Renting in London - Advice required

[enemi]

Alright fellas,

I'll be moving back from Asia back to the UK - going to be living in London for the first time.

My missus will be moving in with me, and we will need to commute to Chancery Lane daily for work.

Criteria as follows;
Budget = 1,000 - 1,200 per month rental
Travel = < 30 minutes preferably
Area = A nice quiet area, that's safe is our main priority. We're both not much of a party-animal, so would prefer quiet nights in etc. So would rather live in an area where there are not many "undesirables" hanging around the corner (hope you get what I mean...)
Parking = Ideally, parking on the street would be great - but could make do without.


Just wanted some ideas as to which areas would be the best fit for the criteria that I'm looking for.
I've looked at places in Fulham, Kensington etc - but they may be a little too far out of the way.
Also considered Isle of Dog & Canary Wharf, but would be open to advise on this matter.

Cheers

Edited by enemi on Tuesday 2nd December 10:28

[mgtony]

Have you looked at rental prices lately? You'd probably have to double your budget for those places you mention. Your budget these days gets a one bed in a area. Move out towards zones 3 and 4 and prices drop a little.
I presume you mean an area with NOT many undesirables??

[enemi]

Hi mgtony,

Thanks for the quick response.
I've had a look at a couple of places, there are several studio places for rent on a property rental side around the West/South Kensington area within budget.

Admittedly - the houses tend to be older and it's stretching to the top end of the budget (1.2k).

I did mean "NO undesirables" - thanks :P


Any recommendations on areas that I should check out?
Maybe taking into consideration that I'm looking for something more quiet..

So places like Shoreditch, Camden should be eliminated.

Cheers!

[ManFromDelmonte]

Check out places like Brockley, New Cross, Dulwich etc.

Your budget is definitely on the low side though for what you're asking though, I live centrally but pay more for less than you are looking for.

Be very aware (as I'm sure you are) that the pictures used by letting agents can be very misleading, make sure you get a floorplan so you can get an idea of what you're getting. I've looked at too many flats that look great in the pictures but are incredibly crap and small once you get inside.

Also avoid an agency called MyRooms.

[Du1point8]

Somewhere like Clapham north suit you?

http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-to-rent/proper...

[valiant]

Going east, how about Woodford/Wanstead areas? Not bad areas and you can pick up 1 or 2 bed flats for around your budget plus it has the advantage of being on the Central Line so direct links to Chancery Lane.

[enemi]

Cheers fellas, really good options.

I'll take a look at some of the areas that has been mentioned.

Will update the thread further down the line when I've made a decision and also share the process for future reference.

[TwigtheWonderkid]

valiant said:

Going east, how about Woodford/Wanstead areas? Not bad areas and you can pick up 1 or 2 bed flats for around your budget plus it has the advantage of being on the Central Line so direct links to Chancery Lane.

Farringdon station is a short walk from Chancery Lane, which opens up even more options.

[matrignano]

Probably slightly above budget (if you go for a studio) but Fitzrovia and Bloomsbury are close enough and quiet/residential yet very central

[tomtom]

Don't discount the areas just south of the river too. You could walk to Chancery Lane from Kennington in about 30mins for example.

[ManFromDelmonte]

tomtom said:

Don't discount the areas just south of the river too. You could walk to Chancery Lane from Kennington in about 30mins for example.

30 minutes? It's at least 2.5 miles.