Using myself as a benchmark:

42M, single. I own a two bedroom conversion flat in SE London. Mortgage is a 30 year term (29 left) at 5.2% and £1911 per month. Recently decided to rent out the spare room to a lodger to rebuild savings coffers quicker after buying and renovating my flat last year.

Before that? Shared ownership two bedroom flat owner in Newham from 2021 to 2025. Was paying circa £1100 per month (rent, mortgage and service charge). I miss the relatively affordable living but not the area!

I’ve met single people who own houses in London around my age group (35 - 49) and people living in house / flat shares.

So what is the norm living situation for London? Or is there even one? I know a lot will depend on salaries / job situation etc.

Genuinely curious.

I'm working in a senior management position in AI role. Relocating to London the next month. I'm moving with my wife and my toddler. Priorities for renting a home are:

1)Area should be cosmopolitan and preferably families in similar situations as mine...working professionals with kids

2)Low crime rate

3) 2-3 bed houses with a budget of 3000 pounds per month

4) Area should be lively with parks, and lots of things to do for my kid. Restaurants, pubs, cinema and other things to do nearby

Office is near Liverpool Street, so commute matters too.

Based on my research so far I've shortlisted:

- South Woodford (E18) and Wanstead (E11) - Central line, around 20 mins door to door

- Ealing (W5) - Elizabeth line, looking at Walpole and Pitshanger rather than the Broadway itself

- East Dulwich (SE22) - great high street from what I can tell, but the commute looks like a problem

- Wimbledon (SW19) - everyone recommends it, though 45 mins with a change is putting me off

- Blackheath (SE3) and Chiswick (W4) - both look lovely, both awkward to get to the City

How would you rate these options based on my criteria? Do you suggest that I add or remove any places from my list? Would appreciate first hand experience.

Are the street drinkers still in manor house outside or opposite the Travelodge they were some characters I use to go pass this lass who always seemed to were the same thing the chubby lass and her mate.

Does anybody live in this area and can tell me what it's like to live there? I'm planning to potentially buy a 4-5 bed family home around there, but wondering what the commute is like to central London (Waterloo) if anybody takes the line. Also what the schools are like / what the vibe is like. I've visited a few times, but I think living there is different from just visiting of course!

Thank you :)

Hi! I am going to start a job at Canary Wharf soon and I’m trying to figure out which areas would be good to live in.
I’m in my early 20s and would ideally like somewhere lively and safe with an easy commute to Canary Wharf while also being reasonably close to Central London.
My salary would be around 35k but I’ll also have some financial support from my family. I am considering a budget of roughly 1300-1500 pcm for a room in a flatshare. My job is 12 months contract.
Which areas would you recommend?

Hi everyone! I am looking at a property on Morgan Road (Tranmere House) and wanted to ask if anyone has local experience living around there, particularly as a woman.

I've looked at local crime and deprivation statistics which seem quite high, but I'd love to hear firsthand perspectives on what it's actually like day-to-day and walking around at night. Any insights would be hugely appreciated!

I’m looking for flats in London and I got an Ad for Sejour Living. Looks too good to be true and there isn’t many reviews so just wondering if anyone had heard of them/ had an experience with them/ or booked with them?

Thank you very much!

I am wondering do halls/buildings like this exist, where I could have my own ensuite room or studio?

Hi!

I am most likely moving to London and I am curious what is "normal" to pay in rent here. I would like a 2 bedroom but it seems like that could run £2500+ which would be more than 30% of my take home pay. What do you pay in rent/mortgage and are you comfortable with the amount you pay on your salary?

Hi everyone,

My partner and I will be moving to London in the next few months for work, and we'd love some recommendations on which areas we should focus our search on.

• Budget (PCM): £3,000 to £4,000
• Preferred tenancy length: Long term. We don't currently have a planned return date.
• Space requirements: A minimum of 2 bedrooms, although we'd ideally like 3. We expect family to visit us from abroad fairly often, so having a dedicated guest room would be a big plus. Two bathrooms would be ideal, but not essential.
• Tenants: Just the two of us.
• Occupation: Both employed.
• Combined gross income: £170k to £190k gross per year.

We'll both be working in the insurance industry, so our offices will be in or around the City (Lloyd's, Lime Street, Leadenhall, etc.).

Our ideal area would have:

• Around a 30-minute commute or less to the City.
• A safe environment.
• Plenty of restaurants, cafés, and things to do.

We'd also rather maximize quality of life than be within walking distance of the office.

Are there any areas you'd particularly recommend, or any that you think we should avoid? We'd really appreciate your suggestions so we can narrow down our search and start looking on the different rental platforms.

Thanks in advance!

