Contract work in the London area – accommodation advice
Discussion
Morning all,
I’m thinking about taking on some contract work in the London area later this year and I am considering my accommodation options.
Option 1
Stay in a B&B during the week and commute back and forward to my permanent home in Scotland at the weekends. The plan would be to catch the red eye flight from Edinburgh to London on Monday morning and finish early on Friday and fly back home. The advantage of this option is that I get to spend some time at home and see friends and family. The disadvantages include the cost of the flights and having to live out of a suitcase during the week.
Option 2
Rent a 1 bed flat on a short term lease (6 months). I would still probably come home now and again but certainly not every week. This may be cheaper than option 1, although I would have to pay council tax and utility bills and I could use the weekends to explore London. On the downside I would still be living away from home.
I would appreciate any advice on the relative costs of staying in a B&B for 4 nights a week vs renting a flat for 6 months. The difficult bit is that I don’t know where in the London area I could potentially be working and I know that prices will vary significantly. With regards to transport I would probably buy a cheap runabout rather than drive my own car down from Scotland unless I could find accommodation with good public transport links to work and the city centre – I would hate to be stuck in one place without some way of getting around.
All the best.
Martin.
I’m thinking about taking on some contract work in the London area later this year and I am considering my accommodation options.
Option 1
Stay in a B&B during the week and commute back and forward to my permanent home in Scotland at the weekends. The plan would be to catch the red eye flight from Edinburgh to London on Monday morning and finish early on Friday and fly back home. The advantage of this option is that I get to spend some time at home and see friends and family. The disadvantages include the cost of the flights and having to live out of a suitcase during the week.
Option 2
Rent a 1 bed flat on a short term lease (6 months). I would still probably come home now and again but certainly not every week. This may be cheaper than option 1, although I would have to pay council tax and utility bills and I could use the weekends to explore London. On the downside I would still be living away from home.
I would appreciate any advice on the relative costs of staying in a B&B for 4 nights a week vs renting a flat for 6 months. The difficult bit is that I don’t know where in the London area I could potentially be working and I know that prices will vary significantly. With regards to transport I would probably buy a cheap runabout rather than drive my own car down from Scotland unless I could find accommodation with good public transport links to work and the city centre – I would hate to be stuck in one place without some way of getting around.
All the best.
Martin.
Option 3 (which is really a blend of 1 and 2) is to find a room to rent Monday to Thursday nights in a flat or house. I know a few people who've rented on this basis. Makes sense for the landlord as well, who gets the house to him/herself at the weekends but gets some income during the week. And cheaper than a hotel.
Your best bet might be to do the b&b thing for the first couple of weeks while you settle into a routine and then decide from there whether you want to spend weekends in town or out of town. It'll also give you chance to try out a couple of diffent areas of town while you work out where you might want to rent.
Gumtree is a good place to look for rooms.
Your best bet might be to do the b&b thing for the first couple of weeks while you settle into a routine and then decide from there whether you want to spend weekends in town or out of town. It'll also give you chance to try out a couple of diffent areas of town while you work out where you might want to rent.
Gumtree is a good place to look for rooms.
Yeah, i'd do the flat/house share as well.. One of my friends used to do the same, commuting from Glasgow on a Monday and heading back on Friday..
B&B or hotel means you have to pack everything and kart it all back every Friday.. Also you might not get to use the kitchen facilities etc..
B&B or hotel means you have to pack everything and kart it all back every Friday.. Also you might not get to use the kitchen facilities etc..
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