Better to live in bad area with nice flat, or nice area with worse accommodation?

Question

I normally live in shared accommodation, but am sick of it. I am looking for a one bedroom flat but am struggling with the how much the monthly rents seem to be. So, do I compromise and move to a rather grotty area where I have seen a flat that is in reasonable condition, or stick to a nicer area and accept I get far less for my money?

Answer 1

Go to the nicer area - you can tart a flat up but you cant improve a whole area and if you have a nice place in a grotty area, the scum will no doubt break in at some point anyway xxx

Answer 2

If you are buying the place, always choose the best location you can get. If the property market should experience a downturn, then it will be a lot more "recession proof". That is unless the grotty area is "up and coming" ie. it could turn into a desireable place to live in the next few years. Be careful though, those finds are pretty rare nowadays and you could be stuck living in a place you hate.

If you are renting, I would still choose the nice area - theres a lot you can do to make the place more livable, but not a lot you can do to your neighbourhood. Good luck

Answer 3

If the area is REAL BAD SUCH AS HIGH CRIME DONT DO IT, go for the better area. U CAN CK OUT AREA BY CALLING THE LOCAL POLICE STATION, GIVING THEM THE ADDRESS AND ASKING FOR A CRIME REPORT, ALMOST ALL POLICE STATIONS HAVE A PROGRAM THAT IS CALLED CRIME WATCH MAY BE CALLED SOMETHING ELSE IN UR AREA, BUT U CAN GET REPORTS AND THE STATS, I WOULD RECOMMEND U DO THIS WITH BOTH AREAS BEFORE MAKING A DECISION, I have 22 yrs of residential management and this advice is the best, also at night and weekends at night drive thru the area u will then see it when most residents are home, this also is a great way to know if u want to live somewhere, good luck and happy holidays!

Answer 4

I had this exact same problem.

My advice would be to go for the good flat. You will spend a lot more time indoors than outdoors so nicer accomodation will be better in the longrun. The only time this is not true is if the grotty area is an unsafe one. Safety should always come first, consider how you would feel coming home to that area at night. If the grot is just cosmetic then go for it.

I picked the good flat in the grotty area and lived there very happily for 3 years.

Good luck!

Answer 5

Go for the better area. You can improve your flat, but you can't improve the area. The grotty flat will probably cost you less, as well, so you get a good area AND cheaper rent - what a good deal!!!

Answer 6

I would suggest a 'bad area', what you save on rent you can put away towards getting a mortgage. When you decide to buy, you can do the place up as you see fit. Choose an area where lots of regeneration is about to take place and it will be a better investment. For example, East London, with the Olympics, is quite up and coming. Places like Barking and East Ham are still relatively affordable.

Answer 7

I'd rather live in a nice area with bad accomodation. You can always do it up. If you have nice flat in a bad area, your bound to get broken into all the time.

Answer 8

I would pick the nicer area. No matter how nice the flat is if you're surrounded by riff-raff sooner or later you could be mugged or burgled and there'll probably be noise and other anti-social behaviour. You can always decorate the flat.

Answer 9

A nice area for sure! I have 2 kids, and have worked hard for the things I own..... What's the point if it can all be taken away! I've lived in both situations.

Answer 10

no sense putting yourself in danger. Go for the cheapest rates you can find in a better area. Then you won't have to worry about looking over your shoulder all the time as you walk down the street carrying groceries.