Notting Hill is known for its eclectic, colourful houses – and now, one particularly famous bright pink home with a scarlet door has hit the market for £1,250,000.

Billed simply as The Pink House, the charismatic home is acknowledged as one of the most photographed properties in the area, and has been extensively documented online.

Just a quick, simple search for it on Instagram brings up pages and pages worth of pictures either just of the home itself or countless influencers (controversially) posing outside it.

Remember in the 2010s when it was fashionable to pick a random house and take pictures of it? This one – found on Lonsdale Road – has seen plenty of that over the years.

But it hasn’t always gone down well, as Knight Frank agent Jack Thomas previously told The Evening Standard.

‘The owner said he thinks it’s one of the most-photographed houses in Notting Hill. He’s had to kick people off his doorstep taking pictures for Instagram more times than he can remember,’ Thomas revealed.

Picturing posing aside, the one-bedroom, one-bathroom home measures a cosy 872 square feet and was formerly a stable during the 1800s.

Spanning two floors, one of the leading features is the rooftop garden, led up to by a swish spiral staircase and furnished with a table and chairs to admire the famed West London streets.

But it isn’t just the home’s skinny, pink detailing that’s gathered it attention. The gold plaque outside identifies it simply as the ‘Bankrobber,’ a name which came from art gallery Bankrobber London, which was previously found just across the road.

At the time, it held works by The Libertines’ frontman Pete Doherty, Ronnie Kray, and even Banksy – as if this little pink home could hold any more history.

Since the listing went live, fans of the iconic home have been declaring their love for it online, with @thesouthernleesocial labelling it a ‘bold statement.’

‘This pink beauty is full of charm and character – Notting Hill knows how to do unique right,’ they penned in the Instagram comments of a post from @inspiringproperties.

However, not everyone was an instant fan – and many were quick to criticise the home’s price listing.

‘You pay for the location, it’s so tiny,’ @suzanna4ever007 penned. ‘It’s cute but that price tag is wild.’

For @giuseppes.1994, it made more sense to buy a ‘villa’ in ‘Italy and Spain’ with the same amount, while @clm19x wrote ‘buy a house in Surrey, you’ll get a bigger house, an actual garden, and fresh air.’

The Pink House isn’t the only property in the area that’s been swarmed by people posing for pictures.

Back in 2022, Peter Lee, who owns a £2,000,000 Kensington home painted in a lighter shade of pink, revealed that influencers wouldn’t leave his property alone.

Peter said that he’d been left with hefty repair bills for damage to his doorstep, and neighbours subsequently suggested that he put a charity collection box outside.

‘I don’t know what they’re doing, blogs on their websites?’ the 77-year-old asked.

‘One girl was sat out there for half a day on her own. She put her phone in the middle of the street, took photos of herself against the house and then ran back to grab the phone when a car came.

‘I normally just watch them on the screen, but I had to go down and say “did you get what you wanted? You’ve been out there for half the day”.

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If you’ve ever found yourself wondering how much you actually need to earn to buy a house in every borough in London, the maths is now in.

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.

Known for its luxury properties, including Victorian and Georgian townhouses with access to the exclusive gated garden squares, the average property in Kensington and Chelsea will set you back £1,136,900, according to new findings from Zoopla.

Things aren’t much better in Westminster, which had the second-highest salary requirements at £180,860 (with an average property price of £957,500).

These figures can be either joint or individual – so if you were buying alone as a single person, you’d need to be solely responsible for these earnings, which is sadly yet another way single people are disadvantaged when it comes to property ownership.

However, if you were buying with a partner (or even a friend), you’d be splitting the costs – and so these represent the figures you’d need to earn collectively. Even if that means that one person was earning £150,000 and the other £30,860.

But what about the most ‘affordable’ end of the spectrum? With the lowest necessary salary of all the London boroughs, Barking and Dagenham requires combined earnings of £63,620. Here, the average property costs £336,800.

While that might seem cheap as chips for London, it’s still miles ahead of the typical UK property price, which is now £267,700 – £69,100 cheaper than this East London borough.

If the thought of leaving London breaks your heart though, and you have the means, Barking and Dagenham is worth investing in.

Here, Zoopla’s figures have assumed a 15% deposit (which would be £50,520), and a mortgage offer of four-and-a-half times the income needed to acquire the average property here, rounded up to the nearest £10 (£286,290).

It’s also worth noting that the salary needed to buy here is relatively in keeping with the ONS figures on the national average – if you’re co-mortgaging with someone else and you both earn at least £37,430 each, that is. Again, it’s a trickier journey for single people.

There’s also the barrier of saving up for the deposit, which can take years without the help of generational wealth.

Elsewhere though, Croydon is also a relatively promising option if you’re looking to keep things semi-affordable (in London terms, naturally).

Here, the average house price comes in at £394,100, which necessitates earnings of £74,430, whether singular or combined.

Croydon might’ve previously been named the capital’s ‘most depressing area’ (and the 12^th most depressing in the UK), but in November 2024, it was also named the most affordable place to live in London.

