Your Flat

Whats your flat like? Who do you live with and what are they like? How many flats have you been with since you've been overseas?

Me...

This is my 3rd flat. Luckily this time I have found the coolest flatties. There are 5 people (all kiwis) in the 4 bedroom house + 1 guy (aussie) who sleeps in a seperate detached room out the back. I always said I'd never live in a house with more people but I've definately changed my mind after living here.

We've got a huge back yard...perfect for BBQ's and Backyard Cricket in summer...can't wait. London became so much better the minute I moved in with these guys!

i live with 3 of my friends from back in Wellingotn in a 3 bed place in Ealing. We've all had our ups and downs but things are good right now. The place is real nice, brand new everything. But saying that we're not allowed to hang anything on the walls and have to be real careful which is a wee bit of a bitch. The place is also really small which i dont like too much. We're all out of there on April 15th so if you guys hear anything, let me know please

I'm in a recently renovated 2 bdroom appt. Modern kitch/bathroom/whiteware etc.

Was roolly good when I was working 15 mins walk away, but not so cool when I was working in town. Nice place, live with the guy who owns it, so all I needed was a bed, and I was set. Came with big screen tv, home stereo, furniture etc etc.

Flatmate is 33, and he's pretty sweet. A neat freak, but alright.

Im moving on friday..!! wooohoooo cant wait to get away from the 'hood im living in now..

I'm currently in my first flat in Acton.

I live with 12 other people, 2 kiwis (including myself), 7 Aussies and 4 South Africans.

We have a 7 bedroom, 3 kitchen, 2 bathroom house and I live with an awesome crew. Everyone gets on, no bitching, no backstabbing, it's really good.

I can honestly say this is the best flat I've ever lived in. I'm gonna be pretty sad to say goodbye to these guys when people's time runs out.

Pony - 12??? how much does that end up costing you? that's h-u-g-e!!!

I live in a one bedroom apartment with just me! And it's great. When I first moved here I stayed with a friend, then moved into a 3 bedroom place but my flatmates were really nasty.

It's great now though cause I have a futon couch (cheepo... but hey) that my friends can sleep on! I love it!

Were looking for a house in Acton/Ealing right now....

arriving next month so trying to get an idea of $$$ ect...

4 bedroom pad for around 350 a week seems the go...

theres gona be 6 of us living together when we get there and thats about 60 quid a week each. Is that too much ?

Richy...thats a pretty good price...I'm assuming you are sharing a room though. I pay £120 a week for my room. Its quite big though and I'm the only one in it. Expensive price to pay for privacy!

Yeah thats pretty good Richy. I pay about £110 a week for my double room. Far too much on the crap I earn though. Will be looking for a room around the £70 (£80 realistically) mark soon.....as well as a proper paying paying job

But saying that, a mate of mine has just got a really nice and HUGE double room in East Acton for £300 per month. You've just got to look I guess

Spike...thats why its £300...East Acton isnt exactly a great place to live! Better than some though.

My mate pays £60 a week for a massive room in Tooting...but would you want to live there? Ah no.

Nah it's not the nicest areas I guess. Only a train ride to somewhere nicer though! lol Plus the flat is really nice, big and modern, sky and all. I'd live there.

But Tooting? That's pushing it. Rather live in Hackney

Yep, 12 other people! Everyone is sharing a room, there are a few couples, and one room has 3 people in it.

I pay £60pw

Thats still HUGE!!!

Is it some old converted manor or boarding house or sumfink? Or three flats combined?

Sounds like it'd be fun for a while.

Whats the story with couples ect...

the 6 of us are gona get a pad and divide the cost by the amount of people.....not per room. theres my gf & I in 1 room, my mate and his gf in another and two guys are getting a room each.

that seems the fairest way otherwise were (couple) getting a cheaper deal....

how does everyone work it over there ????

It's just a normal house but it's had a loft conversion, so two more rooms up stairs.

It's pretty sweet, it's actually a pretty quiet flat during the week, everyone works so everyone respects that, but weekends can get pretty crazy, but in a good way.

They have strict policies with noise over here, you cant crank it after 10 or 11pm I think, so it's not a party flat as such, just everyone gets together for drinks and stuff, and we just hang out or go out together.

