I Paid £1,200 for a Damp London Flat – I Regretted Living in the Capital

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The Struggle of Living in London

Josh Pickard, 25, initially saw moving to London after graduating from university as a great opportunity. He secured a job and believed the higher wages would make the move worthwhile. However, after just one year, he realized that the reality was far from what he had imagined.

“Leaving university with a job opportunity to move to London seemed like a great idea at the time,” he said. “The money was a huge selling point because moving to the capital means you can get a better wage.” But soon, the cost of living in London began to erode his income, making it difficult to enjoy life in the city.

Josh is not alone in his decision to leave. Many young people are finding it increasingly hard to cope with the high costs of living in London, leading them to reconsider their choices. Research shows that 33% of 18- to 30-year-olds are likely to leave London in the next two years, with this number rising to over 40% within five years. This trend reflects a growing dissatisfaction with the city's affordability and quality of life.

The research, conducted by Public First, highlights that many young adults are questioning whether London is still worth it. They blame escalating rents, stalled careers, and unmet expectations for their desire to leave. Four out of five respondents say the capital is more expensive than they anticipated, and three out of five believe the cost of living has worsened since the pandemic.

Josh, who studied agricultural business at Newcastle University, moved to London with his girlfriend Lauren after securing a job as a sustainability consultant. Initially, he felt that the higher salary gave him an advantage, but reality quickly set in. “It felt like I was living to work instead of working to live in London,” he explained. “The rents are ridiculous, and we were working from paycheck to paycheck.”

Living in London meant constant financial strain. Josh and Lauren paid £1,200 a month in rent for a one-bedroom flat in Stratford, which had issues with damp and mold. Adding to the burden were the bills, which took a significant chunk out of their salaries. “In London, it’s just about surviving,” he said. “You can’t afford to do the things you want by the time you’ve paid for your rent, bills, and the cost of getting to work and back.”

After signing a two-year rental contract, they found a break clause after 12 months and decided to move to Scarborough. Josh still works for the same company but now from home. If he needs to go into the office, he chooses the Newcastle office rather than London. “Since moving away from London, I would quite happily never go there again,” he said. “I hate the place. I want to avoid it at all costs.”

Affordability is the main reason why many young adults are considering leaving London. Private rents have risen by 28% in three years, and many are accepting bigger compromises in housing, such as smaller rooms, more housemates, and longer commutes to stay in the city. Polling from Public First and focus groups found that young workers described a city that "demands more and rewards less," with many giving up the very things that brought them to London in the first place, such as evenings out, central locations, and even seeing friends, just to cover the rent.

Despite the challenges, some young people remain committed to living in London. Archie McCann, 24, who lives in Southwark, describes it as “the best city in the world.” He acknowledges the expense of living in London but says it is something he is willing to accept. “The expense of living in London cannot be denied,” he said. “Between me and my friends, we pay £4,400 a month in rent split equally.”

Archie, who has lived in London his whole life, believes the city offers unique opportunities. “London has got amazing culture, so many theatres, and a wonderful variety of food places,” he said. “I could get a lower paying job elsewhere, but I wouldn’t be living where the majority of my friends are, and I wouldn’t be able to travel as easily as London has airports and major train stations.”

For Archie, the benefits of living in London outweigh the costs. “I can see myself always wanting to live in London,” he said. “There is enough variation in London that even if you move from one borough to another, you can have such a different experience. You don’t need to leave the city to have a very different life.”