Renting/ Moving Out

[forteh]

Never wanted to live in a big city, just much calmer and relaxed out in the country imho. Whenever our friends come up (some of them are actually coming up for the weekend this afternoon) they love it because its so chilled out and laid back, it doesnt take forever to get anywhere and they just enjoy being away from london for a change.

Regarding the rudeness, for example youre in a train station, someone walks past you and twats you with their bag/briefcase/brolly/whatever and never apologies or seem to acknowledge youre there, to me thats exceptionally rude; of course that doesnt apply to all people but it does happen all the time. I guess a lot is to do with the cultural/language diversity but how hard is it to say sorry/thank you/please?

London is a good place to visit (apart from the huge costs involved with socialising!) and leave, I wouldnt want to live or work there at all.

edit: regarding kris's link, here is the same for lichfield, 425 for 2 double bed flat in shenstone house. That flat is about 80% bigger than the one our friends are renting in south norwood for 750! As well as being in a much nicer area, lichfield is considered up market.

http://www.primelocation.com/uk-property-to-rent/search/?p=ws13&ls=0

Edited January 28, 2011 by forteh

[Mark W]

What's your actual reasons for moving out? I promise you you'll regret it unless you have to.

I was kicked out of my mums when I was 18, so it was essential that I got somewhere. After a few months sleeping on various peoples floors I'd sorted out a deal with my Dad to buy the place I live in now because I believed (and still do) that renting is for morons.

5 years ago, I was just starting out at uni and moved from Llandrindod to London (slight change...) and rented a room in halls. At the time, I wanted to pursue a career in photography.

4 years ago, I was living in London and was renting a place in a flat/apartment setup. At the time, I was getting work published online and in magazines, and wanted to pursue a career in BMX photography.

3 years ago, I rented a room in Halls again for my final year. At the time, I realised that the setup for most magazines in the UK was total bullshit, and the way that work was allocated/used was a joke.

2 years ago, I finished uni in London then moved to Newcastle so I could ride and not have to work for a bit. At the time, I didn't really know what I wanted to do.

1 year ago, I moved to Hebden Bridge with Ali. At the time, I was just starting work here.

Now, I'm living in a sweet house-share in Blackpool. As long as I don't f**k Adam off enough to fire me, I'd assume I'll be here for a bit. Even then though, I don't know for sure that Blackpool's where I want to live. I enjoy living/riding/being there, but I don't know if I'd enjoy it enough to commit the next few decades of my life there. For that reason, I'm renting a place there. At the moment I'm paying £350 a month and that's inclusive of all bills, internet usage, full Sky TV package, our sweet home gym, etc. Obviously that's Blackpool prices but the location's pretty sweet and I'm fairly happy there (Comparatively speaking it's also cheap, in that for the same all-bills-included type deal I got in London in my 2nd year, I was paying £450 a month for a room in Walworth. Nice and sketchy). Since moving out I feel I've also benefited significantly personally even if it's not in a financial sense. I talked Ali into moving out of his home that he'd been in for 26 years (or something like that?), and you can pretty much see the transformation since Ali moved out. It just changes the way you look at everything - in what I'd say was a positive way - so that even though you don't have as much money to throw around your life is still richer, even though I almost cringed my face inside out when I typed that out.

On the flip side of that though, I think Stan's looking into getting his own place sorted and going down the mortgage route, but he's confident he wants to live in Preston and so that's fine with him. I can see where he's coming from, although as I've already said from my own point of view I don't think it's something I'd feel comfortable about doing for quite some time yet.

[Matthew62]

Ah i went to Loughborough recently..... i can see why it's not the most expensive place to live (in all due respect). I personally thought it was a horrific place and woulddn't want to go back.

A local taxi driver there told me how expensive this certain village we drove through was to live. He said the average house price (again, it was a nice village - apparently some England footballer lives there?) was £220,00....saying it was disgusting.

I almost burst out laughing - thats f**king cheap for anything - let alone a detached house in a village.

The pizza thing doesn't really equate. London is fantastic at seeming expensive to tourists. Of course many places play on this. I can get a hand made fresh 12" pizza in central London for £3.99 - you just got to know where to look. At the same time you can pay £50 for a fry-up here - it's all about knowing where you're going and what you're looking for. THings can be just as cheap here, or they can be hellishly more expensive - it's not one rate throughout.

People in train stations are probably rude as they do the same journey everyday and know exactly where they're going, yet everyday there is some lost tourist/idiot trying to work out the tube, getting in the way, holding up the platform or just generally getting in the way. If you see that train station twice a day, everyday people getting in the way soon get annoying. I'm a laid back guy but on the tube i probably come across as a dick as toursits are the worst people at using it. They make it difficult for everyone.

I know what you mean about the country. I adore getting out there but it only takes a few days when the relaxation turns to bordeom... but there's no denying it can be a beautiful place in which to exist.

