So I don't feel that I've led you up the garden path:
Found a studio flat for £425 in Council Tax Band A - £84.50.
£510 PCM is honestly about as cheap as it gets here without assistance, which I don't qualify for at present.
If you are wondering how other people manage, it's honestly a combination of having partners or alimony, children - which gets you govt help - or better paid jobs. The only other single and childless person I work with shares a house and is a qualified techer earning 5x my salary. I also work with 3 people who live with their parents. Ahem, I mean their parents live with them
But it's becoming more common now as families have to pull together.
Anyway, I really don't mean to moan about this. Simply answering questions.