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What's right for me?

Options at a glance

What suits me?

What can I afford?

Help with your
housing costs

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What can I afford?

Housing costs

The table below shows typical housing related costs for the different options. They are based on costs in London, using the Tower Hamlets area as the example. The rent and mortgage costs shown will vary across the country, and to a lesser extent across the London boroughs.

Type of accommodation

Rent,
mortgage or
service charge *

Household bills (gas, electricity, water, contents insurance) **

Total
£ per week

1 bedroom flat (council or HA)

70

20

90

1 bedroom flat (private rent)

160

20

180

Flat share (room
in 2 bed flat)

80

10

90

1 bedroom flat (bought on open market)

160

20

180

1 bedroom flat (bought through LCHO)

125

20

145

Room in hostel
 

100***

6

106

* For the home ownership options this includes the mortgage and any rent payable, plus service charges payable on flats (and which includes buildings insurance). For rental options this includes any service charges payable - but in the case of hostels assumes that no meals are provided.

** In the hostel option some household bills are covered by the amount quoted for the rent and service charge.

*** The rents shown for hostels are forecasts for April 2003 and beyond. Rents before that period will be higher.

More information on costs is provided in the sections of the website dealing with each housing option for London or outside.

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Other costs

Out of the income you have left, you will need to pay for:

Bills

This includes council tax, water rates, electricity, gas, telephone line rental, television licence. If you live on your own these could come to at least £20 a week. If you flat share or live in a hostel or accommodation provided by your job then this might reduce your bills to under £10 per week.

£10 to £20
per week

Food

Assuming you don't eat out at all you need to allow at least £20 a week for food.

£20
per week

Transport

These costs will depend on how far you need to travel to work or college. In London you need to allow around £10 a week if you will be getting the bus, and £20 per week if you'll travel by tube.

£10 to £20
per week

Clothes

The amount you have to allow for clothes depends on your taste and whether you are willing to buy second hand.

Depends

Going out

These costs will depend on what you like to do in your spare time. If you are on benefits you are unlikely to have a great deal of money left over for this.

Depends

 

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Housing costs

Other costs

 
           
     

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Private renting - Council or housing association - Buying your own home
Hostels - Jobs with accommodation - Moving out of London
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