Plus, there’s a frankly huge Ikea, as well as an impressive network of bright green trams and even a Boxpark. What’s not to love?

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Hop on a Thameslink service at St Pancras and ride just 26 miles north of Central London and you’ll find the small city of St Albans.

Its 16th-century cottages, Georgian mansions and Edwardian villas line the quaint, neatly paved city centre streets, and every Monday to Friday it floods with the hordes of commuters looking to make their way into The Big Smoke.

In fact, a study by View Homes has just crowned St Albans the UK’s best city to move to in 2025, citing its transport links, plethora of restaurants and proximity to the capital.

It was also dubbed the best commuter town of 2024 by OnTheMarket, which also credited the nearby schools, and proximity to the capital.

On paper it does sound very alluring. But as someone born and raised there, and who commuted the 20 minutes into London from St Albans City Station every day in her early twenties – I’ll never go back.

Do I love my hometown? Yes (even if 63% of its commuter train services are delayed. Oh, and the fact that it’ll cost you more than £4,300 per year for a season ticket if you’re in the office four days or more).

But there’s a dark reality to moving to the Hertfordshire city that is often overlooked: house prices.

Named as the most expensive city for first-time buyers outside of London, the overall average asking price of a property in St Albans is £640,312.

The most bought houses in the area last year were actually small terraced homes, which sold for an average of £592,432.

For first-time buyers looking to secure themselves a flat in the area, it will still set you back £350,744. The typical monthly mortgage payment will sit at about £1,659 for a 35-year term.

When I moved out of my family home and rented an apartment at the top of the city centre, it was during Covid times and I paid £1,100 per month for a two bed. Upon moving out of that flat, my landlord upped the rent by hundreds.

My point is; if you’re looking to buy somewhere cheaper outside of London, St Albans is not for you.

There are even roads like Marshal’s Drive, where the average home sells for £2million. Or, cementing just how pricey it can be, was its appearance on Netflix series Buying London, where the cast visited a property in the neighbouring town of Radlett with an asking price of £15million.

Yes, the average house price in this commuter hub is down by 3% this year – but it doesn’t make much difference when they were astronomical to start with.

It’s for this reason that, on an average salary, I won’t really ever be able to afford to move back to my home city I love so much. It may be idyllic, but it’s a pipe dream.

That said, if you’re fortunate enough to have the funds (good for you), here’s why the area is so popular.

Schools in St Albans

For families with children the schools are excellent. I attended Bernard’s Heath Junior School (rated Good by Ofsted) before going to St Albans Girls School (rated Outstanding by Ofsted) – one of the many single sex schools in the area.

The private St Albans High School and the state Loreto College are both girls schools, while St Albans Boys School and St Columba’s College are the boys schools in the area.

If you prefer your child to be in mixed education then there’s Sandringham, which received an Outstanding accreditation from Ofsted, or there’s Townsend Church of England School which was rated Good.

History of St Albans

If we look to the city centre, there’s an abundance of things to keep you entertained, young or old.

Starting with the rich history, you’ll find the St Albans Cathedral perched at the top of the expansive Verulamium park. With Norman architecture, it’s a shrine to Britain’s first saint and is the oldest site of continuous Christian worship in Britain.

You’ve also got the Verulamium Museum to which I did many school trips, exploring the rich Roman history of the city. It’s a Tripadvisor Traveller’s Choice winner for 2024.

About a 10 minute walk from here, you’ll find the roman ruins of the Amphitheatre which you can explore, or you can venture deeper into the park and find The Hypocaust – an ancient Roman underfloor heating system which has been housed and preserved.

We can’t forget the Clock Tower either, which is the only surviving medieval town belfry in England, built in 1405 with the same bell today which rang out in the first Battle of St Albans in the Wars of the Roses.

Debby K on TripAdvisor agrees, writing: ‘Roman remains, Verulamium park, the Verulamium museum, wonderful mosaics, a Roman theatre, a lovely cathedral, and more. I’ve been to London many times and did not realise until this last trip, when looking for outings on the Thameslink, that one can make such a fantastic day trip from London.’

Others on the platform brand St Albans as a ‘magical city in more ways than one’, ‘beautiful’ and ‘well worth a visit’.

Shopping in St Albans

If you’re more of a shopper, you won’t be disappointed but be warned the offerings are on the pricier side. You’ve got an Anthropologie, Reiss (which is housed in the old corn exchange), Whistles and The White Company.

George Street boasts gorgeous independent boutiques, while The Maltings has some more affordable options like New Look and Sports Direct, along with an Oliver Bonas and a Schuh.

For those who like hand-crafted goods, market days are Wednesday and Saturday. It also boasts great street food and even has dog treat stands for the mass invasion of pet cockapoos.

When it comes to groceries, there’s of course a Waitrose and a large M&S, while Sainsbury’s and Aldi sit down at the bottom of Hollywell Hill.

