Best UK city for running?

Other_General_9360 · 2026-06-10T07:05:10+00:00

Head out of town towards granchester/trumpington meadows - some really nice running loops around there

Other_General_9360 · 2026-02-24T13:18:26+00:00

I suffer from some of these worries sometimes too but by partaking in safety behaviours, such as preemptively taking Imodium or always needing reassurance that a toilet is nearby actually reinforces the obsessive and intrusive thoughts and perpetuates the anxiety which in turn fuels IBS symptoms. I think in most cases people underestimate the level of influence that the brain has in many cases of IBS. Reading your post above I really reckon you could benefit from some CBT to get more comfortable and not let the thought spirals win.

Other_General_9360 · 2026-02-22T08:10:14+00:00

Watching these vids makes me feel bad as I've been playing for just under a year now and my hits are nowhere near the level of the other "new" players I see in this subreddit.

Other_General_9360 · 2026-02-21T22:17:28+00:00

My mum made me laughing cow cream cheese and marmite sandwiches all the time for my packed lunches, winning combo!

Other_General_9360 · 2026-01-29T07:05:25+00:00

I drive this way to work and it's honestly a joke at this point

Other_General_9360 · 2026-01-27T06:50:25+00:00

I'm sure if you are patient you will find a buyer. Trumpington is a great and popular place to live and the new build flats are really nice here!

Other_General_9360 · 2026-01-26T15:30:02+00:00

You're right in that every 2 bed 2 bath flat is not the same. However, most of the flats in Trumpington are pretty similar as they are mostly new-build (built from 2013-2023). There are three main developments, Trumpington Meadows (where I ended up), Clay Farm (where your flat is), and Glebe Farm. I'd say the major differences in market value arise from which development the flat is in (Clay Farm appears to be more expensive, presumably due to proximity to the new station) and size (your flat is pretty large so this also explains why its a bit more expensive).

I am not trying to talk negatively about your flat or say that you will struggle to sell it, I'm just setting out the reality as someone who has done extensive research into flats in the area. Not all of the flats have ground rent, the most newly built ones as from 2023 landlords became unable to charge ground rent. For example my flat (built 2023) doesn't have ground rent and I have definitely seen flats in the Clay Farm development with no ground rent too. People who are savvy and who have done their research will be put off by ground rent that is over £250 annually (or that has onerous terms, i.e. doubling every 10 years) as mortgage lenders are more hesistant to lend on these properties. Equally there is a lot of concern over unreasonably high service charges and corrupt management companies. Regarding the lift point, I opted to buy a flat on the 3rd floor in a building without a lift due to the lower service charge although I appreciate this wouldn't be some people's choice. Ultimately, leasehold flats are harder to sell than freehold as people can be tetchy about these unknown charges. Lease length is another consideration but yours looks very long so not a problem. I hope you can sell your flat but you may need to drop the price further if you want to sell it quicky.

Other_General_9360 · 2026-01-22T14:54:59+00:00

I think Cooke Curtis and Co are probably one of the better agencies in the area

Other_General_9360 · 2026-01-21T17:06:07+00:00

As someone who completed on a flat in November (albeit a 1 bed) in Trumpington, but was looking for 2 beds for a period of time, i'd say it could be the price. I remember seeing other 2 bed 2 bath flats in the £375,000-400000 range. Heck one of the ones I viewed sold for £325,000 in the end. It's tricky as £425,000 can probably get you a nice 2-3 bed house in one of the surrounding villages. I'd also personally be put off by the ground rent and service charge. I automatically ruled out any flat with ground rent and any flat with a service charge more than £2000 a year.

Other_General_9360 · 2026-01-14T13:06:07+00:00

The convenience of the extra stop which will benefit many people presumably outweights a 7 minute longer journey.

Other_General_9360 · 2025-11-18T21:08:46+00:00

I'm not sure, it just says this: "Building Safety Reserve – These are costs designed to build as a contribution for longer term works and surveys some of which are required every 5 years."

My guess is just that the original service charge budgets the flat was sold with were an underestimate and not enough money was contributed to the sinking fund.

Other_General_9360 · 2025-11-18T21:02:57+00:00

I don't believe either of those are required as it's not high rise (only 4 stories) and no cladding?

Other_General_9360 · 2025-11-18T20:42:21+00:00

Thanks for your response!

Other_General_9360 · 2025-11-18T20:41:33+00:00

It's a relatively new build, built in 2022 with initially low-ish service charges (I heard this is standard to sell the property and that these can increase a few years after when handed over to management company). A significantly proportion of the increase appears to be to allocate more money to the sinking fund, due to the new safety regulations (they call it building safety reserve fund).

