Welcome back to What I Rent – Metro’s tenant diary series exploring what renting is like in the UK and further afield.

This week, we’re down in Fontwell near Arundel in West Sussex, meeting Bronwynn and Seb Wisdom at their four-bedroom rented home.

The couple made the move from South Africa in 2023, and though they weren’t in a position to buy, they wanted more than just a small ‘starter’ home.

And so, they looked to Arundel, which just last year was crowned the most relaxed spot in all of Europe. It’s just three miles from the coast, after all.

Here’s what Browynn had to say about their renting situation…

Tell us about yourselves…

We’re Bronwynn and Seb Wisdom, aged 35 and 36, and we relocated to the UK from South Africa in 2023. We had considered a range of options to find the right home for us and our two cats.

We knew we wanted to put down roots, but buying a property immediately wasn’t our priority, and we were concerned by the restrictions and rules of renting with a traditional buy-to-let landlord.

When we came across our home in Fontwell, near Arundel in West Sussex, we realised we could tick each and every box with professional rental homes provider Leaf Living.

What kind of property do you rent and how long have you been there?  

We reserved a newly built four-bedroom, three-bathroom family house at Leaf Living’s Fontwell Meadows development, where we’ve lived since 2023.

After seeing our families settle in the UK, our hearts longed to be closer to them. So, we made the decision to follow them and start a new chapter.

Sebastian went ahead first, determined to find the perfect place for us. I stayed behind in South Africa, navigating the complexities of my British citizenship and ensuring every detail was in place for our beloved cats to make the journey with me. They’re not just pets, they’re family, and we couldn’t imagine leaving them behind.

Sebastian moved in with his parents, who welcomed him into their three-bedroom home with open arms. For nine months in 2023, their kindness gave him a roof over his head while he searched for our future home.

They had space for him, and we were endlessly grateful, but we knew it was temporary. The house, though filled with warmth, wasn’t quite ready for both of us, especially with our cats in tow. His parents didn’t have pets, and we didn’t want to impose.

Every call, every update about potential homes brought us closer to reuniting. We held onto the dream of being together again, in a place we could call our own.

Now, we couldn’t be happier. The sense of comfort and belonging we feel here is something we’ll cherish forever.

How much do you pay to live here?

£1,700 per month with an initial deposit of £1,900. There are no hidden costs such as service charges.

And what do you get for what you pay?

Our house came with new white goods in the kitchen, which saved a considerable expense on upfront purchases and other added extras including fibre internet in our monthly rent, as well as a video doorbell, Hive thermostat and keyless smart lock.

The living area is spacious, we have allocated parking and all the developers homes have an EPC rating of B or above, which keeps our household bills low.

Do you feel like you have a good deal?

We initially looked into buying and even priced up a mortgage and worked out that we’d end up paying £700 more on monthly mortgage payments for a property of the same size.

From a financial perspective for us at the moment, renting made far more sense.

What do you love about your home? 

We had to consider our cats and were delighted to find that Fontwell Meadows is a pet-friendly rental community. We probably inquired at about 40 or 50 places, and most wouldn’t allow pets or even consider it, and any that did often charged more for smaller spaces because we had animals.

The private garden has been another highlight, offering a safe outdoor space for our cats, who both love exploring.

Where is your home based? What do you think of the area? 

In Fontwell, near Arundel in West Sussex. Seb has a 10-minute drive to work – and for me, it opened so many opportunities when job searching, as I could commute to a lot of different places, as there is easy access to cities like Chichester, Brighton, and Portsmouth.

I ended up with a role based in Tangmere, so it’s only a five-minute bus ride, an easy daily routine.

Why did you choose this property?

When Seb originally came to view a different house at Fontwell Meadows, it wasn’t quite the layout we wanted. Then our home became available, and the lettings team was super helpful in making sure we got the type of property that we wanted.

When he couldn’t attend a viewing, they even filmed a walkthrough for us so I, who was still in South Africa at the time, could see it too.

Have you found it difficult to decorate when renting? Is your landlord happy with you doing bits? 

Our home is decorated beautifully with quality finishes, but we’ve been allowed to personalise our home with prior approval, which is a rare offering in rental homes.

Do you feel like you have enough space? 

We weren’t looking for a small starter apartment, as we needed a space that reflects where we are in our lives. We both really felt as soon as we saw the house that it was a place we could truly make our home.

What do you like about renting your home?

The process was so smooth. The paperwork was straightforward, and we didn’t have to wait weeks to get things agreed upon. If anything does happen, they’re super responsive and quick to sort things out.

We don’t feel anxious about raising concerns because we know the team is there to help. We feel like we’re in a place now that really feels like home, and we know we are going to be here for a long time. We originally signed a tenancy for one year, but we have already extended that.

How did you find this property?

We spent a tonne of time online, looking for homes that suited our look, feel and lifestyle. We came across Leaf Living in this search, and their homes at Fontwell Meadows went straight to the top of our list.

The lettings agent took Sebastian to see a few houses so he could find the size and layout that we both wanted, as I was still in South Africa at the time. When the agent sent through a video for me to see and it was still available, we both knew it was the one for us.

How have you made this place feel like home?

We haven’t done too much to the house yet; it was a beautiful brand-new home to move into with no decoration or repairs needed. We’re planning on being here for a long time, so we’re not in a rush to find our interior style.

What would you like to have but don’t with this flat?

We have everything we need and more with this home; there isn’t anything we would add at the moment. Seb has since bought an electric vehicle to match the house because we have the EV charger available here. No hassle with any extra installation was needed.

Are there any problems with the home you have to deal with?

We’ve not had any problems, and the team is super quick to get back to you if you need anything.

When our Wi-Fi went down, that could have been a disaster as we occasionally work from home, but there was an extremely quick turnaround from our property manager to fix things. It’s helpful that you’re not just dealing with an agent but a professional landlord.

Do you have plans to move again any time soon? What about buying a place?

We might look to buy in the future someday, but we have no plans to move. In fact, we have extended our original tenancy because we have everything we need here.

Shall we take a look around?

Do you have a story to share?

Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@Metro.co.uk.

Welcome back to What I Rent – Metro’s tenant diary series exploring what renting is like in the UK and further afield.

This week, we’re in Aldgate, East London, meeting Pedro Henrique, 28, and Fiona Ann, 27, at their two-bedroom rented flat.

Having met in 2020 when they were both living in Spain, the pair fell head over heels and subsequently moved back to London together, where they’d each lived previously.

They started out by the river in Vauxhall, but after realising that they wanted more from their living space, the couple made the move to East London. Now, they’re both less than a 30-minute walk away from their offices, and have their own balcony and plenty of space to host friends.

Here’s what Pedro had to say about their renting journey…

Tell us about yourself!

My name is Pedro, and I’m Brazilian but have lived most of my life abroad. I’ve moved 10 times through a total of six different countries. Over the years I’ve kept coming back to London. My partner Fiona is American and had previously lived in London.

We met in 2020 when we were both living in Spain. At the very beginning of our relationship, Fiona got Covid so we decided to quarantine together.

We spent two weeks together when we were still very much getting to know each other. Luckily, we really enjoyed our time together and have been together ever since.

Where is your home based?

We live at Alma, a Zone 1 rental community located in Aldgate East between the City and East London’s creative neighbourhoods. 

What kind of property do you rent and how long have you been there?  

We have a two-bedroom, two-bathroom apartment. We moved to Alma in January 2025.

How much do you pay to live here?

We pay £3,700 a month between the two of us.

And what do you get for what you pay?

We wanted to live in a modern building that was within walking distance from our jobs. We liked that Alma had a gym, a roof terrace, a workspace and more.