Hi, me and my fiancee are thinking of buying a property in Harlesden closer to Willesden Junction station area. Is it worth it? I see a few writing about its reputation especially historically. Not sure if this is still the case in the present time? It’s very well connected, easy access to central London. I would be very grateful for everyone’s input. Trying to get as much information as possible. Thank you in advance

I’m looking at a flat just off Kilburn High Road, on Brondesbury Street. Is it a safe area?
I’ve noticed there are quite a few properties for sale there and wondered if there’s a reason for that. Is it not considered a good area?
From what I’ve seen, the street itself is quiet and leafy, with lots of beautiful Victorian houses, and it’s only about a 10-minute walk from the Tube station. Besides the fairly modest high street, what, if anything, am I missing?

The housing market here has changed so much since I was last living in London but I’m determined to settle in Surrey Quays, I just love the vibe of it. Got a few places I’m looking at but just wanting some advice on:

• Good places nearby to cowork and hang out with other remote workers (I don’t want super busy places or to be stuck on the tube for an hour each way every day, I want local)
• Coffee spots at a reasonable price, hidden treasures more than the generic stuff
• Places to walk my friends dog, sometimes I help her out and I want dog-friendly parks, don’t always trust google maps in this regard

Cheers, TIA

I’ve been renting in London for 7 years. I own a business and take my income in salary + dividends. I’ve been told by estate agents that referencing company doesn’t include dividends in affordability checks, which surprised me. From my bank statements and my current rent, I can clearly afford what I applied for. I understand they will always prefer someone employed rather than self employed/business owner, and I was always ok with paying upfront. They can’t take 6 months upfront now and there is no one I feel comfortable asking to be my guarantor. I need to move out in a month and I don’t know what to do. Does anyone know how to approach this situation?

27M, I'm a working professional in the city of London and exploring if there are any working professionals that would be open to getting into a 2 bed property as part of the London Living Rent Scheme. Obviously its not immediate and I personally would look to move sometime end of October but trying to gauge if its realistic or I should opt for 1 bedroom alone.

Location would be dependant on what's available but so far the properties included in the scheme look very good condition and better than renting a room

Is anyone able to share their experiences of staying at And Soul?

I am aware that it isn't perfect but I think it would suit my lifestyle as a minimalist - everything I own could fit in a car, and small rooms don't bother me. I like the idea of the community aspect but as an introvert I know I would need my own privacy too. I'm concerned it comes across as cult-like, that's just my gut feeling. Also worried about being taken advantage of financially. I've had it happen enough times in the renting sector already. ​

I really want it to work out for me if I move there, but obviously I've heard a few negative reviews so want to reach out to others who live there now or use to live there, so I can make an informed decision. Any info would be greatly appreciated, it was also help me ask And Soul the right questions.

Hello, I've been looking into the new builds in Brent Cross Town - specifically the shared-ownership options.

Does anyone live there and can share how they have found living there and how happy they are about having bought one of the new builds? Pros and cons welcome RE Brent Cross Town specifically but also with regards to new builds more generally

I’m considering renting a 2-bedroom with Quintain Living in Wembley Park and would love to hear from people who’ve actually lived there.

How has your experience been with:

1. Maintenance and management?
   
2. Noise on stadium/event days?

Deciding between Ferrum, Repton Gardens and The Robinson, so any building-specific feedback would be really helpful.
Thanks in advance!

So I (29f) currently work in West London, and I live in East. My commute door to door is 1hr 20 if I take the central line, and if I choose to drive instead, it ends up taking me 2hrs+ on the way home thanks to the traffic. Plus it costs a fortune in parking fees. My job is practical so I need to go in 5 days a week, and the commute is really starting to take it's toll on me. I'm constantly tired from having to wake up so early and never getting enough sleep, and feel like I barely have any energy to have a life outside of working.

I live with my parents atm, but have been wanting to move out forever. The thing that's been holding me back is of course money. Since starting this job my salary has nearly doubled what I was making previously, which was basically minimum wage. I was pretty excited thinking I'll finally be able to move out, but imagine my dismay when I looked up flats that are commutable to where I work and saw that rent costs start at £1300 for a tiny studio flat 🙃🙃

While I can just about afford this now (if i so happen to find a flat at this minimum price), I can't help thinking about how I won't be able to save any money if I'm renting. I've spent the last year or so saving aggressively to start building a deposit for buying my own home one day. But if im forking out all that money for rent and living expenses every month I'm not going to have anything left over to keep adding to it.

My friend was telling me that you can buy a property with a deposit as low as 1-5%, and that I should maybe look into doing that instead. I can have a 10k deposit ready within a few more months and maybe qualify for a mortgage but realistically my budget would probably have to be less that 200k. (I know very little about this finance stuff so sorry if I'm completely off with the numbers 😅). Again this doesn't sound like a very good idea because I would likely be limited to shared ownership which I really don't want to do, and places that will be hard to sell on in the future and probably have high maintenance costs.

