Welcome back to What I Own – Metro’s property series where we speak to homeowners about getting on the ladder.

This week, we’re in Uxbridge, West London, having a look around Billie-Jane Whitbread’s one-bedroom flat.

Having originally bought it in 2020 for £267,000, she managed to shave £33,000 off the asking price – which at the time, was £300,000.

Five years and a baby later, Billie-Jane and her partner are now looking to say goodbye to Uxbridge and move closer to her family in Iver, Buckinghamshire, where they’re hoping to buy a four-bedroom home.

Here’s what Billie-Jane had to say about her property journey…

Tell us about yourself! 

I’m Billie-Jane, I’m 32 and I’ve lived in Uxbridge for five years. I work for the removals and storage company Gentleman & A Van, and I recently returned from maternity leave after having my son.

Where is your property, and what do you think of the area? 

I live in Cowley, Uxbridge, and I love it here. The area has great transport connections, which makes commuting easy.

When did you move in? 

June 2020. 

How much did your property cost? 

I bought it for £267,000, even though it was originally listed for £300,000.

The property had been reduced in price just before I viewed it. I then under offered, and it was accepted. My auntie works at an estate agent, so she was great at helping me navigate the situation, and how much to offer to get the best deal.

How much was your deposit? 

£13,500. 

What is your monthly cost of living, including mortgage and bills? 

Around £1,900, which I cover myself. My partner doesn’t live with me, but he stays here occasionally to see our son.

How did you save for your deposit? 

I started saving as soon as I started working. Having worked in removals for so long, I saw firsthand how important homeownership was for so many people, and that motivated me to focus on getting on the property ladder myself. 

What was the process of getting a mortgage like? Did you face any challenges? 

I was very lucky. My boss, Terance Puna, has strong connections in the property industry and introduced me to a fantastic mortgage advisor.

That made the whole process much smoother than I had expected. Seeing so many customers go through the moving process, I knew I needed expert guidance, and my advisor was invaluable in helping me secure the right deal.

Can you share details about your mortgage (rate/term)? 

I secured a great rate in 2020 with a 40-year term at 1.63% interest. 

Where did you live before buying — were you renting or living with family? 

Before buying, I lived in Hanwell, Ealing, with my parents and siblings. 

What made you want to buy rather than rent? 

I see the excitement of people moving into their dream homes every day. It’s such a big milestone, and I wanted to experience that for myself. I also wanted the stability of having my own space – somewhere I could truly make my own. 

How did you find this property, and why did you choose it? 

I found my flat through a Help to Buy scheme, which colleagues had told me about. Through the scheme, you get a 40% contribution from the government, which you pay back at £1 per month for the first five years.

When I viewed it, I loved how spacious it was for a new build. Now, with a young family, I appreciate how that space has stood the test of time.

How have you made the property feel like home? What’s your interior decor style? 

Gentleman & A Van works closely with some of London’s top interior designers and being surrounded by that expertise has really influenced my style.

I’ve picked up so many ideas from the designers, like adding mirrors and mirrored furniture to lighten the darker spaces, which I’ve incorporated and has really made a big difference. 

What’s your favourite room and why? 

My bedroom is my favourite space. It’s bright and airy thanks to the floor-to-ceiling windows, and it’s where I have my favourite furniture pieces. 

Do you feel like you have enough space? 

At the time of buying, yes. But since meeting my partner and having my son, more space would definitely be a bonus. 

Do you have plans to move? 

Yes, my flat is currently on the market. The Help to Buy scheme means thatI will owe the government 40% of the current value of my flat when it sells.

I’m looking to move to Iver as I would be close to my grandparents. It’s always been my dream to live there, and we’re ideally looking for a three or four-bedroom property with a garden close to the station.

What do you want people to know about buying a home? 

Owning a home has given me so much independence, and I’ll always look back on my first place fondly.

What are your future housing plans? 

Now that my family has grown, I need more space. My next home will be somewhere with even more room to grow – ideally, a house with a garden where my little one can play.

I want to focus on making memories with my partner and son and bringing our vision for the new home to life. 

Shall we have a look around?

Do you have a story to share?

Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@Metro.co.uk.

Owning an island is reserved for the elite, that 0.01%. However, the rest of us can now enjoy a slice of their wealthy lifestyle for a fraction of the price.

While it can’t compete with Sir Richard Branson’s Necker Island, there’s a little gem in the English Channel available to rent for just £40 per night.

The island of Lihou is located just off the west coast of Guernsey, with only one habitable structure remaining there — a single house.

Operated by the Lihou Charitable Trust, the home can only be accessed via a rocky passage while the tide is low for two weeks each month.

The area was once part of a bustling seaweed harvesting industry but is now completely unoccupied.

It has terrible signal, and you can wave goodbye to Netflix or Spotify, as the house doesn’t have a TV or a sound system — but that makes it an idyllic spot for an off-the-grid getaway.

Visitors are encouraged to put their mobile phones away in a drawer and fully bask in the place’s natural beauty since, once you’re on the island, it’s not easy to get off.

Booking a stay in the house means you’ll be the sole residents of the island for that time, so there’s no fear of a run-in with noisy neighbours or having to make small talk.

Of course, this comes with obstacles — quite literally, in fact, as you have to heave your suitcases up a slippery road for a quarter of a mile in a race against the waves rushing back and covering it.

