Reply to: Logistics of Working away in London - Experiences?

[swamp]

Maybe drive down to somewhere like Raddlet late Sunday/early Monday and get Thameslink to Blackfriars each day.

[BigDataPro]

I've been offered a contract in London, working in the Blackfriars area. I live in Manchester and have never contracted in the south, and don't know London at all (including the logistics of tube stations). I'll be working in the office Monday to Thursday (travelling in by train) and WFH Friday but the contract is for 10 months.

I'm trying to work out the most economical accommodation without having to share, live in any dodgy areas or have a ridiculously long, faffy commute. I do not really want to be commuting more than 30 minutes during the week. Which areas are decent and do-able time wise and which should I avoid? Is an airbnb a cheaper option than a hotel, or serviced apartments? It would be good to get some views from people who have either lived up north and worked in London or just generally have a good idea generally on the logistics of travelling, working and staying in the area.

Did you ask them if you can sleep at your desk?

There are people who have come from an another country and working here (legally) and you are being a pussy saying that I have never contracted here or there. Move on. Either you fit in or don't.

[Lance]

So "a great place" and "sucks donkey balls." Why and why? I'm assuming, unless you are a donkey lover, that sucks donkey balls is not a good thing...

Another consideration is travel down to London. Client is saying that they would pay a rate that would take accommodation costs into account. However looking at taking the train return journeys are approx £250. Only done once a week but still substantial. in hindsight, would it be unreasonable to try and negotiate a higher rate to cover that are there ways to minimise the costs or would you just "suck it up" (cue donkey)? I am not on the flat rate VAT scheme.

Flying is cheaper than the train.
Leeds Bradford to Heathrow is between £130 and £200 return depending on the dates.

VAT is not due for trains or planes so FRS makes no odds.

If Yorkshire based there is the Grand central train service that costs a lot less than the East Coast (whoever the f*** runs it these days).

[northernladuk]

So "a great place" and "sucks donkey balls." Why and why? I'm assuming, unless you are a donkey lover, that sucks donkey balls is not a good thing...

Another consideration is travel down to London. Client is saying that they would pay a rate that would take accommodation costs into account. However looking at taking the train return journeys are approx £250. Only done once a week but still substantial. in hindsight, would it be unreasonable to try and negotiate a higher rate to cover that are there ways to minimise the costs or would you just "suck it up" (cue donkey)? I am not on the flat rate VAT scheme.

Because it's a highly personal decision and not one you are going to get any sense of an answer by just asking 'Is this place OK, is that place OK'. Some people my be happy to suck it up in really crap digs, others are highly specific about how they want to live.

Why don't you go down for a weekend for a nice break and a bit of a recce?

Getting to work is your problem, not your clients. If you want to take a remote gig you have to take the hit. You can try negotiating the rate to make it worth but everything outside the client's doors is your problem, not theirs. Nothing rubs a client up more than a remote contractor making their problem the clients.
I've lost gigs in the past as the client has asked where I was and when it turned out I'd be staying over they've said no thanks due to issues with other travelling contractors. Hacks me off when the travelling guys in the office think they deserve something extra than the local guy sat next to them.

[oliverson]

Is fare splitting still worthwhile?

Possibly but I'm too lazy to bother with it. Isn't that the kind of thing permies do? ;-)

[Old Greg]

Depends when you book it and when you travel. There's a 'window' of opportunity for lower fares but you have to book a few weeks in advance. Leaving it to the day before is asking for whopping fares. I have a mate travels down from Preston on a Monday morning and back again on a Thursday, WFH on Friday. He's arranged to arrive mid-morning and leave mid-afternoon, putting in a few extra hours Tuesday and Wednesday. By doing that his train fares are less than £ 500 a month. From Leeds, I got mine down to under £ 600 a month by going down the night before, which I didn't mind as I was only on site 2 days a week. I could probably have given up the apartment rental given I was only there 2 nights a week but there was no saving to be had staying in hotels and a lot more hassle. Plus, had I taken the morning train to get me to London for 08:59 it would have been over £ 100 more each trip and I've have been tired all day due to the early rise. It's whatever works for you. I enjoyed my party trains down and back, 1st class. Few beers, snacks and watch a film. My own little party!

Is fare splitting still worthwhile?

[oliverson]

So "a great place" and "sucks donkey balls." Why and why? I'm assuming, unless you are a donkey lover, that sucks donkey balls is not a good thing...

Another consideration is travel down to London. Client is saying that they would pay a rate that would take accommodation costs into account. However looking at taking the train return journeys are approx £250. Only done once a week but still substantial. in hindsight, would it be unreasonable to try and negotiate a higher rate to cover that are there ways to minimise the costs or would you just "suck it up" (cue donkey)? I am not on the flat rate VAT scheme.

Depends when you book it and when you travel. There's a 'window' of opportunity for lower fares but you have to book a few weeks in advance. Leaving it to the day before is asking for whopping fares. I have a mate travels down from Preston on a Monday morning and back again on a Thursday, WFH on Friday. He's arranged to arrive mid-morning and leave mid-afternoon, putting in a few extra hours Tuesday and Wednesday. By doing that his train fares are less than £ 500 a month. From Leeds, I got mine down to under £ 600 a month by going down the night before, which I didn't mind as I was only on site 2 days a week. I could probably have given up the apartment rental given I was only there 2 nights a week but there was no saving to be had staying in hotels and a lot more hassle. Plus, had I taken the morning train to get me to London for 08:59 it would have been over £ 100 more each trip and I've have been tired all day due to the early rise. It's whatever works for you. I enjoyed my party trains down and back, 1st class. Few beers, snacks and watch a film. My own little party!

[northernladuk]

Dont think hes ever been to that London before....

Lol. It appears so.

[psychocandy]

Omg really? . Start doing some of you own research. Jeez.

Dont think hes ever been to that London before....

[Batcher]

So "a great place" and "sucks donkey balls." Why and why? I'm assuming, unless you are a donkey lover, that sucks donkey balls is not a good thing...

Another consideration is travel down to London. Client is saying that they would pay a rate that would take accommodation costs into account. However looking at taking the train return journeys are approx £250. Only done once a week but still substantial. in hindsight, would it be unreasonable to try and negotiate a higher rate to cover that are there ways to minimise the costs or would you just "suck it up" (cue donkey)? I am not on the flat rate VAT scheme.

You need to gather the information about costs before you can then work out a rate that you are happy with and leaves you with a profit.
No point accepting a contract on £250 pd in central London then asking for a rise once you find out that you will be living on the breadline.

[BlueSharp]

Take a look at an app called citymapper, it's fantastic for working out how to move around London using all forms of transport, cycling, uber, public transport..

[ladymuck]

With people stuck all over it.

Sometimes, not always. People stuck to the front of a DLR train is not common but would be entertaining

[northernladuk]

DLR is like the tube but different

The TFL website is your friend ...
Keeping London moving - Transport for London

With people stuck all over it.

[ladymuck]

DLR is like the tube but different

The TFL website is your friend ...
Keeping London moving - Transport for London

[northernladuk]

Excuse my ignorance but what is DLR? Ideally I would like a shorter commute daily and when lugging back my stuff between accommodation/ work/ station.?

Omg really? . Start doing some of you own research. Jeez.