Welcome back to What I Rent – Metro’s tenant diary series that explores what renting is like in the UK and further afield.
Last week, the Essex House Dolly took us round her £1,400 per month Essex rental. Inundated with pink and silver decor, it exuded IRL Barbie dreamhouse vibes – and shout out to the giraffe-themed room, too.
This week, we’re in Hertfordshire chatting to Michele Theil, a charity press officer and freelance journalist.
Michele left London in 2022 for the green pastures of this popular home county. Though she rents her two-bedroom flat by herself, she’s considering moving in with a friend to save money but dreams of buying one day.
Here’s what she had to say about her renting situation…
Tell us about yourself!
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I’m 25 and I moved to the UK when I was 15. I used to live in London but moved to Hertfordshire in 2022.
I used to live with my partner but we split up so I stayed in my flat. I work as a press officer for a charity and do freelance journalism.
How much do you pay to live here?
£1,225 per month.
And what do you get for what you pay?
One big bedroom, one small spare room (more of an office room), a bathroom, a kitchen and large living room, and a hallway. No outdoor space.
My favourite corner of my living room is where my record player and magazines sit and the other bookshelf where my giant plant (named Hamilton), a bust of Homer (which I got in the Lanes in Brighton), and an award declaring my ‘Outstanding Commitment’ to student journalism back at university along with LOADS of books.
I always feel a sense of peace and happiness when I look at these spaces because they’re just filled with everything I love and care about and enjoy looking at.
Do you feel like you have a good deal?
I do, yes, compared to many other places in the area. For the space I have, it’s a good price and compared to London.
Where is your home based? What do you think of the area?
Ware in Hertfordshire. I really like the area – there are loads of charity shops, a few great pubs, and a really good coffee shop.
I’m also close to two really big supermarkets, everything is really walkable and it’s quiet most of the time which is nice. I also live across from a GP so it makes it easy to go to appointments.
How did you find this property?
On Rightmove!
How have you made this place feel like home?
It was unfurnished when I moved in so all of the furniture is mine. I’ve put artwork on the wall and trinkets on every surface. My living room is filled with plants and books, and a gorgeous green sofa.
You might think the Van Gogh painting is Starry Night but it’s actually Cafe Terrace at Night. Both of the prints were bought in Afflecks, in Manchester, which is an amazing place.
Underneath both these prints is a sketch of my dad. I didn’t do it – I have no artistic ability. I grew up in Hong Kong and there was an artist there who would do sketches of various parts of the city and publish them into books.
She did one called Sketches of Sai Kung, which is the name of the town I lived in, and did a sketch of my dad and his restaurant because he was a bit of a local celebrity for owning a steak house in a tiny Chinese fishing village. The artist gave the original sketch to my dad and I brought it here so I could remember him by.
I also have a lot of photos in the house, of friends and my dad in particular. He passed away 6 years ago so I like to see photos of him and make sure I don’t forget what he looks like.
I always dreamed of having a house filled with pictures of the people I loved, just like my house was growing up.
Have you found it difficult to decorate when renting? Is your landlord happy with you doing bits?
Not really, my landlord has said it’s fine to hang pictures and I plan to just repaint/fill in any holes when I move in. In terms of decorating, I always go with the principle of temporary and replaceable.
Do you feel like you have enough space?
I don’t have much storage space in the flat itself and because I live in a loft apartment with slanted ceilings, it’s hard to get furniture that fits against the walls properly.
But generally, yes. There’s lots of space to move around so long as it’s configured right.
Are there any problems with the home you have to deal with?
The aforementioned slanted ceilings are a bit of a nuisance, and there are slanted windows which are old and often not easy to open.
The doors are also cheaply made/installed so they’re not the best and the carpet is coming up by the doorjambs. It can get quite cold despite having a good energy rating.
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Do you have plans to move again any time soon? What about buying a place?
I have an 18-month lease so I don’t have plans on moving until closer to the end of my contract which is mid next year.
I am considering moving in with a friend to save some money but this is not set in stone – especially because I love my flat so much. I would like to buy a place in the future but would have to save a lot of money first.
Shall we take a look around?
How to get involved in What I Rent or What I Own
What I Rent and What I Own are Metro.co.uk’s weekly series that take you inside the places people are buying 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 whatirent@metro.co.uk. 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, as that’s pretty important.
We're not just after the prettiest places out there, by the way. We want the reality of renting and homeownership, so if you're currently renting a place you hate or have bought a fixer-upper that isn't quite finished, we'd love to see that too.
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