We also valued having people on-site at the building 24/7. At our last place, we used to get packages stolen from time to time which was always quite a hassle.

Do you feel like you have a good deal?

Alma is an excellent place to live. The amenities are great and feel almost like an extension of your home. The staff is also incredibly friendly and always willing to lend a helping hand.

We also love that Alma has partnerships with local businesses that encourage us to get out and try different things in the area. 

What do you love to do in your flat? 

Fiona enjoys reading in the winter garden and cosying up in our big chair out there. I enjoy watching movies, and TV shows and playing on my PlayStation. Together, we love to cook meals together and play cards or backgammon. 

What do you think of the area? 

We really love the sense of culture and the number of local businesses in the area as we think it’s quite hard to find that local sense in such a central area. Fiona’s a big fan of Libreria Bookshop and I love the Classic Football Shirt store.

We wanted a place from which we could both walk to our respective offices in 30 minutes or less. We’re a one-minute walk from Aldgate East station and five minutes from Aldgate station which gives us access to several train lines. We’re also within walking distance of Liverpool Street.

How did you find this property?

We found it browsing on Rightmove. I had been looking for a long time for a modern building in Zone 1 and had a hard time finding options that excited us. We were so happy to come across Alma. 

How have you made this place feel like home? 

We’ve been decorating the place quite a bit, hanging up some paintings and family photos. As we have two bedrooms we made the second one an office/guest room and we’ve also created a very cosy space in our winter garden to read books and relax.

We both love to host people and already have friends lined up to come stay with us as the second bedroom is quite spacious!

Have you found it difficult to decorate when renting? Is your landlord happy with you doing bits? 

We’ve found that having our walls decorated is an easy way to make the place feel like our home. We’ve got a mix of art we’ve picked up from different trips, family pictures, and postcards from loved ones.

Fiona’s grandma is an antique dealer, so we’ve got some pieces from her around the house that we think add character and a bit of grounding force to quite a modern apartment. 

Do you feel like you have enough space? 

We were previously living in Vauxhall. When we moved there, I was mainly working from home, so we ended up prioritising a bigger apartment vs location.

Looking back, we’ve realised that though our previous flat had a lot of space, it wasn’t set up super well. We’ve been really happy with how the space is designed at Alma, even little things like the closet shelving is super functional.

What would you like to have but don’t with this flat? 

We would love to have even more sunlight, but understand that that’s a tall order in London! 

Are there any problems with the home you have to deal with? 

We had some slightly oversensitive leak detection but this was very quickly dealt with by the building staff.

Do you have plans to move again any time soon? What about buying a place?

No plans to move anytime soon. We’re not thinking of buying a place currently, but it’s something we’re considering down the road.

Shall we have a look around?

Do you have a story to share?

Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@Metro.co.uk.

From sky-high property prices to chipping away at the deposit fund, getting on the housing ladder in the UK as a first-time buyer is no mean feat.

According to figures from Zoopla, the average property now costs £267,200 nationwide, and is predicted to rise 2.5% by the end of the year.

But there are still ways to get on the property ladder amid skyrocketing costs, from considering the power of shared ownership to making the most of your Help To Buy ISA or Lifetime Individual Savings Account.

There are also mortgage deals that’ll see you given up to £5,000 in cashback for signing, which certainly sweetens the bitter cost of rinsing your savings account.

Looking to get on the property ladder soon? Metro chatted to a property expert about all the perks first-time buyers in the UK can take advantage of.

Remember you’ll be covered by stamp duty land tax relief

This one isn’t something you’ll need to remember to do, as it’ll be applied automatically – but it’s a nifty help to first-time buyers regardless.

Stamp duty is the tax paid when purchasing houses, flats and other land and buildings over a certain threshold. At present, no stamp duty is required on anything worth up to £250,000, and first-time buyers are exempt up to £425,000 – but only until March 31.

‘Stamp duty is a tax paid to the government by homebuyers and, as it stands, first-time buyers are exempt from paying stamp duty on any purchase up to £250,000,’ Lomond CEO, Ed Phillips, tells Metro.

‘However, as of March 2025, this threshold is set to reduce to £125,000. It’s also important to note that should you purchase over £625,000, no first-time buyer relief is afforded and this threshold falls to £500,000 as of March.’

Research from Rightmove finds that more than 70,000 homeowners are set to miss the stamp duty deadline, meaning that home-movers will pay an average of £2,500 more by completing in April instead of March.

Likewise, first-time buyers purchasing properties at £425,000 will need to pay £6,250 in stamp duty fees after the deadline. Tick tock.

Choose a mortgage deal that offers cashback – and don’t rule out shared ownership

Buying your first home doesn’t necessarily mean spending your hard-earned cash on the deposit, mortgage and any new furnishings: some developments will actually pay you to buy.

Take Royal Docks in London for example, where some building associations will offer cash incentives to encourage first-time buyers to move in.

Elsewhere, Aqua Gardens offers a £5,000 cashback of one, two and three-bedroom shared ownership homes – but only if you use their recommended solicitor and broker, and exchange within 28 days.

‘With shared ownership, you can purchase between 10% to 75% of a property and you can increase this share as and when you can afford to, reducing the rent owed in the process,’ Ed adds.

‘This method can be a great way for first-time buyers to get their first foot on the ladder in one form or another. However, it’s important to note that the smaller the deposit you place initially, the more interest you are likely to pay over the lifetime of your mortgage.’

Make use of your Help To Buy ISA

Saving up for a deposit for your first home can place a hefty strain on your finances – and that’s if you’re able to manage it at all.

The Help To Buy ISA was technically abolished in November 2019, but if you successfully applied for one before then, you’ll be able to use any money you’ve put into it to buy your first home until December 2030.

‘The Help to Buy ISA has since been replaced by the Lifetime Individual Savings Account and if utilising it to form a savings pot, you can then use your savings on purchases of homes up to £450,000 – as long as you’re aged 18 to 39,’ Ed explains.

‘You can invest up to £4,000 a year with the government topping up your savings by 25%.’

…as well as the First Home Scheme & Deposit Unlock Scheme

The LISA scheme isn’t the only one to take note of, though. There’s also the First Home Scheme, which as Ed explains, ‘supports local first-time buyers and key workers to get a foot on the ladder with discounts of 30% compared to market price.’

Likewise, there are schemes in place to help reduce the initial cost of a deposit (which is relatively hefty, considering that, according to Zoopla, in 2023 the average was £34,500).

As Ed tells us, the Mortgage Guarantee Scheme is ‘aimed at increasing the supply of 5% deposit mortgages for credit-worthy households by supporting lenders through government-backed guarantees on 95% mortgages and is due to run to 30th June 2025.’

Take out a life insurance policy

And finally, when it comes to buying a house for the first time, you’ll need to consider taking out a life insurance policy if you haven’t done so already.

While this isn’t always a legal requirement for getting on the ladder, it might give you (and your partner, if you’re buying as a couple) peace of mind, as well as a sense of financial protection.

As Legal and General point out, some lenders consider having a life insurance policy a ‘precondition’ for qualifying for a mortgage.

‘If you own a property, a mortgage is likely to be the biggest debt you leave behind should the worst happen, so having a policy in place can help give you peace of mind,’ their website reads.

‘If you have children, a partner, or other dependents living with you who rely on you financially, taking out mortgage life insurance could be considered [an] important expenditure.’

This article was originally published on November 4, 2024.

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London is never usually synonymous with the word ‘cheap,’ but there are still a few spots bucking the trend (albeit ever so slightly).

According to new research, the cheapest postcode to rent in London is SE2 – Abbey Wood.

Here, the average rent per room comes in at £760 per month, and while it might tower over other locations across the UK, it’s a (relatively) decent deal for the Big Smoke, where prices have now reached a typical £993 per month.

