Depends where you live. Renting private in London, £1200pcm doesnt get you much.
It would actually get you a 1 or 2 bed flat here in Acton, in a 'posh' area like Chiswick it will barely get you a studio flat!
I got 15k off the asking price of my flat, my aim is to wait until Crossrail is completed (due 2016 (assuming it does not get canceled!)) As Station right outside my flat will take you to Tottenham Court Road and then onto Canary Wharf, so expecting prices here to rise.
I paid 200k for my 1 Bed flat 4 months ago, which as London prices go quite reasonable, I could have got a lot more property for my money outside London, but this way it costs me nothing to get to work, and i could rent it out for damn near what the mortgage costs. Two big plus points!
Interestingly when I was looking 6 months ago, a flat opposite, was on for £190k, now an identical one just came on the market at £230k

Optimistic i think, but I am watching it with interest