If you want even more options then you can make the quick 20 minute drive to the Atria shopping centre in Watford which has more than 140 shops, restaurants and leisure activities.

Where to eat and drink in St Albans

With more pubs per square mile than anywhere else in the UK, you’ll be pleased with the beer gardens and food on offer here.

The best pubs for a pint are The Six Bells, The Boot and The Blacksmiths Arms, all of which have a great atmosphere – especially in the summer.

You can even amble alongside the lake peppered with swans and grab a light bite at the oldest pub in Britian: Ye Olde Fighting Cocks.

In Christopher Place you’ll find Hatch, which will serve you the best breakfast you’ve ever eaten. The Beech House, meanwhile, has a mind-blowing (and affordable) dinner menu and has hosted the likes of Zendaya and Tom Holland.

There’s also the delicious curry house Veer Dhara which is a favourite of Tom Cruise. I would religiously order Tom’s Murg Tikka Lababdar which was delicious.

If you’re willing to take a drive for a bite to eat, The Prae Wood Arms on the prestigious Prae Wood estate is also a great spot.

Hungry for a slice of this life?

This article was first published on August 17, 2024.

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From arguing over who’s keeping the Le Creuset pan to who’s sleeping on the sofa until the sale goes through, moving out during a breakup can be an emotional process.

Splitting from a partner is hard enough, but if you’ve got a house to sell – or a tenancy to move out of – things can get even more complicated.

Following a separation from her partner, @Difficult_Gate_2194 planned to sell their family home and split the proceeds. But her ex refused her offer – as well as her alternative, which was to buy him out.

‘We decided to separate recently, and I would like to sell our home to be able to move on with my life. We have three children and all three will live with me following the separation,’ she penned in the r/HousingUK Reddit thread.

‘We bought the property four years ago and two years ago my partner took out an IVA [an Individual Voluntary Agreement, which is a contract between an individual and their creditors to pay back debts over time] in his name.

‘He basically got himself into debt by taking out multiple loans to fund a gambling addiction at the time and eventually could no longer afford the repayments.

‘Fast forward to now and I have been trying to come to some sort of agreement with him about selling and moving out of the property.

‘Initially we agreed he would attempt to buy me out, but we quickly found out this would not be able to happen due to the IVA so since then I have been asking him to sell up.

‘However, he point blank reuses and says that the courts won’t make him homeless so I will have to go and rent somewhere if I no longer want to be in the home.

‘It doesn’t seem fair to me that I should have to leave and struggle, and he gets to stay in the family home all because of his irresponsibility with money.’

She subsequently added that she’d offered to buy him out of the property and give him £20,000, which amounts to half of the equity they would each gain if they sold up. However, he refused the gesture.

‘He states he will struggle to rent anywhere with his credit, so I’ll effectively be making him homeless,’ she added in the comments section.

‘The £20,000 he would get from me buying him out would need to be paid into his IVA as he owes three times this amount.

‘The company he has the IVA with advised him they would need to take 85% of any profit he made from selling his share of the property. This is the reason he doesn’t want to do it.’

So, is there anything couples should know about buying or renting a property together that could protect them in case of a future breakup? As Alex Brereton, partner at Hunters Law LLP tells Metro, planning for a mid-tenancy split might not sound very romantic, but it’s worth doing.

‘To avoid the risk of being stuck paying for a lengthy tenancy you just want to escape from, negotiating a sensibly timed break clause at the outset is a really good idea,’ Alex explains.

‘It’s also worth remembering that tenants’ rights only apply to those who are named on the tenancy agreement.

‘This can cause issues for people who move into their partner’s rented property and aren’t then formally added to the tenancy, as they can find they have no rights to remain living there after a break-up despite having been contributing to the rent.’

And when it comes to buying together, the stakes are even higher.

Having an idea of how the property would be divided after separating is fundamental – and the legal starting point is for the home to be registered jointly, citing both names on the deeds. Each will take 50% of it and receive half of the net proceeds upon its sale.

But as Alex acknowledges, this might not work for everyone, as ‘for others – perhaps where one of them has contributed significantly more to the purchase price, mortgage payments and/or renovation costs – this might feel very unfair.’

‘To avoid this, couples can enter into a Declaration of Trust which records how they would want to treat any unequal financial contributions if they break up and have to sell,’ Alex adds.

‘These can be very simple documents and should be suggested by your conveyancing solicitor when you are negotiating the purchase.’

For married couples and civil partners, the situation is ‘quite different.’

Where a property might be owned outright with the other having no legal interest in it, if it’s lived in as a family home this could mean that on divorce, a court is ‘likely to consider it a matrimonial asset which is to be divided equally between them.’

‘This might be the case even where the property has been owned since prior to the marriage began or was paid for out of inherited wealth,’ Alex shares.

‘If this is not the intention, then protection can be found by entering into a pre or post-nuptial agreement which makes clear that regardless of its use as the family home (or other treatment during the marriage), such a property is intended to remain the ring-fenced property of the legally owning party.’