So, it’s recommended to pack light… but you’ll also have to cater for yourself since Deliveroo is totally out of the question.

Once you reach your destination, however, it’s all worth it, as you can swap the hustle of everyday life for peace and tranquillity within a cosy brick abode.

If you’re a nature enthusiast or just simply live for the outdoors, there’s plenty of exploring to be done here, from the island’s ancient priory ruins to the Venus Pool, which forms naturally at a low tide.

As well as the breathtaking views, twitchers can take advantage of the fact that Lihou is a crucial nesting and roosting site for many species of migratory birds.

So what the island lacks in amenities it makes up for in scenery and wildlife, meaning it shouldn’t be hard to make your own fun.

With its £40 per person per night price tag, Lihou House allows a minimum of 10 people to stay. No stag or hen dos are allowed, and the same goes for raucous 18th or 21st birthday celebrations.

School groups can also stay for just £20 per person as, with nine bedrooms and the capacity to sleep 30 people at one time, you certainly won’t be short on space.

The house is fully self-sufficient and has a comfortable layout, generating its own drinking water and electricity through a solar system. In another environmentally friendly touch, it uses gas for the kitchen and a diesel generator.

To access the island, you’ll need to take a Condor Ferry, which operates two routes between the UK and Guernsey, the fastest being from Poole, which takes three hours.

Once in Guernsey, you can reach Lihou Island by crossing the causeway from the mainland. However, this is only accessible at low tide, so it’s essential to check the tide times before planning your visit.

Visitors to the island, which is also a nature reserve, have declared it ‘stunning’ and ‘peaceful’ on Tripadvisor.

One reviewer, Dilly4472, said: ‘[It’s] a fantastic, peaceful island which one can walk round easily within an hour, listening only to the sound of waves and birds, and seeing beautiful wildflowers and wonderful scenery.’

Another, nessief, wrote: ‘What a fabulous place with stunning views all around.’

One reviewer described Lihou Island as being ‘covered in wildflowers and wildlife’, calling a walk around the island a ‘must do’.

However, they urged those who make the trek across the tidal causeway to bring solid footwear, as the causeway can be slippery and wet.

Do you have a story to share?

Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@Metro.co.uk.

This tiny house might be rather narrow, but it packs in a lot more than you’d think.

At it’s tightest point, this cottage in Cornwall measures just 3ft, or 91cm wide.

It’s squeezed between two existing semi-detached homes, in the seaside town of Porthleven, the most southerly port in the UK.

At £235,000, it might seem like a hefty price tag for such a tiny home, but according to Rightmove, the overall average price of a property in the area is actually £367,842, so you could be bagging yourself a bargain.

The home is actually shaped like an iron – so is wider towards the rear – and features everything one person might need in a new home.

There’s a a bedroom, just big enough for a double bed, a brightly coloured kitchen, a bathroom and lounge – although be prepared to sit rather close to your TV.

You also get stunning views out to sea.

The home has an interesting history too. The street itself used to be called the Lifeboat Terrace, as its the location of the town’s first lifeboat house, built in 1863.

Other residents can recall it being call called the Box and Heater due to itsiron shape.

While it perhaps won’t suit everyone – and the estate agent has conceded that it wouldn’t work for a family – there’s been a lot of interest in the small, but perfectly formed home.

The listing from agency, Mather Partnership, said the one-bedroom house with sea views offers a ‘delightful blend of character and modern living’.

It added: ‘With its quirky design, the property is well presented throughout, making it an inviting space for those looking to get away to the coast.

‘Utilised as a holiday let by our current clients, one of the standout features of this lovely cottage is the incredible sea views that can be enjoyed from various vantage points within the home. This property truly embodies the essence of coastal living.’

The cottage gives other tiny homes a run for their money, including the shipping container in Stratford that’s the width of one double bed, which can be yours for a whopping £75,000.

The tiny home can fit a sofa, cooking area, double bed, and bathroom. Estate agents have described the container as a ‘testament to luxurious living.’

The small home is also being heralded as the ‘pinnacle of sustainable living’ using low energy and comes complete with ESG compliance.

Do you have a story to share?

Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@Metro.co.uk.

Hull has long battled a less-than-favourable reputation, and locals are no strangers to jokes at their city’s expense. 

It’s repeatedly ranked among the worst places to live in the UK, and was famously crowned the first ever ‘Crap Town’.

But more than two decades later, opinions have changed — so much so that Hull’s HU1 postcode has been named one of the coolest in the UK. 

According to the new list, Hull is the place ‘for real northern hipsters’, with a thriving cultural scene, indie cafes, clubs and vibrant street art.

Its transformation has made it a popular place to live in Yorkshire, with young professionals flocking the city due to its affordable prices and proximity to major Northern cities like Leeds and York. 

‘Forget its grim rep post Second World War bombing, Hull has now entered its glow-up era,’ reads the Sunday Times list.

‘The former fruit and veg markets and warehouses lining the city’s old marina are chock-a-block with independents, while its hipsterish dining scene is thronging with exciting offerings.’

Things to do in Hull’s HU1 postcode

There are plenty of things to see and do in HU1, the esteemed postcode which encompasses the city centre, old town and Albert Dock.