Where are the cheapest postcodes to rent in London?

SpareRoom, which compared data from the final quarter of 2024 with the same in 2023, E12 (Manor Park) came in second place with average rental payments of £770 per room, while N9 (Lower Edmonton) averaged out at £780.

It was relatively positive news for patches of East London too, where E6 (East Ham) totalled £782, E18 (South Woodford) £786, and E4 (Chingford) £806.

Elsewhere, there’s reason to be optimistic as SpareRoom’s figures show that the UK rental market is (very) slowly rebalancing. UK-wide rents grew by 1% year-on-year, while London rents fell consistently for the entirety of 2024.

In the final quarter of last year, there was a -2% decrease, solidifying the capital as the only region across the UK to reduce during this period.

Things to do in Abbey Wood

Thinking about making the move to Abbey Wood? If you’re in search of green space, there’s Lesnes Abbey Woods.

Spanning 88 hectares of ancient woodland, there’s a park and the ruined Lesnes Abbey here, which holds Grade II listed status.

It also holds nature reserve status and is a designated Site of Special Scientific Interest on account of the number of fossils that have been found here.

If sinking pints is more your bag, the Abbey Arms isn’t one to miss. With stunning green tiling on the outside, this local watering hole serves up a range of tipples and a banging roast dinner on a Sunday.

The locals are all about the area, too. Over on the r/HousingUK Reddit thread, @Next_Independence825 bought in Abbey Wood in 2021 and is ‘glad’ they did.

‘The area has changed quite a bit since we bought, [and] the Elizabeth line has helped,’ they wrote.

‘The area is very green which I think is a massive bonus…is it perfect? No. Is it improving? I would say yes. We made a good decision.’

Another Redditor moved to the area from Peckham, and was similarly pulled by the appeal of the Elizabeth line, which they noted ‘makes it feel more like living in Zone 2 or 3 for access to central London.’

‘Bostall Woods and Plumstead Common area great. It’s a bit of an adjustment not having all the lovely coffee shops etc (yet) but it allows us to stay living in London, with a garden, and still access all the best bits of the city when we want to.’

Travel links in Abbey Wood

Since the Elizabeth Line opened in 2022, connections in Abbey Wood have grown, offering trains to Paddington roughly every seven minutes.

Before, there were no direct links to the Docklands or the very heart of the West End, but now, Canary Wharf is a mere 11 minutes away, while Tottenham Court Road can be reached in 23 minutes and Heathrow in one hour.

Southeastern services also run to London Bridge, Charing Cross, Blackfriars and Cannon Street in 33-43 minutes. Who needs to live in Zone 1, anyway?

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Owning an island is reserved for the elite, that 0.01%. However, the rest of us can now enjoy a slice of their wealthy lifestyle for a fraction of the price.

While it can’t compete with Sir Richard Branson’s Necker Island, there’s a little gem in the English Channel available to rent for just £40 per night.

The island of Lihou is located just off the west coast of Guernsey, with only one habitable structure remaining there — a single house.

Operated by the Lihou Charitable Trust, the home can only be accessed via a rocky passage while the tide is low for two weeks each month.

The area was once part of a bustling seaweed harvesting industry but is now completely unoccupied.

It has terrible signal, and you can wave goodbye to Netflix or Spotify, as the house doesn’t have a TV or a sound system — but that makes it an idyllic spot for an off-the-grid getaway.

Visitors are encouraged to put their mobile phones away in a drawer and fully bask in the place’s natural beauty since, once you’re on the island, it’s not easy to get off.

Booking a stay in the house means you’ll be the sole residents of the island for that time, so there’s no fear of a run-in with noisy neighbours or having to make small talk.

Of course, this comes with obstacles — quite literally, in fact, as you have to heave your suitcases up a slippery road for a quarter of a mile in a race against the waves rushing back and covering it.

So, it’s recommended to pack light… but you’ll also have to cater for yourself since Deliveroo is totally out of the question.

Once you reach your destination, however, it’s all worth it, as you can swap the hustle of everyday life for peace and tranquillity within a cosy brick abode.

If you’re a nature enthusiast or just simply live for the outdoors, there’s plenty of exploring to be done here, from the island’s ancient priory ruins to the Venus Pool, which forms naturally at a low tide.

As well as the breathtaking views, twitchers can take advantage of the fact that Lihou is a crucial nesting and roosting site for many species of migratory birds.

So what the island lacks in amenities it makes up for in scenery and wildlife, meaning it shouldn’t be hard to make your own fun.

With its £40 per person per night price tag, Lihou House allows a minimum of 10 people to stay. No stag or hen dos are allowed, and the same goes for raucous 18th or 21st birthday celebrations.

School groups can also stay for just £20 per person as, with nine bedrooms and the capacity to sleep 30 people at one time, you certainly won’t be short on space.

The house is fully self-sufficient and has a comfortable layout, generating its own drinking water and electricity through a solar system. In another environmentally friendly touch, it uses gas for the kitchen and a diesel generator.

To access the island, you’ll need to take a Condor Ferry, which operates two routes between the UK and Guernsey, the fastest being from Poole, which takes three hours.

Once in Guernsey, you can reach Lihou Island by crossing the causeway from the mainland. However, this is only accessible at low tide, so it’s essential to check the tide times before planning your visit. 

Visitors to the island, which is also a nature reserve, have declared it ‘stunning’ and ‘peaceful’ on Tripadvisor.

One reviewer, Dilly4472, said: ‘[It’s] a fantastic, peaceful island which one can walk round easily within an hour, listening only to the sound of waves and birds, and seeing beautiful wildflowers and wonderful scenery.’

Another, nessief, wrote: ‘What a fabulous place with stunning views all around.’

One reviewer described Lihou Island as being ‘covered in wildflowers and wildlife’, calling a walk around the island a ‘must do’.

However, they urged those who make the trek across the tidal causeway to bring solid footwear, as the causeway can be slippery and wet.

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Londoners know all too well that it’s anything but easy to find somewhere to rent here, and for many of us, owning a property is a pretty impossible pipe dream.

Now, new data has revealed the London neighbourhoods where rents have increased the most in the last 12 months – and in the top spot was one South London hub. It might be in Zone 4, and it might be 10 miles from the city centre, but it remains endlessly ‘bustling.’

Thornton Heath is arguably most famous for its proximity to the BRIT School, the performing arts and technology institution that has a list of alumni including Amy Winehouse, Adele, Rizzle Kicks, and RAYE.

And any grime music fan will know that it’s also the home of Stormzy, as he’s referenced the area multiple times in tracks including Wicked Stengman Part 4.

But, according to new data from Rightmove, Thornton Heath is quickly becoming steadily more expensive. Between 2024 and 2025, the area saw a 14% year-on-year increase in rental prices – the largest of any area in London.

Following behind was Harlesden in the borough of Brent, Greenford in Ealing, and Barnes in Richmond upon Thames, all at 12% respectively.

Meanwhile, Biggin Hill in Bromley, Bayswater in Westminster, and East Finchley in Barnet have each seen increases of 11%.

‘While new tenants are still paying more than they were at this time last year, the pace of growth continues to slow,’ Rightmove’s Colleen Babock said of the data.

‘However, though this is the big picture of market activity, agents on the ground still tell us that the market is very hot, and some areas have improved more than others when it comes to the supply and demand balance.

‘Our own data shows that the average rental property is still receiving 10 applications per property, which is lower than the peak, but still double the pre-pandemic norm.’

Things to do in Thornton Heath

When it comes to architecture, Thornton Heath is famous for its Victorian buildings – as seen in the St Paul’s Church and St Alban’s Anglican. There’s also the newer Clocktower, found on the junction between the high street and Parchmore Road.

