Okay, so this is an edition of What I Rent (our weekly series exploring the reality of renting) that I’ve been putting off for a while…
Since we started going inside people’s homes, there have been lots of calls for team Metro.co.uk to take part in the series, too – and for me specifically, the person who’s been running this series for over two years, to show off the inside of my rented property, too.
I get why – it doesn’t feel very fair to ask people to face judgment on everything from their wall art to their toothbrushes every week when I haven’t done the same.
But I’ve been reluctant, because, well… there’s a lot of judgement involved in sharing your interiors!
Every time I’ve been asked I’ve had a reason not to take part – our lightbulbs are broken, the bedside tables are different sizes, our plants are dead – but, in all honesty, we had some last-minute drop-outs, so fine, I’ll do it.
This week, What I Rent is going inside, um, the flat that I rent with my boyfriend, Chris. Yes, that does mean I’m interviewing myself. Let’s just pretend that’s not weird. Yes, I do ask that you don’t judge us too harshly.
Deep breaths.
How much do you pay to live here?
Chris: Rent is £1,451.67 each month. Council tax is £100. Gas and electric generally falls between £60-90 depending on the season. Water, £25. Then we pay £71.99 to Sky each month for broadband and Sky TV to record an endless, bottomless amount of Catfish that will never be watched or cleared. All bills and costs are split equally down the middle.
And what do you get for what you pay?
Ellen: One bedroom, one bathroom, and a living room and kitchen area.
Do you feel like you have a good deal?
Ellen: It’s definitely not a bargain, because, London, but for the location and the general niceness of the flat, it feels reasonable.
Chris: Relative to London, I don’t think it’s a bad deal. I was previously living in a Walthamstow house share with three friends (where there could be up to eight of us staying at any one time) for an eerily similar rent for one room.
What do you think of the area?
Ellen: I really like it! The main draw of Shepherd’s Bush for me was how close it is to where we work (in Kensington). You can cycle there in ten minutes. I know Chris was reluctant to live near Westfield, which I get, but it’s really handy having all that shopping nearby.
I feel like west London isn’t very cool, and I was very set in thinking that east is the place to be, I’d still like to be east, but I’m surprised by how much I like Shepherd’s Bush – there are lovely parks, cafes, and we’re near enough a Tube station that it’s super easy to get around.
Chris: Many people believe that I’ve tricked my girlfriend into living a six-minute walk away from my supported football team (QPR, for my sins), and in many ways they are right.
We’re just over two miles away from our office in Kensington which is close enough to rely on buses – my weekly commute costs £7.50 – but just far enough away to keep home life separate.
West London sometimes gets a bad rep (e.g. Westfield, but it’s actually quite nice to have all the big department stores nearby) and if you complain about travelling to Shepherd’s Bush, but live in say Deptford, you need to re-evaluate. We’re Zone 2, pal. End the disrespect.
How did you find the flat?
Chris: Immaculate timing, more than anything. We needed a place to move into. My friend knew of a couple who were relocating to New York and needed the flat filled quickly. It was a match made in heaven.
When we got in touch with the couple and requested a viewing, the flat wasn’t listed and so we were able to enjoy the early processes of looking at a flat without an estate agent playing middle man. Although now everything goes through the estate agent – who aren’t too bad at all… especially if they are reading this.
Do you feel like you have enough space?
Ellen: Yes!
Chris: I’d say so. If we needed more space, I’d argue we’ve actually got too much stuff. Everything we need has a place, but this has come at the expense of having little free space on countertops, etc. It just means that the flat can quickly look untidy if things aren’t put away. Which they are. Eventually.
How have you made the flat feel like home?
Chris: When we moved in it was completely unfurnished. Two years later I am both impressed and horrified at how much we’ve accumulated. We went in with a shared style inspo of Scandinavian and Japanese and just went from there.
Ellen: Blankets, wall art, plants, candles, and too many books.
Have you found it difficult to decorate while renting?
Ellen: Definitely. We’ve managed to make the flat feel really homely, but I really hate that I’m always worried about accidentally scratching the floor and can’t really make any proper changes.
The only reason I’d like to own a property is so I can properly decorate; paint on the walls and everything.
Are there any problems with the flat you have to deal with?
Ellen: The problems are mostly self-made! We let the lightbulbs burn out in the bathroom, living room, and hallway, and just haven’t replaced them for over a year… partly due to laziness, but more because the ceilings are so high. We’d need to get a massive ladder to get up there, but then where would we store the ladder? That’s the big issue.
We need to just bite the bullet and either hire a handyman (and get over the embarrasment of doing that) or see if we can hire a ladder. I refuse to buy a massive ladder that then won’t fit in the cupboards.
The flat gets very hot in the summer, to the point that you’re hit by a wave of heat when you open the door. I also hate the white carpet in the bedroom – it shows every hair or bit of dirt, no matter how often you vacuum.
Oh, and the sliding doors are quite awkward when you have people round and they need to use the toilet.
Chris: From my experience of London flat viewings there’s always one compromised room, and in our case it’s the bedroom which inexplicably still has a cream carpet from another life.
Although I like how tall the flat is, I dislike how difficult it is to replace the bulbs in the spotlights which are embedded in the ceilings at about 3.5 Chrises high.
We don’t have access to a garden either, which would’ve been a godsend in lockdown. But we do have windows to press our noses against if the neighbours are having a BBQ.
Are you looking to move again any time soon?
Ellen: We’ve just signed a lease for two more years, so no!
What about buying a home?
Ellen: That’s the dream. I’m hoping that in two years we’ll have enough money saved to start thinking about putting down a deposit and getting a mortgage, but I do worry about my saving skills – or lack thereof.
Chris: Buying a house is the main thing I’m saving for and working towards now. The plan is to sacrifice all of my paid joys and happiness until I’m 30, and then see what I can afford. Entering house raffles is a worryingly large factor in my mind for future home ownership.
Let’s take a look around…
What I Rent is a weekly series that’s out every Tuesday at 10am.
Check back next week to have another nose around a rented property.
How to get involved in What I Rent
What I Rent is Metro.co.uk’s weekly series that takes you inside the places people are renting, to give us all a better sense of what’s normal and how much we should be paying.
If you fancy taking part, please email [email protected]. You’ll need to take pictures of your kitchen, living room, bathroom, and bedroom, plus a few photos of you in your bedroom or living area.
Make sure you get permission from your housemates! You’ll also need to be okay with sharing how much you’re paying for rent, as that’s pretty important.
We’re not just after the prettiest places out there, by the way. We want the reality of renting, so if you’re currently renting a place you hate, we’d love to see that too (and sympathise greatly!).
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