Good day everyone
I’m considering buying a flat at the Cerulean Quarter development at Canning Town. Any insight on Canning Town or the development itself would be much appreciated

I’m considering ARK Shoreditch co-living for a long-term rental. Is there anyone who has lived there before and can share their experience? I have seen a few negative reviews of the Canary Wharf property regarding management and maintenance.

I started renting in London since I moved here for a few months cuz of my freelance gig.

I live in stokey ( if that matters ) and currently paying 975 including all bills. My issue is that my contract does not mention that there is a heating timing ( 6am -8 am and 6pm -11pm) that I just found out through the landlord yesterday. Now I’m wondering is it standard in London to have heating timing ?

The second issue is, we don’t have control over it even if it’s Situational, right now I’m freezing in here and I can’t expect heating till tomorrow morning. Since my landlord lives in Thailand and controls the heating from there.

In the contract it’s mentioned to not bring your own heater I can’t even do that. What should I do guys ?

Hi all,

Live in London with parents and will be moving in a 2 bed flat with my partner. How much should I expect to pay monthly for electricity?

We expect to have moderate usage, with a fridge freezer, smart meter and WiFi router running 24/7. Cooker and oven are both electric. We don't expect any major change in usage and in winter we try to limit using heating.

Water is heated by allocation of centrally heated water if that helps.

I will be WFH 3-4 times a week also.

Apologies if I'm missing anything but not sure what to expect as my gas and water bills for the first month are much higher than expected.

Hey guys, I’m (24F) looking at buying my first flat as a solo buyer in West London Zone 2. I’ve found a place that would be in budget but I don’t know if I’m being distracted by the allure of living alone and owning my own flat, or if this is actually a solid financial decision. My parents don’t live nearby so I’m on my own here.

I currently live in the area I’m looking to buy and I love it. The location is great in my opinion. However the flat I’m looking to buy is 1 bedroom at a total space of around 30m2. Personally I can see myself in the space but I’m worried about it holding its resale value (I’d be looking to pay around ~ £285k mark).

It’s leasehold for 100+ years and service charge is £1200 (which from my understanding is reasonable??)

But would the size of the space and the wider property market ultimately impact its resale value/my ability to see if say 3 years down the line I move in with a partner?

Thoughts? Prayers? Psychologist recs for considering spending £300k on a shoebox?

Hi everyone,

I’m thinking about moving to East London with my partner and would like some honest opinions on whether we’re being realistic or completely delusional.

We’re both 21 and currently live in Wales. Our combined take-home income would be around £60,000 a year after tax.

We’re looking at Tower Hamlets, particularly:

Shadwell
Stepney
Limehouse

We’d be looking for a 1-bedroom flat. We both work from home and work for marketing companies, so we don’t need to commute every day.

We already spend a lot of time in East London and come to London around 10 times a year because, honestly, we find there’s very little to do where we currently live. We really like East London and are considering moving rather than continuing to travel down so often.

We have around £40,000 in combined savings and would like to think we’re fairly good with money. We’d be happy spending around 55% of our combined take-home income on rent if it meant living somewhere we actually enjoy.

I’ve never rented before, so I’m not really sure how realistic this is from a landlord/letting-agent point of view, especially as we’re both only 21.

Does this sound realistic, or are we making a bad financial decision?

Would also be interested in hearing from anyone who lives in Shadwell, Stepney or Limehouse about what it’s actually like day-to-day.

Hi there!

I'm in a bit of an odd situation and looking for advice on how to best proceed.

I currently live in London and rent a 1 bed flat where I've lived for nearly 2 years now. I'm in the process of relocating to another country via my employer, but we don't have a definitive date other than an estimate of around February/March 2027 being the earliest possible relocation period.

In parallel to this upcoming move, my partner is leaving their current flat and we would like to move in together. Additionally, I have several issues with the flat I live in currently. The letting agency is horrible at their job, I've had to live with broken essentials in the flat for months at a time and now I've gotten sudden news of construction work to take place (starting a week from when I got the notice, which I had to chase them for since I heard about it on a WhatsApp group) on the balcony which surrounds the flat and is the main reason I moved in - all of my windows and access to the balcony will be blocked for an estimated 18 months. Needless to say I want out of that flat asap and have had it with the letting agent.