The sense of local community is strong too, epitomised by the Thornton Heath Community Action Team, founded in 2014 to deliver local projects to improve the area. So far, they’ve established a gardening club, as well as the Thornton Heath Art Trail.

If you’re into board games, you’ll be gunning for a visit to The Ludoquist, a board game café bar offering a whopping 1,400 board games alongside craft beer and coffee produced by Volcano, an institution famous among South Londoners.

And if football’s your thing, a trip to Selhurst Park Stadium, the home of premier league club Crystal Palace, is essential. There’s also AFC Croydon Athletic, famously co-owned by two local legends: Stormzy and former Crystal Palace player Wilfried Zaha.

What locals are saying about Thornton Heath

As for the locals’ perspective on Thornton Heath, Redditor @EarlessAgeratum was born and raised in the area and has lived there for the past 29 years.

In their view, while Thornton Heath might have its own issues, you’d be ‘hard-pressed to find an affordable area of London that doesn’t have a reputation for crime.’

‘Croydon Council has also made efforts to invest in the area to make it more presentable, and you’re more likely to find discount shops and cheap takeaway places than independent coffee shops and trendy bars,’ they add, noting that ‘not much’ has changed about Thornton Heath in their lifetime.

‘It has its problems and definitely isn’t polished but it isn’t boring either. It’s multicultural and bustling.’

Meanwhile, @OpelFruitDaze made the decision to move to Thornton Heath four years ago as Dulwich was becoming increasingly expensive.

‘We wanted more space for the kids. We’re in a quiet residential street, have a garden and nice neighbours. [We] really can’t complain,’ they wrote in another Reddit thread.

‘Thornton Heath has a reputation but moving here was one of the best things we did.’

House prices in Thornton Heath

Characterised by bright green trams, Boxpark and a massive Ikea, in January 2024, Croydon was actually crowned the most affordable location for house hunters in London, with research from Zoopla indicating that you can get on the ladder for as little as £76,000 in a shared-ownership home.

And so, it’s little surprise that it’s looking like one to watch in the London property world – even if the rents are slowly becoming more expensive.

Data from Rightmove reveals that, over the last year, the average selling price for properties in Thornton Heath more specifically was £396,996 – considerably cheaper than the typical London house, which now rests at a whopping £686,817.

‘It’s shedding its old image as just a commuter hub, with tech start-ups and creative businesses breathing new life into the area,’ property expert Sue Iluc, founder of Courtyard Holiday Apartments and self-described ‘designer holiday let lady’ previously told Metro of the area.

‘On top of that, there are big plans to overhaul the town centre, making it more attractive to people looking for a mix of affordability and city access.’

And, according to Zoopla’s area guide, Thornton Heath offers ‘affordable living in a modern urban environment that still retains suburban charm, combined with great schools and impressive transport links to central London.’

So, while the rents might be going up, there’s still plenty to be optimistic about when it comes to the buyer’s market.

Transport links in Thornton Heath

Now, Thornton Heath might technically be in Zone 4 but it’s inundated with speedy links into central London.

There’s a direct train to London Bridge which takes 36 minutes, passing through the likes of Tulse Hill, North Dulwich, Peckham Rye and South Bermondsey.

Likewise, West Croydon is located on the Windrush Line Overground, which was recently renamed to honour the Windrush generation of immigrants, many of whom have settled in the area.

And in the world of buses, the 250 connects Croydon Town Centre and Brixton, while the 450 runs from Lower Sydenham to West Croydon.

This article was first published on January 30, 2025.

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In 2023, life was good. I was living in my partner’s flat. We had a beautiful daughter. We were engaged and planning our wedding, and planning to grow our family.  

Like all relationships, things weren’t always smooth-sailing. We had our struggles but I thought they were things we’d be able to get through. I was wrong.

Our relationship fell apart, and my partner told me she wanted to split up. I was devastated. 

Then another reality hit me: I now had nowhere to go. 

Though I’d helped her get her flat and I’d been paying towards the rent and bills, we’d never updated the tenancy agreement to include my name. And as she no longer wanted me living there anymore, I had no choice but to leave. 

My parents couldn’t believe it when I told them what had happened and with no other options to keep me off the streets, I was forced to spend a few nights on their sofa.

They were as accommodating and as supportive as they could be but they were also clear with me that I couldn’t stay long term. 

From there I turned to friends, spending nights sofa-surfing at their different houses. I didn’t know it then but this made me part of a group known as ‘the hidden homeless’ – these are people with no stable home but are not forced onto the streets.

Going from house to house, empty handed, made me feel like a stray dog. It was humiliating – especially as a lot of them had families and kids.

That’s why I always made sure to leave first thing in the morning and only return late at night when I had to. Sometimes I would just walk around the street, to avoid sitting in their home. 

Desperate for a place to live – and to move on from this chapter of my life – I’d scour Rightmove and apply for flat after flat. However finding somewhere that would actually take me seemed impossible. 

When I turned up to viewings, there would literally be a queue of people also waiting to see the property. A lot of landlords asked for letters to convince them why I would be a good tenant. I found the whole process so disheartening and my salary only made things harder.

At the time I was working as a chef at a children’s nursery and bringing in less than £900 a month – I tried to get overtime, but it mostly wasn’t available – and that made me unappealing to both estate agents and landlords alike.

My worst moment came about in September 2023 when an agent, who was showing me around a small flat that I liked, immediately cut the tour short the moment I mentioned my salary.

When I got back into the car, I just burst into tears. I wasn’t able to see my daughter while I didn’t have a place of my own; so much in my life was going wrong.

I’ve worked since I was 15. I didn’t want any handouts, but I just couldn’t see anywhere else to go. That’s when I registered with the council as homeless.

I was given directions to a homeless shelter and put on a waiting list for a council house (though nothing ever came through) but as soon as I mentioned that I was sleeping on a friend’s sofa, they lost interest in rehousing me. 

I’ll never forget one council worker who told me: ‘You’re a grown man, figure it out’. 

Believe me, I tried. On top of that, the homeless shelters were too far from my work, so I had no choice but to keep sofa-surfing.

Finally, the council put me in touch with Beam – an organisation that supports people like me into homes and jobs.

They gave me a caseworker, Ben, who would speak to me every single week about my life, my mental state and things I was looking forward to. Whenever I had a bad week or was feeling disheartened about searching for places, he would push me to keep going.

Ben made himself available on WhatsApp or video call whenever I needed him and it made such a difference having someone to keep me motivated and hopeful.

He also encouraged me to start applying for new jobs to increase my salary.

At first I doubted whether I could do this. I wasn’t hopeful. But fortunately, I got a great new job as a chef at a care home, which almost doubled my monthly salary.

That higher salary allowed me to broaden my house search and Ben helped me write cover letters to landlords and manage all the different viewings.  

After a year of sofa-surfing, I finally found a small studio that was perfect. 

It had space for me and my daughter and a kitchen – basically everything I needed. But my heart sank when I saw the deposit requirements: my bank account was literally empty. 

That’s when Beam pulled through again. They paid my deposit, my first month’s rent and even bought me a bed and a sofa bed. Because of their help and generosity, I was able to start off on a good note and build my independence from there.

Finally having a place of my own meant my daughter could now come to visit. When she does, I give her the bed – it’s the first time I’m happy to sleep on a sofa bed – and it feels like hers as much as mine. 

With a bit more security and stability, I could also finally start working towards my lifelong dream of owning a food truck.

It would have been so easy to give up on that idea, especially through all the hardship, but even when I was at my lowest, my friend (who I’d always talked about it with) never let me give up hope. He’d even dragged me to garages to look at food trucks for sale while I was house hunting.