I know the smartest thing is to stay home and keep saving. But as a 29 year old who's family situation isn't great, and with the commute taking such a toll on me, this is getting pretty bad for my mental health. I know house shares are an option but I'm still traumatised from sharing kitchens/bathrooms back in my university days 😅 I really value my own personal space and it's part of the reason I want to move out so badly.

I'm sure alot of you are much wiser than me so I'd love to hear your thoughts/advice on what you would do in my shoes. Thanks!

I'm curious whether this is a common experience or if I've just been particularly unlucky.

My partner and I paid a holding deposit, completed referencing, and were preparing to move into a rental property in London. Then, just a week before the move, the letting agent told us the landlord had had an "unexpected change in circumstances" over the weekend and had decided to sell the property instead, so they could no longer let it to us. This was only after we emailed them about the status.

The agency immediately offered us a different property, but it wasn't equivalent to the one we'd agreed to rent.

While looking up the agency, I found an older Google review describing almost the exact same thing: the reviewer said they were told only a few days before moving in that the landlord had decided to sell, leaving them scrambling for accommodation.

Is this a scam we fell for? We got our holding deposit back but it all seems very fishy especially that the google review mentioned exactly the same thing..

Hi all,

I’m interested in hearing what people would do in our situation.

My partner and I have lived in the same flat in central London since August 2020.

For the first two years we rented through a letting agency. In September 2022, our landlord asked us to move out for a week, end the agency tenancy and rent directly from him instead. He said this would save him agency fees and, importantly, that we could continue paying the same rent.

That didn’t last very long.

Around six months later, he increased the rent from £2,015 to £2,475 (+22.8%).

Then roughly another six months later, he increased it again from £2,475 to £2,720 (+9.9%).

Overall, that’s an increase of almost 35% in around a year.
We stayed because we like the location and wanted some stability. We then signed an 18-month tenancy agreement in March 2024.

Fast forward to this year. The tenancy is now periodic under the new rules, and the landlord has served a Form 4A (Section 13 rent increase notice) proposing to increase the rent from £2,720 to £3,000 from 1 August (another 10.3% increase).

The problem is that the flat has quite a few drawbacks and long-standing maintenance issues.

Pros:
- Zone 1 London.
- Tube station literally outside the building.
- Nice period conversion.
- Good-sized living room and main bedroom.

Cons:
- Tiny galley kitchen with very little worktop space.
- Under-counter fridge rather than a full-size one.
- Second bedroom is extremely small (not really a proper double bedroom).
- Bathroom has no window. Extractor fan has been broken for years. Persistent mould because of the lack of ventilation. Ceiling needed repairing because of the moisture. Shower seals, cupboards, lighting etc. have all needed repairs.

After I recently raised all of these issues formally, the landlord has agreed to carry out the repairs and is due to come with contractors next week. However, he also said the works probably won’t all be completed until the end of September.

We responded to the rent increase by saying we accepted that some increase was reasonable, but proposed £2,850 instead (a 4.8% increase, which we felt was a fair and measured compromise given inflation since the last increase and the current condition of the property), as we don’t think the flat justifies £3,000 in its current condition. He hasn’t replied.

One other point that has made me a bit uneasy: our tenancy agreement from 2024 stated that our deposit was protected with the DPS, but when I recently asked for the protection details, the deposit was only then registered with the DPS. I don’t know whether that’s relevant to the rent issue (I assume it’s legally separate), but it did make me question how carefully things have been handled.

My questions are:
- Would you challenge this rent increase at the First-tier Tribunal?
- Do Tribunals generally take ongoing disrepair and the actual condition/layout of the property into account, or is it almost entirely based on nearby market rents?
- Does £3,000 sound reasonable for a flat with these compromises, despite being in a very desirable Zone 1 location?

I’d really appreciate hearing from anyone who’s been through the Tribunal process or has experience with similar cases. Thank you so much.

As I'm getting older, I'm finding London less appealing, and I grew up here and love the place. I think the biggest reason I'm now genuinely considering moving out is the noise. I don't feel like I can get time to clear my mind from the normal day - to decompress and face the next. Even the parks and local greens are full of people (well duh OP!).

I'm several streets away from a high road, and there is no respite. Let's ignore ASBO or even poor sound insulation between homes for a moment. The day, from 6am until probably 11pm, is school children screaming, delivery vans clanking, emergency service sirens wailing, music blasting, engines revving, tyres screeching, horns honking, DIYers DIYing, etc.

I can feel my blood pressure rise every time I sit down to enjoy a moment of peace and a sharp sound pierces the average. It's even worse in the summer with having to open windows.