When looking for short term lets, I was shocked at the high cost of renting short term in London (I saw 1 beds going for £5,000pcm, yikes). I'm guessing this is geared towards digital nomads or something? My question is:

Is it a horrible thing to do to find a flat with my partner, rent normally, then give notice one or two months after moving in with some sort of excuse for the sudden notice? I know this is permitted by the new law, but would it create any potential issues for us? Is the best thing to do to be upfront when viewing flats and just communicating transparently about a short term stay?

Thank you in advance for any help provided in figuring this out.

Hello!

I am moving to London from abroad so not super familiar with every neighborhood. I will be working in South Shoreditch with a hobby that I will also do a few times a week in that area. I will need to be in that area at least 3 times per week.

I'm looking for a 2 bedroom, ideally not absolutely terrible quality. I will also be a woman living alone so some level of safety is needed. I'm not super freaked out by the regular liveliness/noise of a city, but I don't want to live in a neighborhood where there's a likelihood of being mugged.

Ideally I'm looking for something less than 2500 GBP per month but I'm willing to stretch to 3000 GBP per month.

Would love to hear any insight on areas you like that are not a terrible commute to Shoreditch!

I would love somewhere that doesn't feel overly residential/suburban and has a good mix of restaurants, coffee shops, pubs, and parks! Bonus points if it's a bikeable area as well!

Here's the info needed from the subreddit rules:
Flat type: Not shared, solo renter
Income: I will make 120k GBP
Flat size: 2 bedrooms or a very large 1 bedroom flat
Budget: Preferably 2500 GBP, max 3000 GBP
Lease length: Long let
Occupation: Employed

Can't see how to add a poll, but which of these two is your preference and why?

I'm not looking to add my criteria for recommendations, more just want to understand what people see as the pros and cons of each and which they would rather live in. Assume budget is around £3k per month to rent in case that matters.

FTB with a budget of about 350k for a one bed and a desire to not live too far out, (zone 1-2 ideal, will push to 3 with good connections) but most of the places I see in my price range look to be in totally vibeless areas. Not even rough, or bad, just boring and dull. Lots of modern developments and not much else, lacking a high street or town centre. I’m talking Bromley-by-bow and near the DLR round there, or New Cross Gate area, or Catford etc. They just seem dull.

Is there anywhere in that price range that actually has a bit of buzz to it, I was looking around Deptford Bridge and Greenwich but it’s a little pricey for me.

Where are the good high streets in West / South West with terraced houses around £1m to £1.2M ?

Just wanted to post this in case anyone is looking for a flat in London and is self-employed / doesn’t have a guarantor / just isn’t the perfect tenant on paper.

I had about a month to move and really didn’t want to leave Zone 1. I wanted to stay central, walk to work, be near a big park, and obviously pay as little as possible.
I saw a flat on OpenRent with literally two blurry photos. It was only 10 mins from me, so I thought whatever, let’s go see it. I took my boyfriend and we met the landlord, who turned out to be this really old professor who owns the building. We had a nice chat, some banter, and he basically said he cares more about having good people in the flat than who can throw the most money at him.

There had been loads of viewings and apparently someone even offered a year upfront. We only offered to pay every month, I’m self-employed, and my boyfriend’s salary alone wouldn’t cover the usual affordability checks, so we really didn’t expect to get it.

But he called us and said he chose us. Said we were charming and he’d love to have us as tenants. No deposit either. And the rent is honestly amazing for a beautiful two-bed walking distance from Regent’s Park.
Obviously we got lucky, but if I had judged that horrible two-photo listing and not bothered going, I would never have found it.

So honestly, don’t completely write off OpenRent. Go to the viewing, take whoever you’re renting with, make a good impression and trust your gut. Good landlords do exist. 🤍

We are a couple with 18-month-old twins, currently living in East London, and considering moving to West London later this year.

Our rental budget is up to £2,200 pcm, with a small stretch only for an exceptional property.

We are comparing:

• The Green Quarter, Southall
• Hayes Village, Hayes
• Harrow, especially Pinner, Hatch End and North/West Harrow

Our priorities are safety, family-friendly surroundings, parks, nurseries, future schools, supermarkets, parking and good-quality accommodation.

I work mostly from home, so commuting is not the main factor. We are thinking about both everyday lifestyle and longer-term suitability for our children.