Finally, however, I actually had the means to save every penny I could to achieve that goal and after a year, my friend and I had enough to buy our food truck. 

That was the moment my life truly turned a corner. It was almost as if once the first good thing happened, it was a ripple effect. I went from struggling, to surviving, to finally thriving. 

We called our truck ‘Mzanti Eats’ – from the Zulu slang word meaning ‘down south’ as we’re based in Hemel Hempstead – and sell a combination of English classics and South African cuisine. 

Truly, I’ve never been happier. But I also know there are so many people just like me out there who are ‘hidden homeless’. 

No doubt they’ll feel that the cards are stacked against them. That landlords won’t rent to them because their income is too low, but also that the council won’t help because they’re not on the street. It feels like a hopeless position.

They’ll be jumping from sofa to sofa with nowhere secure to rest their head each night, but they won’t look homeless – I know I certainly didn’t, but my situation was killing me.

Had I not found Beam I don’t know what state my life would be in today, but finding them, and simply knowing that someone cares made, and can make, all the difference.

With the right support, the right push to make changes, and the right people, there is a path out of homelessness, you just have to be brave enough to walk it. 

Do you have a story you’d like to share? Get in touch by emailing jess.austin@metro.co.uk. 

Share your views in the comments below.

Welcome back to What I Rent – Metro’s tenant diary series exploring what renting is like in the UK and further afield.

This week, we’re in Battersea visiting Joanne Baudin, who first saw homes in her building advertised on the side of a red London bus. Along with her boyfriend, Adam, she was one of the first residents to move into the development in August 2023.

Fast forward to 2025 and the pair have made friends with their neighbours thanks to the communal spaces and activities on offer, which range from ice skating to clay workshops and yoga classes.

Their property might be compact, but they use the entire building as their home. Now, the only thing they feel they’re missing is an art studio and a sauna.

Here’s what Joanne had to say about their renting journey…

Tell us about yourself!

I am a 32-year-old interior architect, artist, public speaker and lived experience advisor, and I live with my partner Adam Kirton who is a writer, educator and teacher. 

What kind of property do you rent and how long have you been there? 

I rent a studio apartment with my fiancé at Folk Co-Living Florence Dock, which is a communal living property where we have a private apartment, but share all our living spaces with other residents.

It’s somewhere between a house share and a holiday destination. We moved into our flat in August 2023 shortly after the building opened. Initially, we signed a one-year contract which we have now extended for another year.

How much do you pay to live here?

£2,060.

And what do you get for what you pay?

Our apartment has a kitchenette, en-suite bathroom, double bed, TV and desk, as well as a storage unit in the basement where we store our suitcases, and camping equipment. We also use the bike storage for our bicycles.

This price includes all bills, a 24/7 onsite front desk team, shared spaces like roof terraces, a fitness studio, cinema room, bar, onsite shop, andco-working space — the list goes on.

There are also free events every month. Since we’ve lived here there’s been laser tag, ice skating, soap making, cooking masterclasses, yoga classes, clay workshops, and sip n’ paints. There are also big annual parties in summer, and at Halloween and New Year’s.

However, the developer, Folk, does offer different pricing options depending on the length of your stay, the size of your studio and whether you live alone.

Do you feel like you have a good deal?

Absolutely, considering that we live a one-minute walk from the Thames and have access to so many facilities, it really is a competitive price.

Folk makes for a stress-free life; we appreciate the simplicity of a bills-included contract and accessing everything we need without leaving our doorstep.

What do you love to do in your flat?

The thing I love the most about living here is the ease of all bills included within the contract and access to the many facilities. I run a creative club with other residents where we experiment with different art mediums every month.

I use my flat mainly as a bedroom and do the majority of ‘living’ in the shared spaces: movie nights in the cinema, a game of pool after work, meal prepping in the community kitchen, creating art and writing on the 7th floor with beautiful views of the city, or reading in the library and sunken lounge. 

Where is your home based? What do you think of the area?

I love the Battersea area. Living on the river in London is a wonderful way to experience London and I regularly use the Uber Boat as a way of commuting which makes it a pleasant experience compared to the tube or bus. I also love the many cute local shops and restaurants in the area.

How have you made this place feel like home?

We have chosen to really embrace the co-living lifestyle, and as a result, have made incredible friends from all over the world, working in a variety of different fields.

Once you walk into Folk you are met with a different atmosphere. We also get involved with the local community, supporting the food bank, working with local charities, and striking deals with local businesses.

Additionally, the Folk team is so friendly, encouraging, and supportive.

Have you found it difficult to decorate when renting? Is your landlord happy with you making the place your own?

Before moving to Folk, I’d always rented in old houses where landlords weren’t precious about me painting the walls or hanging pictures. I thought that I’d struggle with a new build, but that’s not the case.

The aesthetic is modern, neutral, and minimalist so it makes for a great backdrop to add personal touches like books, plants, and of course, art.

Do you feel like you have enough space?

Despite our actual apartment being quite small, we feel like we have plenty of space. We use our apartment as a bedroom and the entire building as our home.

We do batch cooking in the community kitchen, have friends over to play board games in the lounge, and use the gym, video games room, cinema, library. The co-working space is also ideal for my hybrid work life.

What would you like to have but don’t with this flat?

The apartment itself could be improved with a little relaxation area, a comfortable chair to sit in and read with a cup of tea. I enjoy using the co-working space, but it doesn’t lend itself to creative work, so I would adore an art studio to use with all my fellow creators and artists in the building.

I also wouldn’t object to the addition of a wellness area in the gym, while having a meditation garden and a sauna would elevate the experience of living here.

Are there any problems with the home you have to deal with?

Thankfully, we don’t have to deal with any maintenance issues ourselves, we simply log a maintenance request through the resident’s app. We’ve done this for our flat, but also for the shared spaces.

I find it user-friendly as it gives the option to take a photo, video, voice note or simply text, which is followed up by the maintenance team or reception. It is a fantastic little system.

Do you have plans to move again any time soon? What about buying a place?

The dream and plan is to move to the country, buy some land and build our own house, but while we live in London, we have no plan or desire to move anywhere else.

This place is more than our home, it is our community, and we are happy here.

Shall we take a look around?

Do you have a story to share?

Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@Metro.co.uk.

Getting on the property ladder young is often hailed as a huge achievement – and is the dream of many renters.

So, considering that the average 21-year-old will have paid their landlord £80,000 by their 30^th birthday, if you’ve got the means to buy as soon as possible, is it worth it?

Posting in the r/HousingUK Reddit thread, 22-year-old @peachy-kiss revealed that they had the savings to buy a flat worth around £100,000.

It might not sound like much in the UK market, where the average property now goes for £267,700 as per figures from Zoopla, but for the typical 22-year-old, getting on the property ladder is largely a pipe dream.

Many are still in the family home with their parents, as the 2021 census found that more families (in England and Wales) had adult children living at home compared to 2011, increasing by 13.6% to 3.8 million.

Similarly, 42% of adults aged between 18 and 39 say that they’ve ‘given up’ on the prospect of home ownership – including 38% of those earning over £60,000.

‘I have enough saved up for the 10% deposit plus a bit more for legal fees. I also have an agreement in principle that is more than enough to get me a mortgage of the properties I am currently looking at,’ the Redditor wrote, adding that her budget covered one-bedroom flats in Plymouth.

However, the 22-year-old was wondering whether it was ‘really worth’ getting on the ladder while they had the means. With a stable job and a partner to split the bills with, it seemed a natural step up from renting or living with parents – and yet they remained unsure.