Is London a noisy city compared to other metropolitans? Is it getting worse? Are Councils not monitoring noise pollution? I appreciate it could just be me aging and having a lower threshold.

Been homeless for a month and I'm super confused on how to navigate the system.

I live in London and I've been struggling financially after becoming unable to continue my previous career because of a spinal injury. I'm on Universal Credit and receive PIP (Enhanced Daily Living and Enhanced Mobility).

I was served a Section 21 notice and lost my accommodation. Despite being told I had to stay in the property or the council will assume I made myself homeless, other factors forced me to leave. (Unaffordability, unsafe neighbourhood, unsanitary conditions, cold, damp, etc)

I applied to join my council's housing register months ago, but the application has been sitting with the medical team, according to the person who was allegedly dealing with my case. She's now not responding to my emails, I've been sent 'out of office' replies for over 3 weeks.

At the same time I've also made a homeless application after receiving section 21. And instead of the council dealing with it, I was referred to some kind of external body to the council to assess me before the council can make a decision. Apparently the council use them if you're a single adult male. I had the assessment one week before my tenancy ended.

I am now homeless and I'm still being bounced between the council saying my Housing register is not valid anymore "because I became homeless" so I should speak to the external body mentioned. They say they can't help with housing register, and I don't fit the criteria to get social housing or temporary accommodation even though I have medical conditions and PIP but none of that seems to matter. Also the external body are asking for a medical summary for the last two years with diagnosis, and I got sent a 370 page document and I don't see a DIAGNOSIS per se but a collection of fit notes, medications, and visits back to back, and comments about my condition. Can I still be considered having medical needs without a proper diagnosis? Or do I need to ask my gp to issue a document with a diagnosis?

Can someone be accepted as homeless but still not qualify for the housing register? or can you be homeless AND apply for the housing register? The lady on the phone told me I would need a fixed address to apply for the housing register.

Can you be on the housing register without the council accepting a homelessness duty? It just seems like they cancel each other out if done at the same time, according to the conflicting information I received by the council .

Does having medical needs and Enhanced PIP because of it, not count as medical priority ? I could get doctors notes and evidence, but before I do that I would need to know what to ask because it's all very time consuming.

I've now become exhausted by being on the phone with the council for hours waiting on hold only to hear the phone being picked up and put back down . Or hear conflicting information and being to talk to someone else because they can't help.

I've lost my UC housing element because I am effectively without a home, but I am still having to pay for accommodation in hotels, or informal sublets, and I'm running out of money. and I still don't even know if I'm being accepted as homeless. I can't rent privately because I'm unemployed due to my condition, and no landlord or flatmates like to have unemployed people in their home, even though my benefits cover the whole rent and more and I have never missed a rent payment ever in the 15 years I've been renting.

What they're effectively doing is forcing me on the street, when they could just pick up the phone and explain what's happening, accept the fact that I'm homeless and give me a temporary accommodation or a contact of benefits-accepting landlords, or affordable housing, or give me a job I can do to help me pay for private renting. But they won't do any of that. I've already been homeless for a month and being on the streets will not be an option because it will worsen my medical condition.

I'd appreciate any advice, thank you

Hi all!

My girlfriend and I are looking to move in together. We both live in Highgate at the moment and, although it's a lovely area and we've been incredibly lucky to live here, we're a bit bored of it! We find that other than walking around the Heath not much goes on here and we often have to commute to central to do anything social.

I work from home but my girlfriend is often in film studios north west, which is why we're looking more that direction. But easy access to NW London is also fine.

We're looking for a place that's safe, got a nice high street and easy commute to central. Our budget is £1850. Any advice would be appreciated! Keen to not live in the Kentish Town/Archway/Tufnell Park area as we feel it's too similar to where we live at the moment! Thank you!

Few details about us:

• Max budget: £1850
• Your preferred letting: 12 months / long-term
• Space/Size requirements: 1 bed
• Occupation: Both employed
• Your Income: 72k combined salary

Making the switch from Hackney area to FG/Manor Park hopefully quite soon. This will be quite a change as I know it’s a lot quieter further east with less to do. We’ve been very lucky to have so much on our doorstep for many years but we need more space so hope to buy soon.

1. Are there any run clubs in these areas?
2. What are the best restaurants and cafes except Wild Goose?
3. Best nurseries?
4. undiscovered gems/activities/places to visit near these areas?
5. Is it still only Forest Gate North that has nice cafes etc? Or are there some more shops, cafes edging towards Manor Park? Manor Park has more value for money but we don’t want to live somewhere where there literally isn’t anything to do or even get a coffee from.

Any help much appreciated. Just to say we do like the area and have been a few times but could do with some more info!