[CurtisRider]

After living in Nottingham for just 1 term, i really really wish i was back in the countryside. Its not like Nottinghams the worst city ever, but the people just look miserable and i can't help but feel tense wherever i go but maybe that will change as i get more and more used to it. Nearly 24years in good old suffolk, surrounded by simpletons is where its at for me

[Matthew62]

I lived in Nottingham for 4 years and i have to agree with you that Nottingham locals are often rude towards the student population there. It's what i found anyway. I also find it quite an agressive City when going out. I felt a much greater sense of hostility there then i ever have in London. I went back a couple of months ago for a weekend and found that not much has changed. It still feels agressive on a night out and yes the people look miserable - but jeez that's Nottingham for you. The one consolation for you is that Nottingham is absolutely tiny and surrounded by countryside so sop moaning and get on your bike/car/bus/tram and get out there and enjoy some greenery. Wollaton hall is quite nice and very close, the arboretum is always a nice place to chill out and if you want to go a bit further a field then you've got Sherwood Forest.

The one thing i found with going out there, compared to where i am now is just how forward the women are. I had some quite full-on offers that were unprovoked which i've not experienced here....so maybe thats good for you?

Also have you noticed that all Nottingham locla men where baseball caps, have NHS glasses and look like rats....?

[Mark W]

I found the vibe in London was always pretty reasonable when you weren't on public transport. I wasn't really keen on tourists either, they sort of bring it all on themselves...

Oh, and isn't Nottingham pretty bad for violent crime/knife crime? Seem to remember some pretty negative statistics there.

I couldn't wait to live somewhere more built-up after living in Llandod for 18 years. No cinema, no skatepark, no forms of entertainment apart from one sketchy nightclub ironically called "Rumours", a couple of pubs you could go to if you wanted a fight instead of a drink, etc. Not great.

[Matthew62]

Exactly, i find London very sociable. Just look at the reaction around Elephant & Castle (a pretty f**king awful area) when you came and rode last Saturday. Everyone was super responsive to the riding and interested, making nice comments etc. Look how many cans of energy drink were acquired.....

I've had some brilliant conversations in this city with strangers. The summer is naturally even better but on the whole i think it's a pretty fun time city. Toursits are a nightmare and do very much so bring it upon themselves.

Yeah Nottingham can be quite bad. It's nicknamed 'Shottingham' and when i lived there i lived in the Elephant & Castle equivilant area and saw plenty of undesirable goings on. I never got involved in much (thats down to individuals characters - it can be quite easy to slip under the radar) but i got caught up in a few nasty things so yeah it does deservedly have a bit of a bad rep.

[Krisboats]

Ah i went to Loughborough recently..... i can see why it's not the most expensive place to live (in all due respect). I personally thought it was a horrific place and woulddn't want to go back.

A local taxi driver there told me how expensive this certain village we drove through was to live. He said the average house price (again, it was a nice village - apparently some England footballer lives there?) was £220,00....saying it was disgusting.

I almost burst out laughing - thats f**king cheap for anything - let alone a detached house in a village.

The pizza thing doesn't really equate. London is fantastic at seeming expensive to tourists. Of course many places play on this. I can get a hand made fresh 12" pizza in central London for £3.99 - you just got to know where to look. At the same time you can pay £50 for a fry-up here - it's all about knowing where you're going and what you're looking for. THings can be just as cheap here, or they can be hellishly more expensive - it's not one rate throughout.

On your period this week or something? Didn't mean to rattle the birdcage so to speak. Taxi drivers often talk crap, sorry. Wetherspoons is an extra £1.50 for a curry night meal in london. Pints are more expensive in wetherspoons in london, premier inn, travel lodge are all more expensive in london compared to the rest of england. London generally is more expensive, especially to live. Fact of the matter is that you can rent a REALLY decent place in 80% of the uk for far cheaper than you can mortgage in London.

Handmade 12" for £3.99 hey? Where at?

Take this one for example.

http://www.primelocation.com/uk-property-to-rent/details/id/FISA7410553/

Used my parents postcode for that one, nowhere near Loughborough so you wouldn't have to worry about going back .

[Simpson]

Not got mates to share with? I could NOT live on my own, that would be dire.

[Matthew62]

You haven't rattled my cage at all.

I did think the taxi guy was talking shit which is why i didn't respond. I'm just saying that everyone always assumes that everyhting is more expensive here when it's not always the case. I stated earlier that there are 2 very definite exceptions to this and they are rental prices and alcohol (not in supermarkets)

All the examples you've given are massive chain pubs which are places i don't go to so can't really comment - but i can see why they do charge more in places like that.

You are 100% right about what you can get for your money. For what i pay in rent i could have a beautiful 5 bedroom detached house with a huge garden as opposed to my 2 bed flat - but i'm pretty happy and love living in London. It's a lifestyle choice i suppose.