Likewise, since their boyfriend remains a full-time student, they wouldn’t qualify for a mortgage, and so it would be solely their name on the deeds.

‘While everything on paper seems like this is a viable option for me, with about £750 after bills and mortgage payments, I’m not sure if I should continue living at home and saving or if I should just make the jump and buy,’ they mused.

‘It all seems very intimidating buying on your own for the first time and I’m not sure if it’s realistically a good choice.

‘I’m welcome to continue living at home, [but] my house is too small for me and my partner now we have moved back in after living at uni for the last three years.

‘Ideally we would like to move as soon as possible but buying a place seems so scarily permanent.’

Naturally, the comments section was inundated with people who argued that buying younger was better – as it means a few extra years spent paying off a mortgage.

As a Londoner, @Training-Party-9813 didn’t manage to get onto the ladder until they were 35, but now wishes they had bought sooner.

‘I’d be closer to having a mortgage paid off than I am now at 48,’ they penned.

‘If you have a partner who can help with costs then that may alleviate some fears.’

In @NeedForSpeed98’s view, the ‘younger the better.’ They bought when they were 24.

However, in @twerrrp’s opinion, it ‘depends on what your priorities in life are,’ noting the first-time buyer benefits on offer.

‘If you want to settle down then it’s probably a good idea,’ they wrote.

‘But if you could potentially end up settling somewhere else then the flexibility of renting might work for you.’

And so, with that in mind, Metro chatted to a handful of property experts to understand whether it’s really worth buying a home while you’re still young. If you have the means, that is.

Is it actually worth buying a home when you’re young?

Advantages of buying a home early

As Phil Spencer, property expert and founder of property advice website Move iQ believes, buying your first home isn’t always just about the money. In his view, it’s ‘an emotional as much as a financial investment.’

‘There’s nothing quite like the feeling that owning your own home brings – it’s a joyful mixture of freedom and responsibility,’ Phil tells Metro.

But buying a home is one of the most significant financial decisions any of us can ever wish to make, since the majority of first-time buyers will need a mortgage to help them spread the cost.

‘One of the financial arguments for buying rather than renting is that each monthly mortgage payment you make is partly a payment to yourself, which will take you a step closer to owning your home outright,’ Phil shares, noting that if you rent your home, your rent payment goes towards your landlord’s mortgage, not yours.

‘Then there’s the high cost of renting. In many areas, rents have risen so high that the average first-time buyer may find themself paying less on their mortgage each month than the average renter shells out on rent.’

Drawbacks of buying a home early

But on the other hand, according to Aaron Squire, property specialist at OneDome, buying a home young depends on the type of lifestyle you want to lead. And if you want to travel, you might want to reconsider.

‘Homeownership is a commitment and may limit your ability to move freely for career opportunities or lifestyle changes, which can be a challenge if you’re still exploring different cities or industries,’ Aaron suggests.

‘Additionally, owning a home comes with ongoing maintenance and unexpected costs, which can be challenging to manage without a stable income or savings buffer.‘

Likewise, Jonathan Bone, head of mortgages at online mortgage broker Better.co.uk, suggests it’s worth assessing the stability of your career before you apply for a mortgage.

If you anticipate that you might be offered the opportunity to relocate in the future, it could be worth holding off for now.

‘A mortgage that suits your current budget may not align with your financial situation later. Waiting until your career is more settled and your earning potential has grown could put you in a better position to afford a property that meets your long-term goals.’

In Jonathan’s view, it’s also critical to consider whether or not you have a sufficient emergency fund in place – which, as per Lloyds Bank’s recommendations, should be around three months’ worth of essential outgoings.

But in Jonathan’s opinion, this might be closer to six months’ worth.

‘While having enough money for a deposit and mortgage payments is great, without an emergency fund, you could find yourself in financial trouble should unforeseen circumstances arise,’ Jonathan notes.

Finally, it’s important to consider whether you’re buying because you’re ready – or because you feel pressured, whether that’s from family members to ‘settle down’ or otherwise.

‘While these opinions often come from places of good intentions, they shouldn’t dictate your choices,’ he concludes.

‘Remember, there’s no universal timeline for buying a house and rushing into it could lead to regrets. It’s one of the biggest commitments a person can make, so be sure that you want to do it for yourself, not anybody else.’

Do you have a story to share?

Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@Metro.co.uk.

It’s no secret that renting in London typically comes with a huge price tag.

But if your tenancy is up for renewal and you’re looking for a bit of respite from it all, one ‘quaint’ borough could provide you with more bang for your buck.

According to new research, the average rent in this cosy suburb comes in at £1,325 per month. And it’s the perfect spot if you want to stay in the capital for less.

Meanwhile, the East London borough of Havering nabbed second place with average figures of £1,380 per month, and commuter hub Sutton was in third.

Where is the cheapest place to rent in London?

The cheapest place to rent in London overall is currently Bexley, tucked away in South East.

But it is all the way out in Zone 6, so if you’re looking for somewhere a little more central, estate agent Hamptons’ figures claim the least expensive inner London borough is currently Greenwich, where rents average out at £1,800 per month.

However, if you’re planning on taking advantage of these pockets of (semi) affordable rent, you might want to get in there quickly, because data from SpareRoom also shows that SE2 – which includes parts of Greenwich and Bexley – has seen rental prices increase by 54.7% since 2019, the largest increase of any postcode in London.

Likewise, rents in Bexley have increased ever so slightly since June 2024, when data placed typical monthly prices at £1,297 per month – £28 cheaper. It might not sound like a lot, but nevertheless, it’s still a gentle creep upwards.

To put this into perspective, average rents across the entire capital have risen by 32% over the last five years. Essentially, it’s a grim outlook all round, but one that’s becoming grimmer faster in previously less expensive areas.

With those caveats in mind though, Bexley’s offering is plentiful, from historic sites to local breweries. Here’s an idea of what you can get stuck into, and what it’s like to live here…

Things to do in Bexley

Spanning Sidcup, Erith, Bexleyheath, Crayford, Welling and Old Bexley, the borough has a good deal of areas to explore.

For an insight into local history, Hall Place and Gardens is worth a visit, offering various family-friendly exhibitions and experiences including a miniature railway, owl petting and a Saturday Farmers Market.

There’s also Danson House and Park, a Grade I listed Palladian villa first built in 1766. Originally designed by Sir Robert Taylor (AKA, the architect behind the Bank of England), it was reopened by Queen Elizabeth II in 2005.

And, for afternoon strolls galore, there’s Lesnes Abbey Woods. Here, you’ll find 88 hectares of woodland, a park and the ruins of a centuries-old abbey.

Fan of a tipple or two? There are beers aplenty to be sampled at The Bird and Barrel, Bexley Brewery’s micro pub. And it’s even dog-friendly so you can bring your furry friends.

Locals love the area, too – particularly Bexley Village, which was praised on Reddit for, naturally, its village-like feel.

‘Bexley Village is lovely, quiet, quaint,’ penned @Staricakes, while @Blandiblub labelled it ‘nice and small.’

‘I was born in Bexley and have some fond memories of the area,’ @mcluckz added. ‘My grandparents lived near the Broadway – there’s some lovely housing stock, nice parks, especially Danson.’

And as for Bexleyheath, the general consensus is that it’s a ‘peaceful’ place – ideal for those after a change from the city’s hustle and bustle.

‘We’re mid-30s and moved from a busy South London area. It’s definitely quieter,’ @rosewalker wrote, as @NCP_R praised the area’s ‘easy access to trains into London.’

Indeed, getting into the centre is relatively easy: there’s a train connecting Bexley Station to Charing Cross, which takes around 38 minutes, and a route between Slade Green and Cannon Street that’ll get you there in 45 minutes.