The area is home to The Deep, an award-winning aquarium and the city’s biggest tourist attraction. Visitors can explore its vast array of marine life, walk through an underwater tunnel, or relax in its café

For history lovers, the city’s Streetlife Museum of Transport offers an impressive collection of vintage vehicles spanning a 200 year history. It’s located in the city’s old town, where you’ll discover cobbled streets and Stuart and Georgian architecture.

Meanwhile, the Ferens Art Gallery and The Humber Street Gallery are a must for those looking to soak up some culture. 

You can also find plenty of traditional pubs in the centre, such as Ye Olde White Harte, which was built in 1550. The historic pub is famous for its Plotting Parlour, a small, hidden room where royalists are believed to have met during the English Civil War.

There’s also the Paragon Arcade, named on TikTok as the ‘coolest’ place for food in HU1. Enjoy Asian street food at Salt And Pepper Club or brunch at Milchig. Whatever you fancy, you’re bound to find something.

For those looking to explore outside HU1, the Sunday Times recommends a visit to the New Adelphi, an independent grassroots venue where the likes of Oasis, Radiohead and Fatboy Slim have performed. 

The venue, which is on the edge of town in HU5, is where Hull’s own Housemartins signed their first record deal in its tiny gig room. 

The city is also home to a University of Hull, which has a great literary past and is where Phillip Larkin – one of the UK’s most renowned poets – who worked as a librarian for 30 years.

What locals are saying about Hull

As for what locals think, several have defended the Northern city in a Reddit thread titled: ‘Is Hull really that bad?’

One user, @annemai, wrote: ‘I moved to Hull from London 15 years ago and not regretted it for a minute. Yes, like every place, there are good and bad areas. 

‘People are friendly, and the cost of living is lower, plenty of open spaces for children and close to places of interest within easy travelling distance.’

Another thread titled ‘What is it like to live in Hull?’ sparked a wave of similar responses. One user, @mad-de, who moved to the UK to live in Hull said: ‘It’s a lot better than I expected.’

They wrote: ‘I despaired when I heard I had to move to Hull. I gave it a shot for a few days, just to find out that it actually offers pretty much everything I’m looking for in a city.

‘It has an interesting and quite varied art scene. From independent music venues with good live music to street art, good museums and exhibitions.’

They added that the city is ‘affordable’ and you can ‘get a house or flat close enough to the city on a normal income’. 

House prices in Hull 

According to ONS data from November 2024, the average house price in Hull was £145,000 in November 2024, up 6.6% from November 2023. 

The average monthly rent also saw an increase of 10.1% from £570 to £627. The average price paid by first-time buyers was also higher than the year before, rising to £133,000 from £125,000.

Overall, it’s much lower than the national average house price of £286,144 and average rent of around £1,300.

Transport links in Hull 

There are plenty of ways to get around the city. Hull has an extensive bus network, mainly operated by East Yorkshire Buses and Stagecoach, which provide routes both within Hull and its surrounding areas.  

For those wanting to drive, there are numerous car parks around the city, including in the Princess Quay, Prospect Centre and St Stephen’s shopping centres. 

The Park and Ride service is another convenient option for accessing the city centre, with buses running up to every 10 minutes. 

It’s also a great city for cyclists – with several routes around Hull and East Yorkshire. The City Council website has plenty of information about cycling around the city, including maps you can download. 

Hull is well connected to the rest of the UK. It takes just two and a half hours to reach London King’s Cross, with several trains running per day and ticket prices available for £20.

You can access local areas by rail too. Northern Rail operates services to Cleethorpes, Scarborough, Beverley and Bridlington. 

Meanwhile, The National Express offers services connecting Hull to other major cities such as Manchester, Birmingham and London. 

Do you have a story to share?

Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@Metro.co.uk.

This home in Kent might look unassuming, but it’s hiding a labyrinth of subterranean tunnels that descend 50ft below the ground. 

The maze of tunnels and caves are accessed through a trap door in the garden which reveals a narrow brick staircase leading to the depths below. 

Images of the property show it’s a tight squeeze. With small stone passageways, it’s definitely not ideal for claustrophobics. 

The detached house, located in the town of Sandwich, is currently on the market for £1,000,000, and offers the only entrance to the mysterious underground world.

While it’s not clear when the network of tunnels and caves were built, the property itself dates back to the 12th century.

And, there are various theories as to what they might have been used for.

Local legend has it that Thomas Becket hid in the tunnels, which extend beneath the roads, fields and houses of the village, when fleeing King Henry II in the 12th century. 

It’s also said that the Archbishop of Canterbury hid in the caves in 1164, while waiting for a fishing boat to take him from Sandwich to France. 

He spent six years in exile on the continent before eventually returning to England, where he was later killed. 

Others say they were once used for smuggling, or even wartime shelters. 

Aside from the unique tunnels, the house boasts plenty of other period features, including exposed beams, fireplaces and original roof and floorboards. 

There’s also an original Georgian front door, windows and oak staircases.

Inside the 2,531 square feet property, there’s a kitchen and breakfast room, dining room, sitting room, drawing room, five bedrooms and two bathrooms. 

There’s parking for four cars, a garage and a sizeable garden, which boasts a pond, treehouse and a Victorian stable.

The nearby town of Sandwich boasts a handful of ‘fascinating medieval properties’, according to the listing.

You’ll also find lots of restaurants, bars individual shops and a station with high-speed trains which can reach London in under an hour and a half.