This article was first published on February 3, 2025.

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Welcome back to What I Rent – Metro’s tenant diary series exploring what renting is like in the UK and further afield.

This week, we’re in Battersea visiting Joanne Baudin, who first saw homes in her building advertised on the side of a red London bus. Along with her boyfriend, Adam, she was one of the first residents to move into the development in August 2023.

Fast forward to 2025 and the pair have made friends with their neighbours thanks to the communal spaces and activities on offer, which range from ice skating to clay workshops and yoga classes.

Their property might be compact, but they use the entire building as their home. Now, the only thing they feel they’re missing is an art studio and a sauna.

Here’s what Joanne had to say about their renting journey…

Tell us about yourself!

I am a 32-year-old interior architect, artist, public speaker and lived experience advisor, and I live with my partner Adam Kirton who is a writer, educator and teacher. 

What kind of property do you rent and how long have you been there?

I rent a studio apartment with my fiancé at Folk Co-Living Florence Dock, which is a communal living property where we have a private apartment, but share all our living spaces with other residents.

It’s somewhere between a house share and a holiday destination. We moved into our flat in August 2023 shortly after the building opened. Initially, we signed a one-year contract which we have now extended for another year.

How much do you pay to live here?

£2,060.

And what do you get for what you pay?

Our apartment has a kitchenette, en-suite bathroom, double bed, TV and desk, as well as a storage unit in the basement where we store our suitcases, and camping equipment. We also use the bike storage for our bicycles.

This price includes all bills, a 24/7 onsite front desk team, shared spaces like roof terraces, a fitness studio, cinema room, bar, onsite shop, andco-working space — the list goes on.

There are also free events every month. Since we’ve lived here there’s been laser tag, ice skating, soap making, cooking masterclasses, yoga classes, clay workshops, and sip n’ paints. There are also big annual parties in summer, and at Halloween and New Year’s.

However, the developer, Folk, does offer different pricing options depending on the length of your stay, the size of your studio and whether you live alone.

Do you feel like you have a good deal?

Absolutely, considering that we live a one-minute walk from the Thames and have access to so many facilities, it really is a competitive price.

Folk makes for a stress-free life; we appreciate the simplicity of a bills-included contract and accessing everything we need without leaving our doorstep.

What do you love to do in your flat?

The thing I love the most about living here is the ease of all bills included within the contract and access to the many facilities. I run a creative club with other residents where we experiment with different art mediums every month.

I use my flat mainly as a bedroom and do the majority of ‘living’ in the shared spaces: movie nights in the cinema, a game of pool after work, meal prepping in the community kitchen, creating art and writing on the 7th floor with beautiful views of the city, or reading in the library and sunken lounge. 

Where is your home based? What do you think of the area?

I love the Battersea area. Living on the river in London is a wonderful way to experience London and I regularly use the Uber Boat as a way of commuting which makes it a pleasant experience compared to the tube or bus. I also love the many cute local shops and restaurants in the area.

How have you made this place feel like home?

We have chosen to really embrace the co-living lifestyle, and as a result, have made incredible friends from all over the world, working in a variety of different fields.

Once you walk into Folk you are met with a different atmosphere. We also get involved with the local community, supporting the food bank, working with local charities, and striking deals with local businesses.

Additionally, the Folk team is so friendly, encouraging, and supportive.

Have you found it difficult to decorate when renting? Is your landlord happy with you making the place your own?

Before moving to Folk, I’d always rented in old houses where landlords weren’t precious about me painting the walls or hanging pictures. I thought that I’d struggle with a new build, but that’s not the case.

The aesthetic is modern, neutral, and minimalist so it makes for a great backdrop to add personal touches like books, plants, and of course, art.

Do you feel like you have enough space?

Despite our actual apartment being quite small, we feel like we have plenty of space. We use our apartment as a bedroom and the entire building as our home.

We do batch cooking in the community kitchen, have friends over to play board games in the lounge, and use the gym, video games room, cinema, library. The co-working space is also ideal for my hybrid work life.

What would you like to have but don’t with this flat?

The apartment itself could be improved with a little relaxation area, a comfortable chair to sit in and read with a cup of tea. I enjoy using the co-working space, but it doesn’t lend itself to creative work, so I would adore an art studio to use with all my fellow creators and artists in the building.

I also wouldn’t object to the addition of a wellness area in the gym, while having a meditation garden and a sauna would elevate the experience of living here.

Are there any problems with the home you have to deal with?

Thankfully, we don’t have to deal with any maintenance issues ourselves, we simply log a maintenance request through the resident’s app. We’ve done this for our flat, but also for the shared spaces.

I find it user-friendly as it gives the option to take a photo, video, voice note or simply text, which is followed up by the maintenance team or reception. It is a fantastic little system.

Do you have plans to move again any time soon? What about buying a place?

The dream and plan is to move to the country, buy some land and build our own house, but while we live in London, we have no plan or desire to move anywhere else.

This place is more than our home, it is our community, and we are happy here.