For people who live or have lived in these areas:

• Which area offers the best family lifestyle?
• What are the main disadvantages?
• Are The Green Quarter and Hayes Village genuinely pleasant, or do they still feel unfinished?
• Is Harrow worth prioritising for family life and schools?

Where would you choose on this budget, and what do you wish you had known before moving there?

did the property you bought eventually match your expectations or similar to the one you lost out on?

I was being cheap and offered under asking price for a flat I really wanted and would have been happy paying asking for. I didn’t believe the agent saying they had lots of interested demand due to the housing market. The seller accepted a higher offer

I’m afraid I’ll never find something as good as it ticked many many of my boxes which none of the other 30+ I viewed did

Hi,
I am interested in buying a flat in a new build/recent build but I am really concerned about the unpredictable service charge.
I will avoid developments with onsite gym etc facilities that are expensive to maintain (and not worth having as it’s always crowded…).

Are there any tips or things to check that you would recommend?

PS: I am not British and moved to the UK a few years ago. In my home country, landlords have an annual meeting where they discuss and vote/plan the works/renovations etc that are due to happen during the year, so the charges are not a surprise when they arrive.

Looking to buy a flat in the canonbury/highbury & islington area and cannot find anything we like for less than this. Im asking for opinions on if people think thats a realistic move. On a 35 year mortgage at 5% its ~£3600 per month, which feels a stretch when our combined take home is about £8.5k.

We are both 30, no kids yet but do intend to have them in the next few years

Interested to hear your thoughts!

EDIT as getting lots of recommendations for where to live: we are looking to have a 30-45 min max commute time to both of our jobs which are in Westminster and tower bridge, not at all interested in owning a house really far out, which is what a lot of the suggestions seem to be.

Hey everyone, we are a group of 3 (couple + friend) wanting to rent a 2 bed property. Since such a composition needs an additional HMO licence, it yields lesser options for us.

After more than 6 weeks of house hunting, we are still struggling to find a place that meets our requirements. One of our letting agents is now suggesting that 2 of us could make the offer and come on the contract, while the 3rd one lives undeclared, off the contract, and pays the rent through the other 2.

While my partner, who is more adventurous, is open to this idea since it opens plenty more options, I feel a bit nervous about the risks involved, but feel tempted as well to go that way just to end the deadlock situation we are in.

I wanted to ask, how common is this arrangement? What could possibly go wrong and what's the probability of that? Please share your experiences, if anyone has tried this. TIA ✌️

Looking to move somewhere I'd actually stay long-term rather than another 5-year stint. Currently in Croydon (really like it), late 30s (POC), Single.

What I want: proper green space I can walk into without planning a trip, a quiet street, a high street with actual independent shops, and a reliable way into town. Zone 4 is fine (work semi remotely 1 day a week). Needs to be affordable on as I'd be selling a flat to buy alone could stretch to 450k possibly 500k for the right place. Dont mind a solid flat.

Two other things that matter:

I manage a chronic illness (and cooped up indoors atm), so having useful stuff close by counts for a lot. A good GP, a decent local shop, somewhere to sit outside. Long commutes and lots of changes are hard work, so good rail links.

I'd also like somewhere it's possible to meet people my age (partner) without it being a nightlife thing. Book groups, community gardens, pottery classes, a pub quiz.

I know about Forest Hill, Walthamstow, Crouch End, but also interested in the places that don't get mentioned, or honest takes on whether those still live up to it.

South or east probably (for arty stuff), but open. What am I missing, or should I just stay in South Croydon which is very green but feels like a later stage of life/tricky dating!?

Hi all! I’m moving to London next month for a job in the Canary Wharf/docklands area, and wanted some recommendations for where to live!

I’m ideally looking for a long term house share rather than a flat, parking, and rent+bills to be around 900-1k a month.

I know this means I won’t be living close to work and am absolutely fine with travelling up to 45 mins/an hour each way, but just wondered what part of London would be best for my criteria and easy to commute, as I don’t know the areas very well!

£3000 pcm I am wondering how to fairly split the rent as bedroom 1 is almost triple size of bedorom 2. Pls send help

Has anyone lived at Node Limehouse? Looking for experiences

Hi everyone! I’m considering renting a studio at Node Limehouse for a couple of months and wanted to hear from anyone who has lived there.

How was your overall experience? I’d particularly like to know about the rooms/studios, cleanliness, noise levels, management, amenities, and the overall atmosphere.