Apparently to get a mortgage in London now you need as a minimum to be earnign about 95,000 a year.....or so sources say, so yeah, not a brilliant time.

Pizza's are available in Camden for that sort of money - some nice Italian guys make them. Thats the one up side - so miuch competition means on occasion prices can get driven down.

Anyway work is nearly over, its Friday and i'm in central London so i'm going out. Wish me luck that i'll be able to find a pint for under £5!

[rocktrials]

I was in a penthouse apartment last year in city@

Rent €1200

Electric €140(ish) every 2months

Internet €75

I moved to another nice apartment just outside city centre (not as new) So now it's

Rent €825

Electric €150 every 2months

Gas €60 p/m

Internet €75

Both landlords/agents have been sound and very helpful, especially the new one, again, especially as my housemate flooded the apartment (he flooded the apartment and landlord came over with Jamesons Whiskey and Milk Tray)

Any issues he's sorted and he lives out in South Africa!!

[Matthew62]

This was in Derby City Centre?

I assure you mean pounds not euros? And is that monthly internet costs?

[rocktrials]

No, I'm currently in Ireland so definitely euros

Yup, €75 monthly interwebz bills

[Matthew62]

Why the f**k is internet so much? Also what City?

Rent doesn;t seem so bad for City prices.

[rocktrials]

Cork city, internet is 24mb/s unlimited (170GB p/m technically)

[Matthew62]

Still seems pretty darn high. I don't have any download limits and (apparently) have 20meg internet which is £12.50 a month.

My grandmother is from Cork and my girlfriend adores it there, howeve ri haven't been since i was 4 and would love to go back sometime.

[rocktrials]

Ireland is tripe apart from the Chinese restaurant and Cocktail bar we have. Just work, play games and watch movies. Give Australia please.

[JT!]

You live in a caravan/motorhome based at a caravan site?

Sort of right. We own the home but rent the land, we technically live in a mobile home but there's nothing mobile about it. It's kind of good as it's the best of both worlds, $330 to rent the lot space. The 'house' is only worth $17k if that.

[ellingtj]

For the OP, on your stated monthly take home I'd say that living on your own will be a big stretch if you are going to rent, a mortgage will also be tough if you don't have a sizeable deposit assuming you're going to be living in Gloucestershire. Now if you do the shared house thing you'll probably be ok, on my year out from uni my take home was similar to yours I shared a house in Reading and survived ok. It come down to your personal preference - myself I couldn't stand living at home and anyway my parents lived miles away. I've been a home owner for many years now.

For those thinking of starting out on the homeownership ladder, my simple word of warning is be wary of LEASEHOLD, you will encounter this if you are buying a flat of any other property on shared land. It is important to know the terms and durations involved with the lease - if in doubt get advice.

[MadManMike]

In Hastings prices seem to be about the same as Krisboats suggested, maybe a little higher.

My 1 bed flat was £375, single person c/tax was £75, then I got utterly destroyed by electricity, water and gas bills - it's criminal.

I'm doing a house share now so much cheaper and much nicer place.

[Dwarf Shortage]

Two pages and no:

?!

[Oldskooltrials]

I'm currently renting a 3 bed-semi in Luton and it's costing just over £1200p.m for the basic stuff, rent ,electric, gas etc

Given that we live in the nicest area its pretty cheap compared to any of the surrounding towns.

Groceries and petrol costs are about £800p.m.

Got car tax and insurance and mobile phones etc to pay for too.

Also got another child on the way and nursery costs about £200pw!

My bank statement each month makes me

[aener]

I'm only a student, so finance details would be worse than irrelevant, but one piece of advice:

Don't move in with people you think of as friends.

Twice, it hasn't worked. This year there were three of us, and we needed one more. One of the others had a friend I thought was a bit of a dick, but we didn't dislike each other. After five months the guy I thought highly of is getting right on my tits, and the douche is turning out a proper brick.

Not to say move in with someone you hate - but think long and hard about how much exposure you can handle of your friends' irritating qualities - ESPECIALLY messiness, if you're a keep-things-orderly type.

[Krisboats]

I'm only a student, so finance details would be worse than irrelevant, but one piece of advice:

Don't move in with people you think of as friends.

Twice, it hasn't worked. This year there were three of us, and we needed one more. One of the others had a friend I thought was a bit of a dick, but we didn't dislike each other. After five months the guy I thought highly of is getting right on my tits, and the douche is turning out a proper brick.

Not to say move in with someone you hate - but think long and hard about how much exposure you can handle of your friends' irritating qualities - ESPECIALLY messiness, if you're a keep-things-orderly type.

It's not really a problem if you can communicate along the way and learn to get over things rather than needlessly dragging them on out of pettiness and stubbornness.

[Revolver]