Shall we take a look around?

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A swimming pool is arguably one of the bougiest additions you can add to a house – but not all of them are where you’d expect them to be.

Down in Dorset, one four-bedroom home has hit the market for £575,000, and there’s a giant indoor pool to make a splash in. In fact, it takes up most of the room.

Upon first look, all appears normal. There are tiles right next to the water, a handrail to get in and out with ease, and even a radiator to keep things nice and toasty. Why not?

But zoom in a little closer and you’ll see the unlikely flooring choice – a carpet, just as you’d expect to find in a bedroom. At least you’ll have somewhere to dry your feet once you’ve finished your lengths.

The room extends out from the main living room, which is covered with a similar shade of floor choice.

Separated from the pool by only bi-folding doors, there’s complete ease of access here – so one minute, you might be catching up on a book or watching Netflix, and within seconds, you could jump straight into the water for a quick dip. You would if you could, right?

The luxuries don’t stop there either, as right next to the pool there’s even a sauna (as well as a toilet and shower), rendering the prospect of journeying over to a public spa completely redundant. Why not experience the joys of a bit of Finnish Löyly at home, after all?

Elsewhere in the Weymouth home, marketed by Wilson Tominey Estate Agents, there’s plenty of space. There are four bedrooms and two other family bathrooms, as well as a sizeable kitchen, separate dining area, sitting room and conservatory. There’s also a garage for extra storage.

Needless to say, the unique listing gathered the attention of @housinghorrors on TikTok, an account known for highlighting unique (read: characterful) property listings across the UK.

‘Cheaper than a David Lloyd membership,’ @amiehark joked in the comments, while @anna.maria.barbara asked ‘who needs a swimming pool in the UK?’

@Scotiaboy noticed that the current owners have clearly ‘painted the radiator blue to match the pool cover,’ and @davelythgoe already had the perfect relaxation plan in place.

‘Talking of chilling out, this is perfect,’ he wrote. ‘Why have sofas…just get a lilo and a bar with a big screen TV. Sorted.’

There were plenty of other fans who completely got the concept too, as @linzisueboo wrote: ‘if I had the money I would buy this.’

@Zakdailydose_ argued that it’d be ‘good’ for an Airbnb, and @clairekittyxxx simply branded the eye-catching layout ‘genius.’

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Weighing up whether to invest in a new home can be one of the biggest financial decisions any of us make – and for some unlucky buyers, they quickly realise they’ve made a mistake.

Whether they accidentally inherited nightmare neighbours, came to dislike the area or subsequently felt that they overpaid, buyer’s remorse is a very real thing.

Getting on the ladder might seem like the ideal property step, but what happens if the moment the removal van drives away, you’re filled with regret rather than joy?

That was just the case for Redditor @Adorable-Ad5715. After initially viewing their one-bedroom flat in Tromsø, Norway, they decided to put an offer in, which was accepted.

‘Everything felt right’ until a few days after they’d picked up the keys. That’s when the grief began to sink in.

Looking back at the market, they felt that they overpaid and instantly regretted buying a one-bedroom flat, labelling it ‘not the right decision.’

‘I’ve been extremely depressed. I feel like I’ve made the biggest mistake in my life, mainly due to the feeling of overpaying,’ they wrote in the r/FirstTimeHomeBuyer Reddit thread.

‘[I feel] that I should’ve gone for something larger.’

Reflecting on their previous home, which they now rent out, they’ve realised how lucky they were to have so much space. And, at a cheaper rate, they were able to save more money.

‘Now I just want a way out, [and] if that is paying 10,000 [Norwegian Krone] to cover the expenses of doing a new sale, I would pay that.’

They’re not the only buyer who regrets their purchase. @BiscottiTrick6497 is a first-time buyer and completed on their London flat in July 2024.

The first few weeks in the flat were particularly difficult, as they discovered ‘various issues that didn’t come up in conveyancing and trouble with neighbours,’ but at the time, they decided to persevere as they simply had ‘no other choice.’

‘I’ve been here just over six months now and I hate it here,’ they wrote in the r/HousingUK thread.

‘It doesn’t feel like “my” flat, I avoid spending time here, and I’m living paycheque to paycheque because of the mortgage costs [£1,700 per month].’

Likewise, @treemun1 instantly hated their flat when they moved in. When they bought a flat three months ago, they paid more than they were expecting to as in their experience, ‘everything was selling quite fast at the time.’

As such, they were able to complete within just over a month – something which initially appealed to them.

‘A flat has gone up for sale in the same building and has been reduced to £7,000 cheaper than what I bought [for] because it isn’t selling,’ they penned.

‘I can’t help but feel like I overpaid now and it’s really affecting me day to day. I’m scared when I come to sell, I’m going to lose £10,000+ because of my own mistakes.

‘I’m lucky that I have a well-paying job so I can probably absorb the loss, but it still hurts. I know I haven’t sold so it’s technically not a loss, but I keep thinking that way.