In the listing, the owners said: ‘We fell in love with [the house], blown away by the history of the house and have enjoyed making discoveries and careful improvements over our twenty years here. 

‘We have carefully preserved the numerous historical features as well as being custodians of the caves but feel that now is the right time to entrust Beckets to new enthusiastic owners.’

The unique listing has found its way onto TikTok account @housinghorrors, prompting numerous comments from fascinated users. 

One user, @sw00ns, joked: ‘It’s actually a Wetherspoons, the tunnel is how you get to the loos.’ 

Another wrote: ‘This house is so pretty.’ While one claimed: ‘I’d have it just for the tunnel, I’d be right down there.’

Others pondered what the tunnels were used for. ‘Could it be a shelter from the war?’ one user asked. While another wrote: ‘There are old smugglers caves all over Kent.’

Do you have a story to share?

Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@Metro.co.uk.

‘Great news! We have a joint mortgage’. 

That was the text my partner sent me in December 2017 to announce that we were now financially linked and owned a home together. 

I felt sick to my stomach. 

What followed was years of economic and joint mortgage abuse and a lengthy legal battle before I could be set free. And I want everyone, including banks, to know the warning signs.

I first met Tom* when we were teenagers. We were friends for several years before getting together.

For the first couple of years of our relationship, we lived separately but he soon said that he wanted us to rent a flat. I loved him, but was reluctant.

I wanted to marry him eventually, but I wanted us to one day buy a place together and I had already started saving up for my own place instead – by January 2014 I’d banked £20,000.

Finally, I could purchase a flat in London at a good price with a 10% deposit. 

But Tom and I’s relationship was ending. So when I moved to my new flat, I told him it officially marked the end of ‘us’. 

While it was a sad ending, I also couldn’t wait to renovate and transform my flat into a beautiful cosy home all for myself.

This Is Not Right

On November 25, 2024 Metro launched This Is Not Right, a year-long campaign to address the relentless epidemic of violence against women.

Throughout the year we will be bringing you stories that shine a light on the sheer scale of the epidemic.

With the help of our partners at Women’s Aid, This Is Not Right aims to engage and empower our readers on the issue of violence against women.

You can find more articles here, and if you want to share your story with us, you can send us an email at vaw@metro.co.uk.

Read more:

• Introducing This Is Not Right: Metro’s year-long violence against women campaign
• Yvette Cooper’s message to abusers and rapists: The streets don’t belong to you
• Remembering the women killed by men in 2024
• Stories about violence against women don’t make an impact – this is why
• Men – we need your help to end violence against women
• What to do if your loved one is at risk from domestic abuse

However, after a sudden death in his family, Tom said he had to move in with me claiming that he ‘needed’ our relationship.’ As much as I didn’t want to get back together, I felt bad, so I obliged.

He moved in and I supported him emotionally while taking out further loans so I could afford to make the flat habitable. Every spare moment was spent re-painting, wallpapering or dealing with builders. 

My efforts were worth it though as, within a year, the flat’s value increased by £100,000. I felt a huge sense of pride.

Around this time, Tom, who had always been opposed to us getting married, began to talk more and more about the idea.

But the relationship still felt over to me.

Tom kept pretending everything was fine and I felt I was going crazy (which I now know is a sign of gaslighting).

Then, in December 2016, after two years of living together in my flat, he proposed. 

Badly. 

He did it in a bird watching hut at a national trust park on a wet and dreary day and, unsurprisingly, I said no. 

Undeterred, he proposed again about four months later, taking me on a trip to Bruges. This time though, I said yes. I felt pressure to say yes because he’d clearly made more of an effort with the proposal. Also, part of me wanted to still believe the romantic idea that he did love me and this was his way to prove it.

But that’s when everything changed. 

Almost immediately after the ring was on my finger he became fixated on money. 

Not only did he ask me for half the cost of the engagement ring, he began to pester me constantly about putting his name on the mortgage. 

The mortgage and deeds were in my name and, though he had contributed to repayments and bills since moving in, I didn’t want to change this arrangement because I knew he couldn’t be trusted with the responsibility.

He never let up though, even insisting that I was bad with maths, which gradually chipped away at my confidence until eventually I gave in. 

The mortgage meeting, when his name was added, is not something I’ll soon forget. 

Removing him from the mortgage and getting my property back solely in my name took five years

At no point did anyone from the bank ask me privately if I was comfortable with this change. If they had, I would have said no, that I felt like he was taking over.

So that text, confirming that I was no longer in sole control of my finances (or my life), felt like a dagger to my heart. He was smug, I was devastated.  

That was the moment that I realised I had to get out and, with the wedding day looming, I needed to do it quickly. 

Over the next two months I repeatedly asked him to cancel the wedding but he ignored me. 

All the while he had full control of the joint account and all bills.

Eventually, I told him I’d met somebody else, which wasn’t strictly true but it was all I could think of to get him out. He told me I deserved to be punished and made to suffer.

And suffer I did.

Adding him to the mortgage seemed to take only a matter of weeks, but removing him and getting my property back solely in my name took five years. 

I initially offered him £15,000 to remove his name from the mortgage and walk away without a court battle, but he refused. I was then forced to gather as much evidence of his abuse as I could – my barrister even found numerous transactions going out of my account to his – and prepare for a lengthy legal battle.

