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UK renting is just idiotic at present all over, although especially bonkers in our capital city. Remember that 1 bed flats are especially in demand at present

UK renting is just idiotic at present all over, although especially bonkers in our capital city. Remember that 1 bed flats are especially in demand at present as a result of the (in)famous bedroom tax[1]. A single person or a couple are only allowed 1 bedroom if they need to claim housing benefit (unemployed or low-wage, and remember that in London 'low waged' is a pretty high threshold, e.g. teachers, social workers, retail staff, bus drivers &c). Bear in mind that building 1 bedroom flats has (hitherto) been regarded as a waste of money for housing associations or councils, so that really only commercial lets are available (at usually twice or three times the rent of a HA/council flat with 2 beds), so, ironically, the tax payer will be paying more to move couples out of 2 bed high rise flats in rough areas which are hard to let into expensive private let 1 bed flats. There will be no takers for the high rise flats (unsuitable for children) so they will be mothballed then expensively demolished. Yes, bonkers, but the UK is run by the Daily Fail and other populist idiots. [1] http://england.shelter.org.uk/get_advice/housing_benefit_and_local_housing_allowance/changes_to_local_housing_allowance/bedroom_tax_from_april_2013 http://england.shelter.org.uk/get_advice/housing_benefit_and... Edit: OK anonymous downvoter, state your reasons

lucaspiller 13y ago
Not the downvoter, but I think s/UK/London/. I agree with everything on what you say about London, but outside of London the rest of the UK isn't really that bad. You can rent a 3 bedroom house for £300/month in Yorkshire. Even if you are the only earner in a household, on minimum wage, you'll still have over £500/month left after rent (probably more if you have kids due to benefits). Bonus: It's a three hour commute to London [1]. [0] http://www.zoopla.co.uk/to-rent/details/20671512?search_identifier=9fd9a5bfe1e532e8ea1a096bfa063a11 http://www.zoopla.co.uk/to-rent/details/20671512?search_iden... [1] http://traintimes.org.uk/Gainsborough/London/06:30/monday/18:30/monday http://traintimes.org.uk/Gainsborough/London/06:30/monday/18...
- keithpeter 13y ago
  "You can rent a 3 bedroom house for £300/month in Yorkshire." Leeds? York? I suspect not. Bear in mind that single bedroom flats are mainly built in areas where land is expensive, because it is only then that the small space saving over a 2 bed flat outweighs the similar building cost. Birmingham: 3 bed house commercial, way outside city, is £750 pcm. That will increase when H2S happens (if it does).
  - aaren 13y ago
    Maybe £300/month was a bit ambitious for Leeds, but here's £400/month: http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-to-rent/property-42866204.html http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-to-rent/property-4286620... This is in Bramley / Pudsey, 4 miles out from Leeds city centre (well within the Leeds / Bradford urban area). I imagine you could get similar in Armley or Holbeck (1.5 miles out).
    - keithpeter 13y ago
      If the metro reaches Bramley, I accept your point! In the Birmingham/West Midlands anything in reach of centre is over £500 per month.
- twic 13y ago
  I think s/South-East England/London. For values of 'East' which include Oxford, Winchester, and other such towns which offer cosmopolitan amenities and either a strong middle-class labour market (hello, Cambridge) or a plausible commute into London. As other commenters have commented (in other comments), there are plenty of bits of the UK which are still cheap. And whilst they may be absolutely lovely, they're cheap because they're miles from anywhere that anyone with any money would want to work or go shopping.

lucaspiller 13y ago

Not the downvoter, but I think s/UK/London/. I agree with everything on what you say about London, but outside of London the rest of the UK isn't really that bad. You can rent a 3 bedroom house for £300/month in Yorkshire. Even if you are the only earner in a household, on minimum wage, you'll still have over £500/month left after rent (probably more if you have kids due to benefits). Bonus: It's a three hour commute to London [1]. [0] http://www.zoopla.co.uk/to-rent/details/20671512?search_identifier=9fd9a5bfe1e532e8ea1a096bfa063a11 http://www.zoopla.co.uk/to-rent/details/20671512?search_iden... [1] http://traintimes.org.uk/Gainsborough/London/06:30/monday/18:30/monday http://traintimes.org.uk/Gainsborough/London/06:30/monday/18...

keithpeter 13y ago
"You can rent a 3 bedroom house for £300/month in Yorkshire." Leeds? York? I suspect not. Bear in mind that single bedroom flats are mainly built in areas where land is expensive, because it is only then that the small space saving over a 2 bed flat outweighs the similar building cost. Birmingham: 3 bed house commercial, way outside city, is £750 pcm. That will increase when H2S happens (if it does).
- aaren 13y ago
  Maybe £300/month was a bit ambitious for Leeds, but here's £400/month: http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-to-rent/property-42866204.html http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-to-rent/property-4286620... This is in Bramley / Pudsey, 4 miles out from Leeds city centre (well within the Leeds / Bradford urban area). I imagine you could get similar in Armley or Holbeck (1.5 miles out).
  - keithpeter 13y ago
    If the metro reaches Bramley, I accept your point! In the Birmingham/West Midlands anything in reach of centre is over £500 per month.
twic 13y ago
I think s/South-East England/London. For values of 'East' which include Oxford, Winchester, and other such towns which offer cosmopolitan amenities and either a strong middle-class labour market (hello, Cambridge) or a plausible commute into London. As other commenters have commented (in other comments), there are plenty of bits of the UK which are still cheap. And whilst they may be absolutely lovely, they're cheap because they're miles from anywhere that anyone with any money would want to work or go shopping.