‘All this is playing in my mind constantly and I just feel like an idiot.’

So, is there anything buyers can do to avoid remorse and regret? As interiors expert Liv Conlon, CEO of ThePropertyStagers and StagerBoss tells Metro, it’s important to first clarify the non-negotiables.

‘Before starting your search, make a list of your must-haves as well as your nice-to-haves. And consider your future needs: Will you be starting a family? Working from home? As these might mean you outgrow your home quickly,’ Liv shares.

And so, before you buy, try to ‘live like a local.’ Spend time there at different times of the day, whether by visiting the high street for a coffee at the weekend, pursuing the local shops, or even trying out your possible commute on the way home from work.

When it comes to buying a new home, it’s all too easy to romanticise it all, falling in love ‘with the aesthetics’ but overlooking the practicalities.

‘Look at closet space, kitchen storage and the overall flow of the home to ensure it fits daily needs. Think practically – even turn on the taps to ensure there is decent water pressure to meet your needs,’ Liv adds.

Finally, do the ‘regret test.’ Imagine living in the home for a year and picture your daily routines. How do they fit?

‘Sometimes, viewing a property multiple times and stepping back for a few days before making an offer helps ensure the decision isn’t impulsive,’ she notes.

And, as Andrew Boast, property expert and founder of SAM Conveyancing adds, it’s important to weigh up all the possible long-term financial implications before signing the papers.

‘Beyond the mortgage, consider all associated costs with a particular home such as the cost of council tax, service charges, maintenance, and potential repair work. Unexpected expenses can turn excitement into regret if they stretch your budget too thin,’ he suggests.

But if you’ve already moved and start to feel the regret seep in, don’t panic. As Andrew notes, give it time.

Sometimes, the stress of moving can initially cloud your judgment – so ‘allow yourself a few months to settle before making any drastic decisions.’

‘Rearrange or renovate – if space turns out to be an issue, clever storage solutions or a minor renovation could make a huge difference. Even small changes like new décor can help make a place feel more like home,’ he adds.

‘With careful planning, thorough research, and a level-headed approach, you can avoid regret and ensure your next move is the right one.’

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Getting on the property ladder young is often hailed as a huge achievement – and is the dream of many renters.

So, considering that the average 21-year-old will have paid their landlord £80,000 by their 30^th birthday, if you’ve got the means to buy as soon as possible, is it worth it?

Posting in the r/HousingUK Reddit thread, 22-year-old @peachy-kiss revealed that they had the savings to buy a flat worth around £100,000.

It might not sound like much in the UK market, where the average property now goes for £267,700 as per figures from Zoopla, but for the typical 22-year-old, getting on the property ladder is largely a pipe dream.

Many are still in the family home with their parents, as the 2021 census found that more families (in England and Wales) had adult children living at home compared to 2011, increasing by 13.6% to 3.8 million.

Similarly, 42% of adults aged between 18 and 39 say that they’ve ‘given up’ on the prospect of home ownership – including 38% of those earning over £60,000.

‘I have enough saved up for the 10% deposit plus a bit more for legal fees. I also have an agreement in principle that is more than enough to get me a mortgage of the properties I am currently looking at,’ the Redditor wrote, adding that her budget covered one-bedroom flats in Plymouth.

However, the 22-year-old was wondering whether it was ‘really worth’ getting on the ladder while they had the means. With a stable job and a partner to split the bills with, it seemed a natural step up from renting or living with parents – and yet they remained unsure.

Likewise, since their boyfriend remains a full-time student, they wouldn’t qualify for a mortgage, and so it would be solely their name on the deeds.

‘While everything on paper seems like this is a viable option for me, with about £750 after bills and mortgage payments, I’m not sure if I should continue living at home and saving or if I should just make the jump and buy,’ they mused.

‘It all seems very intimidating buying on your own for the first time and I’m not sure if it’s realistically a good choice.

‘I’m welcome to continue living at home, [but] my house is too small for me and my partner now we have moved back in after living at uni for the last three years.

‘Ideally we would like to move as soon as possible but buying a place seems so scarily permanent.’

Naturally, the comments section was inundated with people who argued that buying younger was better – as it means a few extra years spent paying off a mortgage.

As a Londoner, @Training-Party-9813 didn’t manage to get onto the ladder until they were 35, but now wishes they had bought sooner.

‘I’d be closer to having a mortgage paid off than I am now at 48,’ they penned.

‘If you have a partner who can help with costs then that may alleviate some fears.’

In @NeedForSpeed98’s view, the ‘younger the better.’ They bought when they were 24.

However, in @twerrrp’s opinion, it ‘depends on what your priorities in life are,’ noting the first-time buyer benefits on offer.

‘If you want to settle down then it’s probably a good idea,’ they wrote.

‘But if you could potentially end up settling somewhere else then the flexibility of renting might work for you.’

And so, with that in mind, Metro chatted to a handful of property experts to understand whether it’s really worth buying a home while you’re still young. If you have the means, that is.

Is it actually worth buying a home when you’re young?