It was only as we were about to go to court that he backed down and said he wanted to take my original offer.

By then though – due to paying the mortgage and solicitor fees without any income as I’d lost my job as a result of developing PTSD from our abusive relationship – I’d put myself into financial difficulty and no longer had access to that money.

Once again, he threatened legal action for my inability to pay. 

I was at my absolute lowest and even contemplated taking my own life due to the crushing emotional and financial strain. Had it not been for my dad – who was so worried about me that he took £15k from his pension to pay him off – I’m not sure what would have happened. 

Even after this was seemingly settled, the bank still wouldn’t allow him to be removed from the mortgage and deeds until I could prove I was a high enough earner to cover it. His hold over me continued.

It wasn’t until April 2023 that I was able to get a new mortgage and the deeds back solely in my name.

While I was relieved and grateful to the bank for helping me (despite a compromised credit rating) I can’t help but feel it could have all been avoided had the bank just asked a few questions or spotted the signs of financial abuse sooner. 

Tom weaponised my mortgage agreement as part of a campaign of coercive control over me. Sadly, I’m not alone.

According to the charity Surviving Economic Abuse, joint mortgage abuse is a growing phenomenon and affects 1 in 8 women. But we can change that with help. 

In the years since I broke up with Tom, I’ve rebuilt my life and career as a personal trainer and have contributed to the domestic abuse bill to make economic abuse a recognised crime. 

We’ve got a long way to go, but if sharing my story helps highlight the problem, helps someone recognise the early subtle signs of economic abuse before it becomes joint mortgage abuse and ultimately stops it happening to others, then I’d say that’s time well spent. 

*Names have been changed 

Do you have a story you’d like to share? Get in touch by emailing jess.austin@metro.co.uk. 

Share your views in the comments below.

Londoners know all too well that it’s anything but easy to find somewhere to rent here, and for many of us, owning a property is a pretty impossible pipe dream.

Now, new data has revealed the London neighbourhoods where rents have increased the most in the last 12 months – and in the top spot was one South London hub. It might be in Zone 4, and it might be 10 miles from the city centre, but it remains endlessly ‘bustling.’

Thornton Heath is arguably most famous for its proximity to the BRIT School, the performing arts and technology institution that has a list of alumni including Amy Winehouse, Adele, Rizzle Kicks, and RAYE.

And any grime music fan will know that it’s also the home of Stormzy, as he’s referenced the area multiple times in tracks including Wicked Stengman Part 4.

But, according to new data from Rightmove, Thornton Heath is quickly becoming steadily more expensive. Between 2024 and 2025, the area saw a 14% year-on-year increase in rental prices – the largest of any area in London.

Following behind was Harlesden in the borough of Brent, Greenford in Ealing, and Barnes in Richmond upon Thames, all at 12% respectively.

Meanwhile, Biggin Hill in Bromley, Bayswater in Westminster, and East Finchley in Barnet have each seen increases of 11%.

‘While new tenants are still paying more than they were at this time last year, the pace of growth continues to slow,’ Rightmove’s Colleen Babock said of the data.

‘However, though this is the big picture of market activity, agents on the ground still tell us that the market is very hot, and some areas have improved more than others when it comes to the supply and demand balance.

‘Our own data shows that the average rental property is still receiving 10 applications per property, which is lower than the peak, but still double the pre-pandemic norm.’

Things to do in Thornton Heath

When it comes to architecture, Thornton Heath is famous for its Victorian buildings – as seen in the St Paul’s Church and St Alban’s Anglican. There’s also the newer Clocktower, found on the junction between the high street and Parchmore Road.

The sense of local community is strong too, epitomised by the Thornton Heath Community Action Team, founded in 2014 to deliver local projects to improve the area. So far, they’ve established a gardening club, as well as the Thornton Heath Art Trail.

If you’re into board games, you’ll be gunning for a visit to The Ludoquist, a board game café bar offering a whopping 1,400 board games alongside craft beer and coffee produced by Volcano, an institution famous among South Londoners.

And if football’s your thing, a trip to Selhurst Park Stadium, the home of premier league club Crystal Palace, is essential. There’s also AFC Croydon Athletic, famously co-owned by two local legends: Stormzy and former Crystal Palace player Wilfried Zaha.

What locals are saying about Thornton Heath

As for the locals’ perspective on Thornton Heath, Redditor @EarlessAgeratum was born and raised in the area and has lived there for the past 29 years.

In their view, while Thornton Heath might have its own issues, you’d be ‘hard-pressed to find an affordable area of London that doesn’t have a reputation for crime.’

‘Croydon Council has also made efforts to invest in the area to make it more presentable, and you’re more likely to find discount shops and cheap takeaway places than independent coffee shops and trendy bars,’ they add, noting that ‘not much’ has changed about Thornton Heath in their lifetime.

‘It has its problems and definitely isn’t polished but it isn’t boring either. It’s multicultural and bustling.’

Meanwhile, @OpelFruitDaze made the decision to move to Thornton Heath four years ago as Dulwich was becoming increasingly expensive.

‘We wanted more space for the kids. We’re in a quiet residential street, have a garden and nice neighbours. [We] really can’t complain,’ they wrote in another Reddit thread.

‘Thornton Heath has a reputation but moving here was one of the best things we did.’

