Job location: City of London, near St Paul's station
Salary: 60k GBP (3.6k GBP net)
Preferred: shared apartment for 2 person, 15-20 min commute time
How early in advance should I start looking for accommodation?
Which parts of the city should I look?
Is it realistic to get something in the range 800-1000 GBP/per month all in?
Thanks!
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Start looking 3 months in advance, where you live is up to you but you get a lot more bang for your money out east around Canary Wharf (which isn't as dead as it used to be but isn't the best commute to St Paul's) or Stratford (better with the Central line), and £1k a month in a 2 bed isn't unreasonable at all in either of those locations - may be harder to stick to your budget if you look around west London.
Fwiw I was on your salary and got a 1 bed with balcony and air con around CW for less than 1,700 a month and had more than enough to spare for living life.
Thanks for the answer.
Friends told me that at the beginning of my career I should aim for a shared apartment even if I could afford a studio (socialization etc.) Is East London safe, any area to avoid? If it's not a secret, what was your savings rate with that salary in London?
East London is mostly safe, avoid Whitechapel and places further out from Stratford, alongside anywhere south east like Lewisham I'd say. Its up to you on sharing or not but there is nothing worse than coming home after a 16 hour day to a flat that is dirty because of someone else's mess.
I maxed out my tax free isa contributions which was the main goal although helped by wfh a bit - would likely have been less otherwise but still comfortably five figures.
Avoid Shoreditch and Hackney like the plague! (me drunk making my way home from Shoreditch now lol)
Joining in July 2022?
Joining in the winter cycle... in 5-6 months.
I'm also starting around that time and was thinking of renting a place somewhere in Clerkenwell/Farringdon, feel free to DM me.
Look at Shoreditch, Old Street, Farringdon - all good areas that are walking distance nearby.
I had a studio in E14 back in the day, but also lived all over London, Essex, and elsewhere.
Canary Wharf isn't entirely boring, as someone said above, but it will limit leisure options. It will most likely be the newest/most modern flat.
For meeting people, Canary Wharf is actually not that bad. All the single flats/studios are filled (or used to be filled) with single professionals in banking or similar.
How much do you plan on socialising? What’s your type of scene?
I’d avoid Stratford/Canary Wharf like the plague.
I’d look at Shoreditch/Bethnal green/old street if you like a more edgy place. Bermondsey/London Bridge/oval/angel/ a little more upmarket but still fun and close.
With council tax and utilities all in around 1200 for shared apartment close to liverpool st station. A bit noisy but good transportation. Advice I got was to refrain from area east of Aldgate East.
Whitechapel and Shadwell should be avoided.
Can you share more opinions on Canary Wharf?
Very interested in moving there at least for the first 6 months or so, until I get used to the job.
Some say it's really bad for your mental health. But I see a plus in commuting less every day and having a more modern apartment, and going out in more trendy areas during the weekend doesn't seem that hard ether. Thanks!
Currently stay in CW but work in the city/Mayfair. I quite like it. Cheap for a modern build (I pay like 850-900 ish a month all in on rent and bills) safe area and there are a decent amount of bars/pubs and restaurants around for socializing. And for a proper night out you can get into shoreditch in 15 minutes or soho in 25.My office commute isnt too bad either with the jubilee and the dlr there you are at the office within 20-25 minutes.
Do you live in a studio? I live in a studio in CW for 1,500/month.....
Really depends on the social scene you want. I enjoyed the Clapham scene, lots of shared flats, great coffee, Northern line into the city. Downside is it takes like 20 min on tube, but just one line. I wouldn’t do CW or Stratford. Never lived in Notting Hill but frequent it, could be nice to live, good dining/coffee scene and on Central Line. Overall your best bet is probably to find a shared flat in London Bridge and just walk to work, fun area, convenient for city. Post-cross rail might advocate for Paddington but that is another year
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