Advantages of buying a home early

As Phil Spencer, property expert and founder of property advice website Move iQ believes, buying your first home isn’t always just about the money. In his view, it’s ‘an emotional as much as a financial investment.’

‘There’s nothing quite like the feeling that owning your own home brings – it’s a joyful mixture of freedom and responsibility,’ Phil tells Metro.

But buying a home is one of the most significant financial decisions any of us can ever wish to make, since the majority of first-time buyers will need a mortgage to help them spread the cost.

‘One of the financial arguments for buying rather than renting is that each monthly mortgage payment you make is partly a payment to yourself, which will take you a step closer to owning your home outright,’ Phil shares, noting that if you rent your home, your rent payment goes towards your landlord’s mortgage, not yours.

‘Then there’s the high cost of renting. In many areas, rents have risen so high that the average first-time buyer may find themself paying less on their mortgage each month than the average renter shells out on rent.’

Drawbacks of buying a home early

But on the other hand, according to Aaron Squire, property specialist at OneDome, buying a home young depends on the type of lifestyle you want to lead. And if you want to travel, you might want to reconsider.

‘Homeownership is a commitment and may limit your ability to move freely for career opportunities or lifestyle changes, which can be a challenge if you’re still exploring different cities or industries,’ Aaron suggests.

‘Additionally, owning a home comes with ongoing maintenance and unexpected costs, which can be challenging to manage without a stable income or savings buffer.‘

Likewise, Jonathan Bone, head of mortgages at online mortgage broker Better.co.uk, suggests it’s worth assessing the stability of your career before you apply for a mortgage.

If you anticipate that you might be offered the opportunity to relocate in the future, it could be worth holding off for now.

‘A mortgage that suits your current budget may not align with your financial situation later. Waiting until your career is more settled and your earning potential has grown could put you in a better position to afford a property that meets your long-term goals.’

In Jonathan’s view, it’s also critical to consider whether or not you have a sufficient emergency fund in place – which, as per Lloyds Bank’s recommendations, should be around three months’ worth of essential outgoings.

But in Jonathan’s opinion, this might be closer to six months’ worth.

‘While having enough money for a deposit and mortgage payments is great, without an emergency fund, you could find yourself in financial trouble should unforeseen circumstances arise,’ Jonathan notes.

Finally, it’s important to consider whether you’re buying because you’re ready – or because you feel pressured, whether that’s from family members to ‘settle down’ or otherwise.

‘While these opinions often come from places of good intentions, they shouldn’t dictate your choices,’ he concludes.

‘Remember, there’s no universal timeline for buying a house and rushing into it could lead to regrets. It’s one of the biggest commitments a person can make, so be sure that you want to do it for yourself, not anybody else.’

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Workman Elvis Summers spends his free time building 20ft tiny homes for homeless people – and the compact creations manage to squeeze in a kitchen, bedroom and bathroom.

A deeply empathetic person who feels other people’s emotions as if they were his own, he takes pride in knowing that he’s giving those experiencing homelessness in Los Angeles a bed for the night.

‘To feel the relief, joy and hope that people feel is ultra rewarding. It fills my batteries right up,’ the 47-year-old Californian shares.

‘It’s an amazing experience and I wish everyone could get on board.’

What started as a simple mission to help a 61-year-old woman named Smokie has now become The Tiny House Project.

At the time, she was ‘sleeping in the dirt’ near Elvis’s flat – and so he wanted to help her out of her situation.

‘I did it because it’s the right thing to do. It’s what we should do,’ Elvis’s mission statement on the project’s website reads.

‘We have more than enough resources in the world to solve the hunger and homeless crisis. The problem is that people just don’t care or don’t care enough.’

Smokie was well-loved in their local neighbourhood, but Elvis notes that despite everybody liking her, not enough was done to help her out.

The mini house he built her – the first one he ever constructed – cost just $500 (£400).

He placed it in front of his apartment and knew that after witnessing her reaction to it, this couldn’t be the only person he helped in his life. And so, The Tiny House Project was born.

‘She slept for a day-and-a-half straight because for the first time, she actually felt safe,’ Elvis notes.

Though he hasn’t kept exact track of everything he’s built since then, he estimates it to be in the ‘hundreds.’ Mostly, people ‘break down and cry’ after witnessing the fruits of Elvis’s kindness – something he describes as a highly ‘emotional experience.’

‘It’s very unsafe on the streets, with your guard always up, and to sleep in unknown areas without shelter, not knowing what might happen, is a horrible place to be,’ he says.

‘To give someone a safe place where they won’t have to worry about possibly dying almost overwhelms people. There’s lots of gratitude and hugs.’

Typically, the tiny homes are built on trailers to keep them mobile – but once stable, they’re secured on foundations or blocks.

Inside, he ensures there’s everything needed to accommodate a wide range of guests – from one-night stays to a long-term one.

It can take anywhere from a mere few days to a couple of weeks to finalise a project. To avoid the homes being seized by authorities on account of ‘hazards,’ as was the case in 2023, he now builds two types of homes.

