commuting.

msmicawber

Another place to avoid in East Oxford is Littlemore - it isn't all bad, but has quite a high crime rate.

It depends how far out you want to go, but there are some lovely villages about and you can get some surprisingly good rental deals in some of them. Garsington's near Wheatley, as is Horspath. Wheatley itself. As another poster said, Thame. Headington in Oxford is a mixed area and not too bad to live in.

Good luck - it's a nice area.

Nikki

Depends on what you mean by cheap. You could rent a 2 bed flat in our village for £700 - £800 but we are south of Oxford and traffic is pretty bad around here. I'd agree with other posters avoid Blackbird Leys, Rose Hill, Littlemore and Barton. Try between Oxford and Aylesbury if commuting isn't too much of an issue.

Savvy_sewing

msmicawber wrote: »

Another place to avoid in East Oxford is Littlemore - it isn't all bad, but has quite a high crime rate.

It depends how far out you want to go, but there are some lovely villages about and you can get some surprisingly good rental deals in some of them. Garsington's near Wheatley, as is Horspath. Wheatley itself. As another poster said, Thame. Headington in Oxford is a mixed area and not too bad to live in.

Good luck - it's a nice area.

I have been living in Littlemore and have just moved to Cowley. but Littlemore has improved over the past 3 years and is not as bad as its been made out to be. But the costs are high in Cowley. My rent is £1500 a month for a 4 bed. Check on the Gumtree and the daily info sights already mentioned. You can ring Oxford Home Choice lettings and they may be able to give you a list of landlords that will accept housing benefit. Unless your on a high wage you may be elidgable for housing benefit to make up the difference.?
Good luck

donna1987

chappers wrote: »

What about Wheatly itself probably as good a bet as anywhere or as has been said the surrounding villages my friend rents a two bedroom cottage in horspath for £750pcm but this is exeptionaly cheap.. Witney would be a pig of a commute in the mornings.
Not that it would be the ideal place for you but I have lived in Cowley/East Oxford for nearly 20 years and have never felt unsafe, co-incidently Donna before that I lived in Milton-u-Wychwwod and given the choice East Oxford would win hands down.

Sorry guys, meant to say Cowley Road not Cowley itself.

chappers

donna1987 wrote: »

Sorry guys, meant to say Cowley Road not Cowley itself.

Thats just wher I am bang smack in the middle, Crown Street, never had any problems and I have satggered home in some states I can tell you.
I love the Cowley Road and think it's probably the most vibrant part of Oxford.
There is crime in Oxford same as any town or city but it's certainly no worse than anywhere else and even at it's worse a damn sight better than some places.
Blackbird Leys, Rose Hill and Barton have the usual problems you would associate with large council estates but are definitely improving as more owner occupiers take up residence.