House prices in Thornton Heath

Characterised by bright green trams, Boxpark and a massive Ikea, in January 2024, Croydon was actually crowned the most affordable location for house hunters in London, with research from Zoopla indicating that you can get on the ladder for as little as £76,000 in a shared-ownership home.

And so, it’s little surprise that it’s looking like one to watch in the London property world – even if the rents are slowly becoming more expensive.

Data from Rightmove reveals that, over the last year, the average selling price for properties in Thornton Heath more specifically was £396,996 – considerably cheaper than the typical London house, which now rests at a whopping £686,817.

‘It’s shedding its old image as just a commuter hub, with tech start-ups and creative businesses breathing new life into the area,’ property expert Sue Iluc, founder of Courtyard Holiday Apartments and self-described ‘designer holiday let lady’ previously told Metro of the area.

‘On top of that, there are big plans to overhaul the town centre, making it more attractive to people looking for a mix of affordability and city access.’

And, according to Zoopla’s area guide, Thornton Heath offers ‘affordable living in a modern urban environment that still retains suburban charm, combined with great schools and impressive transport links to central London.’

So, while the rents might be going up, there’s still plenty to be optimistic about when it comes to the buyer’s market.

Transport links in Thornton Heath

Now, Thornton Heath might technically be in Zone 4 but it’s inundated with speedy links into central London.

There’s a direct train to London Bridge which takes 36 minutes, passing through the likes of Tulse Hill, North Dulwich, Peckham Rye and South Bermondsey.

Likewise, West Croydon is located on the Windrush Line Overground, which was recently renamed to honour the Windrush generation of immigrants, many of whom have settled in the area.

And in the world of buses, the 250 connects Croydon Town Centre and Brixton, while the 450 runs from Lower Sydenham to West Croydon.

This article was first published on January 30, 2025.

Do you have a story to share?

Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@Metro.co.uk.

Welcome back to What I Own – Metro’s property series where we speak to homeowners about getting on the ladder.

This week, we’re having a nosey around Emily McAllister and Ciaran Dennis’ £278,000 two-bedroom maisonette in Upminster.

The pair got on the property ladder when they were just 23 and 24 respectively, having saved while living with their parents.

Now, they’ve found that the cost of their monthly mortgage is actually lower than the average rental rates for the area – and they’ve been able to put their own spin on the place, too.

Here’s what Emily had to say about their property journey…

Tell us about yourself!

I’m Emily McAllister, 24, and my boyfriend, Ciaran Dennis, is 25. We’re based in Upminster, East London, with our Corgi, Padron. I work as a marketing manager, and Ciaran is an insurance broker.

Where is your property? What do you think of the area?

We live in Upminster, right at the end of the District Line in Zone 6. We’ve both grown up here and absolutely love it.

It’s the perfect mix of quiet countryside and city living. There’s a park at the end of our road for dog walks, yet we’re only 20 minutes from London by train. It really feels like the best of both worlds.

When did you move in?

We got the keys in May 2024, but we didn’t officially move in until August 2024, after completing some much-needed renovations.

How much does your property cost?

We paid £278,000 for our two-bed maisonette.

How much was your deposit?

We put down a 10% deposit of £27,800.

What is the monthly cost of living here now, both mortgage and bills?

Our total monthly cost is around £1,817.49. Our mortgage is £1,250.20, and we overpay by £150 each month to chip away at it faster. Our council tax costs £177, water is £40, gas and electric £100, WiFi £27, TV licence £12, and contents insurance £23.80.

We also pay for boiler insurance, which costs £22 per month, a Ring doorbell at £7.99, and a window cleaner at £7.50.

How did you save up for your deposit?

We were really lucky to be able to live rent-free with our families while saving, which made a huge difference. We both used Lifetime ISAs (LISAs), which helped boost our savings with a government bonus, and my parents kindly gifted us around £5,000 towards our deposit.

What was the process of getting a mortgage like for you? Did you find any parts challenging?

It was definitely overwhelming at first but we had an amazing mortgage advisor, Jason at Grech Wealth Management, who guided us through every step. We honestly couldn’t have done it without him.

Can you share details on your mortgage (rate/term)?

We have a 35-year mortgage with a 4.89% interest rate.

What made you want to buy rather than rent?

We’ve always saved with the goal of buying a home, and renting in our area is actually more expensive than a mortgage. So, it was a no-brainer for us to buy rather than rent.

How did you find this property? What made you choose it?

We spotted it as soon as it hit Rightmove and booked a viewing straight away. It needed a lot of work, but the location was perfect. We walked out of the first viewing knowing we had to put in an offer – so we did, immediately.

How have you made the property feel like home? What’s the inspiration for your interior decor style?

We did a lot of work when we got the keys. We’ve had a full rewire, a new boiler, we built an office mezzanine area and new flooring.

Doing all of the work was essential to make it liveable, but also meant we could really make it feel like our home by putting our stamp on it – huge shoutout to our amazing builders at Essex Install. I get most of my interior design inspiration from Pinterest or TikTok.

What’s your favourite room and why?

Probably our open-plan kitchen/living area – it’s great for hosting because whoever is cooking can still be part of the conversation. I also love our office mezzanine. It was a wasted space before, and transforming it into a functional area was such a satisfying project.

Do you feel like you have enough space?