Alternatively, you can now get the Elizabeth Line from Abbey Wood. Not only does it take just 31 minutes to get to Paddington, there’s also air con.

So, if you’re ready to give Zone 5/6 a try, Bexley could be your bag.

This article was first published on August 7, 2024.

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Londoners know all too well that it’s anything but easy to find somewhere to rent here, and for many of us, owning a property is a pretty impossible pipe dream.

Now, new data has revealed the London neighbourhoods where rents have increased the most in the last 12 months – and in the top spot was one South London hub. It might be in Zone 4, and it might be 10 miles from the city centre, but it remains endlessly ‘bustling.’

Thornton Heath is arguably most famous for its proximity to the BRIT School, the performing arts and technology institution that has a list of alumni including Amy Winehouse, Adele, Rizzle Kicks, and RAYE.

And any grime music fan will know that it’s also the home of Stormzy, as he’s referenced the area multiple times in tracks including Wicked Stengman Part 4.

But, according to new data from Rightmove, Thornton Heath is quickly becoming steadily more expensive. Between 2024 and 2025, the area saw a 14% year-on-year increase in rental prices – the largest of any area in London.

Following behind was Harlesden in the borough of Brent, Greenford in Ealing, and Barnes in Richmond upon Thames, all at 12% respectively.

Meanwhile, Biggin Hill in Bromley, Bayswater in Westminster, and East Finchley in Barnet have each seen increases of 11%.

‘While new tenants are still paying more than they were at this time last year, the pace of growth continues to slow,’ Rightmove’s Colleen Babock said of the data.

‘However, though this is the big picture of market activity, agents on the ground still tell us that the market is very hot, and some areas have improved more than others when it comes to the supply and demand balance.

‘Our own data shows that the average rental property is still receiving 10 applications per property, which is lower than the peak, but still double the pre-pandemic norm.’

Things to do in Thornton Heath

When it comes to architecture, Thornton Heath is famous for its Victorian buildings – as seen in the St Paul’s Church and St Alban’s Anglican. There’s also the newer Clocktower, found on the junction between the high street and Parchmore Road.

The sense of local community is strong too, epitomised by the Thornton Heath Community Action Team, founded in 2014 to deliver local projects to improve the area. So far, they’ve established a gardening club, as well as the Thornton Heath Art Trail.

If you’re into board games, you’ll be gunning for a visit to The Ludoquist, a board game café bar offering a whopping 1,400 board games alongside craft beer and coffee produced by Volcano, an institution famous among South Londoners.

And if football’s your thing, a trip to Selhurst Park Stadium, the home of premier league club Crystal Palace, is essential. There’s also AFC Croydon Athletic, famously co-owned by two local legends: Stormzy and former Crystal Palace player Wilfried Zaha.

What locals are saying about Thornton Heath

As for the locals’ perspective on Thornton Heath, Redditor @EarlessAgeratum was born and raised in the area and has lived there for the past 29 years.

In their view, while Thornton Heath might have its own issues, you’d be ‘hard-pressed to find an affordable area of London that doesn’t have a reputation for crime.’

‘Croydon Council has also made efforts to invest in the area to make it more presentable, and you’re more likely to find discount shops and cheap takeaway places than independent coffee shops and trendy bars,’ they add, noting that ‘not much’ has changed about Thornton Heath in their lifetime.

‘It has its problems and definitely isn’t polished but it isn’t boring either. It’s multicultural and bustling.’

Meanwhile, @OpelFruitDaze made the decision to move to Thornton Heath four years ago as Dulwich was becoming increasingly expensive.

‘We wanted more space for the kids. We’re in a quiet residential street, have a garden and nice neighbours. [We] really can’t complain,’ they wrote in another Reddit thread.

‘Thornton Heath has a reputation but moving here was one of the best things we did.’

House prices in Thornton Heath

Characterised by bright green trams, Boxpark and a massive Ikea, in January 2024, Croydon was actually crowned the most affordable location for house hunters in London, with research from Zoopla indicating that you can get on the ladder for as little as £76,000 in a shared-ownership home.

And so, it’s little surprise that it’s looking like one to watch in the London property world – even if the rents are slowly becoming more expensive.

Data from Rightmove reveals that, over the last year, the average selling price for properties in Thornton Heath more specifically was £396,996 – considerably cheaper than the typical London house, which now rests at a whopping £686,817.

‘It’s shedding its old image as just a commuter hub, with tech start-ups and creative businesses breathing new life into the area,’ property expert Sue Iluc, founder of Courtyard Holiday Apartments and self-described ‘designer holiday let lady’ previously told Metro of the area.

‘On top of that, there are big plans to overhaul the town centre, making it more attractive to people looking for a mix of affordability and city access.’

And, according to Zoopla’s area guide, Thornton Heath offers ‘affordable living in a modern urban environment that still retains suburban charm, combined with great schools and impressive transport links to central London.’

So, while the rents might be going up, there’s still plenty to be optimistic about when it comes to the buyer’s market.

Transport links in Thornton Heath

Now, Thornton Heath might technically be in Zone 4 but it’s inundated with speedy links into central London.

There’s a direct train to London Bridge which takes 36 minutes, passing through the likes of Tulse Hill, North Dulwich, Peckham Rye and South Bermondsey.

Likewise, West Croydon is located on the Windrush Line Overground, which was recently renamed to honour the Windrush generation of immigrants, many of whom have settled in the area.

And in the world of buses, the 250 connects Croydon Town Centre and Brixton, while the 450 runs from Lower Sydenham to West Croydon.

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Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@Metro.co.uk.

When viewing a property for the first time, you might be focusing your attention on the interiors and looking for any glaring issues that could cost you down the line.

But as soon as you enter, you might want to focus your attention on the front door itself as one flat number is associated with a specific ‘curse.’

Have you ever lived in flat number one? If so, you might have had more visitors than you anticipated, accommodating various deliveries and lost Deliveroo drivers. Who needs a concierge when you could just press the first buzzer?

Since buying a flat after years of renting, this has been the experience of one disgruntled Redditor – who would have thought twice had they known the perils.

‘When you live in flat one of a block you effectively become the concierge,‘ yojimbo_beta penned in the r/HousingUK thread.

‘Any time a postman, Amazon driver, Deliveroo courier, canvasser etc can’t get hold of flat two, they will see your flat one doorbell and smash that button like you’re their personal helper.

‘It never occurs to them, never, to try anyone else. You are going to be buzzed several times a day, have people peek through your windows, and basically [be] asked to drop everything to solve whatever their problem is.

‘Disconnecting the buzzer helps a little but there’s still a lot of footfall, intrusion, [and] people treating you as the backup for all neighbour-related tasks. I’d definitely think twice next time.’

They weren’t alone in their experience. For @minimumof6, someone on the top floor of their building runs an Airbnb.

‘Their code for their key safe is 1999…can you guess how many guests have no idea what an intercom is and enter this code into the intercom, subsequently buzzing us?’ she wrote.

‘About six in 10 people. I’m permanently WFH so I made a note. I had to ask them to remove the one from the code.’

Meanwhile, @Original_Nothing_787 used to live on the top floor of a block of flats. After the delivery drivers realised that they worked from home and were subsequently in ‘all the time,’ they became the go-to parcel people.

‘They ended up ringing us every day instead of the flats they actually had mail for…was frustrating at least,’ they penned. ‘Never let anyone know you’re home during the day.’

@FootballBackground88 used to live in a block of flats where the road address was 88, and so everyone’s address was ‘Flat X, 88 Y Road.’ It caused such a nuisance that flat 88 ‘had a notice on the door as they were harassed so frequently.’

However, while it might be frustrating constantly being treated like the concierge, there’s more value to living at number one than initially meets the eye.