Me and Nikkee are moving in with my friend and his wife. They have a brand new apartment in Cold Harbour with a huge spare room. So it's a quick walk to Canary Wharf, Jubilee Line, DLR ( I love the DLR, it's soo ceeeoool) I've lived with both of them before the last time I was there, out in Wimbledon and it was cool. Hmmm, Cnary Wharf LA Fitness, sweeeeeet.

I'd have the rooms at a set price myself, but if that is the way you guys wanna do it and you are all happy with it then cool.

Richy,

Houses are rented with price per room. Prices depend on size of the room AND how many people will be using it.


Yes couples get a cheaper deal...al my mates are in couple and they pay half the rent that I do in their varies flats. Its just the way it is.

It just seesm so unfair....


weird.

I would feel stink saying " sweet mate we got a place, your room will cost 100 quid cos your single but Im getting mine half price"

if we move in with others then we will do whatever the rules are but in our situation Im happy to do it per person.

Yeah but double rooms cost more than single rooms.

People can share a room if they want...that makes it cheaper. Thats just the way it is in London! Sucks when you are single like me but thems the brakes!

I dont think its that unfair. If someone gets a bigger room than me then they should pay more and if 2 people share a room they should pay less...technically they only get 1/2 room each.

sweet, will have to wait and see what happens.

I used to live in Canary Wharf and totally loved it. Lived in a modern apartment with everything new and leather sofa's etc... And the DLR is the best - never went on strike and it took only six minutes to get into Bank. What could be better?!

So many Londoners dont even consider CW to live but they should! Not that much more expensive than the rest of London. I would LOVE to be able to move back there.

At the mo I live by my self in a pretty big apartment. Its the first time I've lived by my self and dont really enjoy it but the flatting thing just isn't done in Singapore. It seems most people live with their parents till they get married.

I live in a guesthouse with about 15 other people. They're all there permanently so its not like a back packers

You have your own room but share kitchen, lounge etc

Free net in each room and cable TV which is great

I live with an aussie, a frenchy, a canadian and the rest are Japanese

Costs about $200nz a week for everything (except food) which is about as cheap as you'll get in Tokyo

And its a 1min walk from the trainstation whoich is defimnately the best thing

club_boi, CW is cool! I wouldnt live out there as its too far away from all my friends etc. Its really to far away from anything for me I guess! Bugger, cos its mint out there. Geoffy lives out that way.

Itchy...I pay like NZ$315 a week...and thats rent only!

ouch!!!!

I think about $300nz a week (including everything) is pretty standard in Tokyo

If you want to get into your own flat you pay heaps at first:

Key Money: $400 (non refundable)
Real Estate Fee: $400 (non refundable)
Bond: $1000 (usually refundable)
2 months rent: $2000

So, just to get into an actual apartment you're usually up for almost $4000 even before you step in the door

Man, living overseas is expensive eh!?

I had to pay NZ$1300 rent in advance + NZ$1300 bond. At least the bond is like forced savings I guess.

True! I had to pay $750 bond at my new place and I get $600 back when I leave. The other $150 is for 'wear and tear' apparently

But thats $600 that I can take back to NZ so all good

Different countries have quite different norms about renting eigh. Like in the UK the tennant pays the council tax, not the landlord etc...

Singapore is a whole new world. They have crazy things like 12 month contract that you cant get out of at all! You have to buy your self out of it by paying the rest of the year out! And if something breaks down, like the stove, if it costs less than $250, the tennant has to pay!

I managed to get an apartment with conditions like NZ (one month notice etc...) and it includes all utilities including cable tv. Otherwise, as well as one or two months bond for the apartment you have to pay about $200 bond for each utility; electricity, gas, water, phone, cable tv... Its mantal! Cable TV here pretty crap too, everything is overly censored. Even things like The Simpsons or Melcom in the middle are on after midnight!!!

Domino, were you at Homelands a few years back?

I just send my rent, council tax, power and water bills to the Cardiff office and the magic fairy Jess makes them go away. Does not everyone do this?

???

I live in a terrace with three flatmates.
One female and two girly boys
Our place is $650 AUD pw.

I have my own bathroom and it's all good

Moving in 12 days. can't wait. Similar to now, cept a cooler flatmate, and its night in the middle of town. lovin it