For now, yes. Even though it’s a two-bed maisonette, we’re lucky to have loft access and a garage for extra storage. Creating a separate office space also made a huge difference in keeping our work setup away from our main living area.

Do you have plans to change the property?

We’ve done a lot already, but the list never really ends. Our next big focus is tackling the front and back garden to get it ready for summer. Inside, we still need to install built-in wardrobes in the spare room and paint all the doors.

Are there any problems with the property that you have to deal with?

Since our home was built in the ‘60s and hadn’t been updated much, we had quite a few issues. We had to do a full electrical rewire and install a new boiler, along with lots of cosmetic updates. It was a lot to handle at first, but worth it in the end.

What do you want people to know about buying a home?

Everything costs twice as much as you expect. Also, Facebook Marketplace will be your best friend when it comes to finding affordable furniture and decor.

Be patient – things take time and money, and it’s better to live in your space before making big interior decisions. Trust me, you’ll change your mind more than once.

What are your plans for the future in terms of housing? Do you plan to stay here long-term?

We’ll probably stay here for another two to three years before looking to buy a house in the same area. Ideally, we’d love our next home to be our long-term/forever home – I’d like to avoid the stress of moving and renovating again for as long as possible.

Shall we take a look around?

Do you have a story to share?

Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@Metro.co.uk.

As all single people know too well, it’s expensive to be riding solo.

You’re expected to pay a full hotel room rate at weddings while your coupled-up friends get in for cheaper, you’ve no one to split your weekly shop with, and you’re fronting 100% of your living costs (despite the fact that the council tax discount for people living alone is still only 25%).

But now, if you’re in the market to buy and want to stretch your pennies a little further, the most affordable UK city for single people has been named – and it’s Aberdeen.

Here, new data shows that the median value between a one and two-bedroom home is £119,350, while the median monthly pay (gross) is £3,280, as of November 2024.

Monthly mortgage repayments were placed at £510 per month in accordance with the average deposit in the region, giving an annual value-to-earnings ratio of 3.0 – which isn’t too shabby.

But it’s not just Aberdeen that’s increasingly affordable for single people: if you’re looking for your perfect homely match in England, the vibrant city of Liverpool comes out on top (and in second place across Britain overall).

The median value of a 1-2 bedroom home might be slightly more expensive than Scotland’s Silver City at £130,800, but as per Zoopla’s figures, the typical monthly pay here is £2,980. Assuming mortgage repayments of £540 per month, this gives it an overall score of 3.7.

And it seems that Scotland is clearly the place to be if you’re flying solo, as here, the annual value-to-earnings ratio even out at 4.1.

The median value between a 1 and 2-bedroom home is £152,270 and the typical mortgage payment is £650, which when compared with a median monthly pay of £3,100, leaves £2,450 left over for everything else.

Wondering what the situation is further south? Over the last year, various cities, including Bristol, Oxford, Portsmouth and Cambridge, have seen their affordability improve.

House prices in southern England might’ve risen by just shy of 1.5%, but earnings have grown by an average of 5.6%, which has done bits for affordability in certain places.

Though Bristol doesn’t by any means touch the affordability of Aberdeen for single people specifically, it has seen the most improvement over the last year, with a median value of £302,570 and a monthly mortgage repayment of £1,210, when compared with a typical monthly pay of £3,350.

And, dare we whisper, is anything improving in London? Naturally, the Big Smoke is absolutely notorious for being incredibly expensive. Merely set foot outside the house and you’ll set yourself back £20.

Even in the most affordable London borough (Havering), single Londoners will need to set aside £1,090 each and every month for their mortgage repayment.

The median value between a one and two-bedroom home comes in at £306,480 here, while the monthly pay racks up to £3,850, giving an annual value-to-earnings ratio of 6.6.

Speaking of London boroughs, if you’ve ever found yourself wondering how much you actually need to earn to buy a house in every single one, the maths on that is also now in.

As per another recent study from Zoopla, it’ll come as no surprise that the area requiring the highest salary is the bougie Kensington and Chelsea at £214,750.

This towers over the UK average (£37,430, according to the Office For National Statistics), marking a staggering difference of £177,320.

Do you have a story to share?

Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@Metro.co.uk.

With three Golden Globes under its belt already and ten Oscar nominations, The Brutalist, starring Adrien Brody, in cinemas now, is shaping up as a modern classic, already taking $18million globally at the box office.

Its story – of Hungarian-Jewish architect László Tóth bringing modernist design to the US after World War II – is fictional. But it bears astonishing parallels to real-life Hungarian-Jewish architect Ernő Goldfinger, who arrived in the UK in the 1930s and went on to design some of London’s most enduring brutalist landmarks, including two early skyscrapers, both now Grade II*-listed – Trellick Tower in Ladbroke Grove and Balfron Tower in Poplar.

Early critics branded the buildings, with their distinctive service towers, eyesores. And the public was no more forgiving of the capital’s greatest brutalist project, the Barbican.

The complex of more than 2,000 homes, which opened on the fringes of the City in 1969, was widely mocked and voted London’s ugliest tall building in a poll run by New London Architecture as recently as 2014. But over the years the capital’s concrete jungles have come to occupy a unique property sweet spot.

They are often in fantastic central locations and, while not to everyone’s taste, there are many who admire the minimal lines, monochrome colour palette and smart design features that they offer.