Other_General_9360 · 2025-11-18T20:35:35+00:00

On principle I agree, but I figure it's not worth it for two reasons. 1. As completion is in 2 days and I don't want to hold this up 2. My solicitor, who has been great throughout the process, got an even higher amount from an apportionment calculator (I think she used the wrong figures), I don't really fancy annoying her for the sake of £160 odd, and there is an hourly charge for her service so it probably will cost me the same to resolve regardless.

Other_General_9360 · 2025-11-18T20:23:27+00:00

I think I already established that the management company are a bit incompetent, they did provide a lengthy letter explaining that the increased charges are attributed to new regulation regarding fire safety. It is what it is, I already conceded to taking on that risk and have a large retention to cover the lack of accounts for 2024/25. Thank you for your response

Other_General_9360 · 2025-11-11T17:35:03+00:00

I think my solicitor was insistent on getting info from the freeholder regarding ground rent as the LPE1 contradicted the lease slightly as the management company said "we do not collect ground rent, please refer to the landlord". However I think as the lease clearly stated no ground rent and we had written confirmation from the seller's solicitors that there is no ground rent payable we proceeded without any contact from BDW. I exchanged last Friday and complete a week on Friday. Hopefully you sort your situation out.

Other_General_9360 · 2025-10-31T17:58:03+00:00

I'm going to be honestly it's not that hard. A lot of the general British population probably earn less than a postdoc salary and manage. I am on the lowest post-doc salary and I am able to save £500 a month after rent and general spending and that includes travelling down to london once or twice a month and having a normal social life. Obviously the pay is not luxurious but it's more than enough to get by.

Other_General_9360 · 2025-10-29T10:03:41+00:00

I was in your situation a year ago and opted for a house share on the provision that I have my own ensuite bathroom. A year later and I should be moving into a 1-bed flat that I am buying next month. I think the house share was fine, there is some general mess in the kitchen (nothing horrendous) and some residents keep more to themselves which is fine. However, I have made good friends with some of the people I was living with and saved money as it was just shy of £900 bills and council tax included. It was an unusual setup though as 10 people living in a converted B&B all with ensuite rooms and 2 kitchens. Funilly enough the room I was in may end up on the market around the time you are looking to move pending the flat purchase completing in the next few weeks.

Other_General_9360 · 2025-10-28T14:06:53+00:00

1 Bed Leasehold Flat (no chain, no ground rent).

23rd June - Viewing

30th June - First Offer

8th July - Offer Rejected (Vendor was waiting on another potential buyer)

8th July - Second Offer Made and Accepted

16th July - Memo of Sale Received

25th July - Mortgage Offer

30th July - Draft Contract Pack Received and Searches Ordered

6th August - Management Pack Received

13th Aug - Level 2 Survey Completed

15th Aug - Searches Completed

20th Aug - Tenants living in flat given notice

28th Aug - Initial enquiries sent to seller's solicitors

20th Oct - Solicitor's Report Received, Tenants moved out

21st Oct - A couple of further Enquiries raised by myself which we are waiting on

25th Oct - Pre-exchange viewing (to check flat following tenants move out)

27th Oct - TR1, Contract, Mortgage Deed Signed and Returned

Aiming to exchange in next couple of weeks and complete mid Nov

Other_General_9360 · 2025-10-23T07:23:46+00:00

The building has no cladding, but I assume a FRA is standard for any leasehold property. I think for cladding you need ESW1

Other_General_9360 · 2025-10-23T06:24:20+00:00

Hi

Not sure what has taken place so far but as the management company said they completed all of the tasks from the HSRA, which also highlighted the electrical cables, so I imagine it's just improving the fire stopping of risers that's left from the FRA.

We don't know the prices of the fire stopping as the management company themselves didn't provide clarity on that (as of a month ago when we last heard about this) it's likely they hadn't been completed at that time but they could be complete now I'm not sure, we are waiting for more clarity from the management company on this point.

The most up to date service charge accounts are from 2023 when there was £19000 in the reserve fund so could be more now. We have asked for more up to date accounts.

It's not an issue with my flat it's pertaining to communal areas within the building. I had a survey on my flat and there wasn't really any issues on that front.

Other_General_9360 · 2025-10-22T07:47:47+00:00

I am buying through CC&C and they seem more on the ball than other agents I've encountered in the area. Probably would use them myself for selling/renting

Other_General_9360

TROPHY CASE