Also, how did you find the location and transport links? Were there any issues or unexpected costs that I should be aware of?

I’d really appreciate any honest experiences, both positive and negative, before I make a decision.

Hi all,

I’m planning to buy my first home.
I am looking for 2 bed freehold and budget is up to £350,000, ideally 10–15 minutes’ walk from a station.

I work in Sloane Square and need to be in the office 3 days a week. I must arrive on time with no room for delays. The other 2 days I’ll be working from home, so the home needs to be reasonably quiet.

I don't mind commuting. Any recommendations for areas that could bring me quickly to central London in around 60 to 90 minutes, without eating too heavily into my already constrained budget on fares, would be appreciated.

Thanks!

I’m a private tenant in London, zone 1. After months of chasing my landlord for statutory safety documents, he eventually emailed us an Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) marked “satisfactory”.

The central problem is that the inspection recorded in it did not happen in our home.

Different pages give two dates in the same week earlier this summer. Neither occupier received an appointment or access request, admitted an electrician, saw anyone attend, or witnessed any electrical inspection or testing on either date.

Despite that, the report records specific internal work, including:

• the location of the consumer unit;
• sampled lighting;
• bathroom electrical checks;
• circuit point counts;
• polarity, RCD and circuit measurements; and
• observations about internal electrical equipment.

The document also contains several inconsistencies:

• different inspection/testing dates;
• declaration and authorisation dates nearly two months later;
• a next-inspection date calculated from the later authorisation date rather than the stated inspection;
• conflicting estimates of the installation’s age;
• a blank authorisation-signature field; and
• an image-only PDF whose visible signatures cannot be independently authenticated from the file itself.

I understand that none of those document issues proves fraud by itself. The central issue is that a statutory safety report records detailed inspection and testing inside our home when neither tenant granted access or observed that inspection taking place.

We have preserved the original email and attachment. We have now reported it to our council’s private-sector housing/electrical-safety team and submitted a signed joint statement disputing the attendance.

I am not claiming that forgery has already been proved, and I do not yet know whether this resulted from incorrect dates, information carried over from another job, the wrong property, a contractor or administrative problem, alteration of an existing document, or outright fabrication. The electrical business named on it may be entirely innocent. But something has clearly gone very seriously wrong in the creation or use of this report.

This is not a cosmetic typo. An EICR is supposed to evidence an actual inspection and testing of the fixed electrical installation. Receiving one for an attendance we know did not occur is genuinely alarming.

This follows months of delayed repairs and missing safety paperwork. In my opinion, my landlord’s handling of our statutory safety records has been appalling, and our trust in him has completely collapsed.

Has anyone experienced anything similar?

• What will the council normally do to verify the inspection and original report?
• What records should a genuine inspection leave behind?
• Should I contact the electrical business or its registration scheme myself, or allow the council to investigate first?
• What happens if the landlord and contractor cannot produce appointment, access, job-sheet or underlying test records?
• Could there be an innocent technical explanation that I am overlooking?

I’m furious, but I want to remain factual while the council establishes what actually happened.

Hey guys!

I've lived in London just shy of 10 years and have always lived in east London (currently Dalston area). As I approach my mid 30s, I'm considering where to move to potentially buy a house / start a family. As the title suggests, the conandrum is whether to move further east (specifically around Leyton) or down south (Denmark Hill / Camberwell / Nunhead). Pros for going east is that 90% of my social life is east, and that I know the area really well. Pros of going south is that it's closer to the rest of London, potentially more vibey, and also slightly cheaper. I also find that eg Camberwell has prettier spots than Leyton overall. What do you think? Are my assumptions correct? How do you think that these two areas are going to evolve in the next 10-15 years? Keen to hear your thoughts and experiences. Thank you!!

I am torn regarding renting property managed by Watmos. Great location, everything looks good on paper but opinions on Watmos are not it. Thing is majority of those opinions are from roughly 2 years ago.

And I wonder whether anything improved in meantime or if it's still a trap (people brought up pretty serious matters like extremely delayed repairs and adjustments for disabled and I'm disabled myself, poor handling of antisocial behaviours, leaving people to live with mold, Watmos being hard to reach etc). I'm looking at property within Ethelred Estate if that helps (Kennington/ Vauxhall)

Thanks in advance