Among the admirers are James Soane and Christopher Ash, both 58 and co-directors of architectural practice Project Orange.

In 2021, they spent around £500,000 on a studio apartment in the Barbican to use as a London pied-à-terre. They split their time between the flat and a home in Suffolk.

At just over 450sq ft, the property is far larger than a typical studio, 
and the couple have fully refurbished it. They love the Barbican for its aesthetics, amenities and gardens.

‘If you have a flat, you get what we call the golden key, although it is actually brass,’ says James. ‘It lets you into lots of areas and gardens not accessible to the public, so it seems like an adventure living here.’

Of course, not all brutalist designs are created equal. James admires the robust Barbican homes, with their teak-framed windows and terracotta-tiled hallways, which have more than stood the test of time. But this is a development that was well built and has been well maintained.

Across the capital, many estates 
of a similar era – notably the monstrous Thamesmead in deepest south-east London – are being torn down and replaced with modern apartment buildings.

For architect Ben Allen, living in Keeling House, Bethnal Green, meant the chance to inhabit a home designed by the British architect Denys Lasdun, who also designed the South Bank’s Royal National Theatre.

Keeling House, originally social housing but sold and redeveloped in the late 1990s, has a central service tower linked by bridges to four residential towers.

Ben, 49, founder and director of Studio Ben Allen, and his wife Frances, 40, a lawyer, bought their two-bedroom, split-level flat in 2016 for £620,000.

‘It is lovely,’ says Ben. ‘The building is quite stark but you get beautiful views, almost filmic snapshots, 
as you go up. I call it our cottage in the sky because beyond the brutalist exterior, the maisonettes themselves are very sweet.’

Ben and Frances have a three-year-old son, Aubrey. Their daughter, Alma, was born in December. The property is small for a family of 
four, which is forcing them to think about moving on, but space aside, Ben thinks Keeling House makes a great family home.

The neighbours are friendly, there are plenty of other children in the building, and there’s a small grassy area where they can play. ‘We know our neighbours pretty well,’ he says.

‘You often bump into people on 
the bridges, or at reception, and although it is a diverse community, 
I suppose in at least one way we are like-minded because we all wanted to live in this building.’

Danny Brewer, associate partner at the Unique Property Company, has not always been a fan of brutalist buildings. ‘I used to hate them,
I couldn’t understand why anyone would want to live in these big concrete jungles,’ he says. ‘But that was before I got into the flats and saw what they were like.

‘The living spaces are really cleverly designed. There is storage, they are warm and quiet, you don’t get damp and drafts and the light is really good.’

Most of Danny’s brutalist buyers are creatives – including architects and musicians – who love mid-century style. Price depends on which floor a flat is on, its location, and how many original features it still possesses.

‘But there is a premium. In my experience they cost about five to ten per cent more than a period conversion,’ he says.

Those that retain a cachet include the Brunswick Centre, in prime Bloomsbury; Trellick Tower, and the fabulous, Toblerone-shaped Alexandra and Ainsworth estate in South Hampstead.

In 2021 the average sale price of homes in the Barbican topped £1million for the first time, according to exclusive research by Savills, up from an average of £905,000 in 2019.

Tina Evans, sales director at Frank Harris and Co estate agents, has years of experience selling homes at the Barbican and at the nearby Golden Lane Estate, built by the City of London in the mid-1960s.

‘It is very Marmite,’ she says. ‘You either love them or you hate them, but they have aged well. There is never any problem selling them.’

The Barbican, says Tina, tends to appeal to the ‘City crowd’, who want to walk to work and can afford its high prices. Expect to pay at least £950,000 for a two-bedroom flat, although the best properties can reach up to £1.5million.

Up the road at Golden Lane, buyers include families and architects. ‘Basically people who like design,’ says Tina. Around 60 per cent of the homes at Golden Lane are still owned by the City. It lacks the Barbican’s incredible water gardens, and prices are a little lower – but you would still pay 
around £700,000 to £750,000 for 
a two-bedroom property.

Tina believes their appeal lies in the timeless, pioneering design of the individual flats. ‘Because of their age you get bigger rooms, a great sense of light with full-height windows, which have hardwood frames,’ she says.

Even since the pandemic, when buyers were fleeing the centre of cities all over the western world in search of space, indoor and outdoor, Tina says homes at the Barbican 
and Golden Lane have continued to sell – partly because of their relative scarcity.

‘We have recently sold a row of three one-bedroom flats at the Barbican for £1.1million each – and that is big money in the City. You do pay a premium to live there.’

Buy your own slice of brutalism

One-bedroom flat, Streatham Hill SW2, £220,000

At 43sq m this is compact, but the expansive window in the reception room floods the flat with light. It needs a serious update plus a new bathroom and kitchen, but would be glorious once complete. Enquire here.

Three-bedroom flat, Barbican, City of London, £1,695,000

This flat has bespoke teak cabinets, resin flooring and sweeping views across the Barbican estate from its ninth-floor vantage point. The agent currently has six more apartments for sale on the estate, starting at £415,000 for a first-floor studio. Enquire here.

Two-bedroom flat, Rowley Way NW8, £575,000

It’s not only architectural history you’ll be buying, but movie history, too. Rowley Way was where Stanley Kubrick filmed his dystopian A Clockwork Orange. This top-floor penthouse offers glorious south-facing views. Enquire here.