The first is an emergency shelter, which is a simple, secure room without running water or electricity, while the others are full-sized tiny homes with multiple rooms that can cost anywhere from $7,000 to $15,000 (£5,000 to £12,000) to build.

All the money is raised completely from donations, but recently, as the cost of materials has increased, the demand to build tiny homes is only getting harder to combat. In Elvis’s view, this is why it’s so important that other people get involved too.

‘Even if I was launched forward with millions of dollars, and we could hire a solid crew, we wouldn’t be able to keep up,’ he reflects.

‘It’s going to take many groups, doing it the right way, and a whole lot of change in our society’s way of thinking to end homelessness.’

Because of the limited funds, Elvis is only able to build the homes in his spare time – as he has to work since there isn’t enough money for him to pay himself a salary.

However, this is something he’d like to achieve in the future so that he can build more homes – and ultimately, help more people in Los Angeles.

‘Like everything in society these days, the reaction is very much down the middle. Some people love it, and others hate it,’ he adds.

‘But I think the more people keep falling on troubled times, the more understanding there will be that it’s out of our control. Things are becoming quite unaffordable for most – and therefore, homelessness will only keep rising.’

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It’s no secret that renting in London typically comes with a huge price tag.

But if your tenancy is up for renewal and you’re looking for a bit of respite from it all, one ‘quaint’ borough could provide you with more bang for your buck.

According to new research, the average rent in this cosy suburb comes in at £1,325 per month. And it’s the perfect spot if you want to stay in the capital for less.

Meanwhile, the East London borough of Havering nabbed second place with average figures of £1,380 per month, and commuter hub Sutton was in third.

Where is the cheapest place to rent in London?

The cheapest place to rent in London overall is currently Bexley, tucked away in South East.

But it is all the way out in Zone 6, so if you’re looking for somewhere a little more central, estate agent Hamptons’ figures claim the least expensive inner London borough is currently Greenwich, where rents average out at £1,800 per month.

However, if you’re planning on taking advantage of these pockets of (semi) affordable rent, you might want to get in there quickly, because data from SpareRoom also shows that SE2 – which includes parts of Greenwich and Bexley – has seen rental prices increase by 54.7% since 2019, the largest increase of any postcode in London.

Likewise, rents in Bexley have increased ever so slightly since June 2024, when data placed typical monthly prices at £1,297 per month – £28 cheaper. It might not sound like a lot, but nevertheless, it’s still a gentle creep upwards.

To put this into perspective, average rents across the entire capital have risen by 32% over the last five years. Essentially, it’s a grim outlook all round, but one that’s becoming grimmer faster in previously less expensive areas.

With those caveats in mind though, Bexley’s offering is plentiful, from historic sites to local breweries. Here’s an idea of what you can get stuck into, and what it’s like to live here…

Things to do in Bexley

Spanning Sidcup, Erith, Bexleyheath, Crayford, Welling and Old Bexley, the borough has a good deal of areas to explore.

For an insight into local history, Hall Place and Gardens is worth a visit, offering various family-friendly exhibitions and experiences including a miniature railway, owl petting and a Saturday Farmers Market.

There’s also Danson House and Park, a Grade I listed Palladian villa first built in 1766. Originally designed by Sir Robert Taylor (AKA, the architect behind the Bank of England), it was reopened by Queen Elizabeth II in 2005.

And, for afternoon strolls galore, there’s Lesnes Abbey Woods. Here, you’ll find 88 hectares of woodland, a park and the ruins of a centuries-old abbey.

Fan of a tipple or two? There are beers aplenty to be sampled at The Bird and Barrel, Bexley Brewery’s micro pub. And it’s even dog-friendly so you can bring your furry friends.

Locals love the area, too – particularly Bexley Village, which was praised on Reddit for, naturally, its village-like feel.

‘Bexley Village is lovely, quiet, quaint,’ penned @Staricakes, while @Blandiblub labelled it ‘nice and small.’

‘I was born in Bexley and have some fond memories of the area,’ @mcluckz added. ‘My grandparents lived near the Broadway – there’s some lovely housing stock, nice parks, especially Danson.’

And as for Bexleyheath, the general consensus is that it’s a ‘peaceful’ place – ideal for those after a change from the city’s hustle and bustle.

‘We’re mid-30s and moved from a busy South London area. It’s definitely quieter,’ @rosewalker wrote, as @NCP_R praised the area’s ‘easy access to trains into London.’

Indeed, getting into the centre is relatively easy: there’s a train connecting Bexley Station to Charing Cross, which takes around 38 minutes, and a route between Slade Green and Cannon Street that’ll get you there in 45 minutes.

Alternatively, you can now get the Elizabeth Line from Abbey Wood. Not only does it take just 31 minutes to get to Paddington, there’s also air con.

So, if you’re ready to give Zone 5/6 a try, Bexley could be your bag.

This article was first published on August 7, 2024.

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