As per one previous study from Rightmove, this number actually has the highest valuation at an average of £393,690.

It’s not such good news for number 13 though, which has the lowest average property value at £354,793 – a difference of 11%.

For superstitious reasons, number 13 has the lowest average property value of them all at £354,793 – £5,333 lower than the average across the study of £360,126.

For this reason, there are almost double the number of houses number 14 than 13 across the UK, with many streets choosing to skip the notoriously ‘unlucky’ number.

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This evening, like every other, had become a suffocating ritual.  

I was standing in a kitchen plastered in gruesome images of dead animals while my live-in landlord cornered me, obsessively preaching veganism. He told me that all animals can be vegan, and urged me to spread this message to everyone I knew. 

Despite knowing I was plant-based, I could feel his eyes glued to my ingredients as I prepared my dinner, as though hoping to catch me having something non-vegan so he could lecture me some more.  

His behaviour had been escalating since I moved in a month ago – initially starting off by giving me leaflets to hand out or sending me videos of slaughtered animals. 

Then one night, just over three weeks after I’d moved in, he urged me to cut off my family and quit my job to be more involved in his vegan group – who were focused on hosting regular vigils for animals – while my rent check funded his lifestyle. 

I knew then that I was trapped and needed to get out. 

Just weeks prior, I’d been living with my ex-partner. We had a very sudden and brutal breakup, which left me with a couple of weeks to find a new home.  

The market was ruthless and affordable options were scarce. I found myself in constant competition with prospective tenants for £1,000 per month studio flats, which eventually led me to turn to the option of flat-sharing. 

When I first saw the ad for a vegan house, it seemed perfect. I loved animals and had been a vegetarian for 10 years, so living with like-minded people appeared ideal.  

The low rent, all-included bills and no need for references added to this false sense of security. 

However, my first visit to the house was troubling. The cosy space that was pictured in the ad was cluttered and chaotic, filled with dusty furniture and dying plants. I was told there were tenants currently living there, though they were nowhere to be seen.  

I couldn’t afford to be picky, though. When the landlord told me the room was on the cusp of being snatched up, I panicked. I signed the contract there and then, and my doubts were quickly overshadowed by a fleeting sense of relief. 

But it didn’t take long for the situation to deteriorate. I quickly discovered that the lack of tenants was because there weren’t any, at least not yet. This was worsened by not having a lock on my door, a basic necessity I was promised.

And, scarily, the landlord’s veganism wasn’t just a personal choice; it was an ideology he imposed with fanaticism.  

Within the first month, three new housemates moved in. They were calm, timid and definitely not vegetarian, let alone vegan.

I couldn’t understand why my landlord, so zealous in his beliefs, would approve of tenants who lived contrary to him, unless he was trying to convert or control them.

It wasn’t long until the house became a shrine to his extreme beliefs, with signs Blu-Tacked on every corner, denouncing anyone who isn’t a vegan as an animal abuser.

Scarily, the landlord’s veganism wasn’t just a personal choice; it was an ideology he imposed with fanaticism

It became clear that his veganism wasn’t about ethical living but about control – every aspect of my life was monitored and scrutinised. 

His interference extended beyond just meals. Clothing and personal care products were also inspected. He’d throw out my housemates’ items if they weren’t certain brands he used, and I once caught him in the hallway inspecting my Converse, validating that they were vegan.  

Gradually he became increasingly invasive, checking bins after he’d been away to try and spot non-vegan food residue, as well as trying to follow me on social media.  

Housemates who struggled with English and mistakenly bought non-vegan Quorn products were swiftly evicted. He would find this out by going through their freezer drawers, confronting them and refusing to believe their explanations.

Because living plant-based was included in our tenancy agreement, none of them stood a chance against him legally. 

However, those who were clear threats to our safety were allowed to stay – in my seven months of living there, I experienced people punching walls and entering other’s rooms at night. It was only once they were caught with non-vegan items that they were evicted. 

My landlord would then act like a hero, as though saving the house from a ‘flesh-eater’ was more important than keeping us safe from actual harm.  

This all led to my landlord telling us that he would be installing cameras throughout the house – not for us, but for him, so that he could keep an eye on what food we were cooking and if we were sneaking prohibited snacks into our rooms. 

I felt like I had two options: rot away in this prison, or join his cult-like community. 

To avoid any scrutiny, I told my landlord one evening that I was moving in with a friend and would like to give a month’s notice. He tried to convince me to stay, offering to lower my rent and even promised that he wouldn’t let non-vegans live in the house. 

But after explaining that this wasn’t quite the issue, he became hostile and refused to return my deposit. At the time I didn’t care, I knew I needed to get out.

The only freedom the vegan house gave me was the ability to choose my next home, as I now had time to view multiple properties, speak with various landlords and tenants and ask the questions that mattered, such as ‘is the property safe and compliant with regulations?’ and ‘will the space feel like a true home?’.

I thankfully had more time to find somewhere that my boundaries could be respected.  

It took six weeks of searching, and I now live in another house I found on a housemate-matching site. There’s three of us total, but it’s peaceful and I no longer feel like I’m under constant surveillance.

However, there are still setbacks – a house never truly feels like it’s yours when you live with strangers; you always feeling a sense of impermanence. 

Sometimes, I find myself scrolling through flat-sharing ads when I’m bored, trying to spot more audacious landlords – funnily enough, I always see the open ad for my old room. 

Ultimately, my time in the vegan house was a microcosm of the broader UK housing crisis.  

This all led to my landlord telling us that he would be installing cameras throughout the house

With affordable housing in short supply, tenants are often forced to accept subpar conditions, leaving them vulnerable to exploitation.  

Landlords can impose authoritarian agendas in a home that is supposed to be a safe space, especially in cases where strangers are living together because navigating the challenges of cohabiting with people you don’t know is already uncomfortable. 

Ironically, the vegan house seemed less constrictive than others I came across online, where landlords expected tenants to not use their living rooms, never have guests over or to find somewhere else over the weekend. 

While I was strong enough to not succumb to the control of my landlord, there are countless others in similar situations who might not be so fortunate.  

There must be better tenant protections, established by governing bodies like local councils and the UK government, with systemic changes such as a stronger enforcement of rental laws for lodgers, clearer regulations around tenancy agreements and better support for vulnerable tenants that address both immediate needs and long-term solutions for a more equitable housing system. 

In a stable housing market, tenants would have the freedom to walk away from toxic situations and demand better living situations. In the current crisis, finding a safe and respectful home becomes a luxury rather than a right.  

Ultimately, the vegan house made me realise that even a home meant to align with your values can become stifling if it’s built on control rather than mutual respect. Everyone has the right to the security and freedom to live comfortably, and wellbeing should always come before rigid ideologies or profit.

This article was first published on January 13, 2025.

Do you have a story you’d like to share? Get in touch by emailing jess.austin@metro.co.uk. 

Share your views in the comments below.

Welcome back to What I Rent – Metro’s tenant diary series that explores what renting is like in the UK and further afield.

This week, we’re visiting 24-year-old content creator Maddie Borge, who moved from Norway to start her dream life in central London six years ago.

Now renting an apartment with her boyfriend in Zone 1, she’s in love with the freedom and safety she’s been afforded by her area.

And in sharing lifestyle content on her socials, she’s amassed 327,000 TikTok followers, who she inspires her followers with nifty renter-friendly DIY hacks.

Here’s what she had to say about her renting situation…

Tell us about yourself!

I’m a 24-year-old Norwegian living in London, posting lifestyle videos on social media for a living.

I love interior design, DIY projects, travelling and exploring all London has to offer – all of which I document on my Instagram, TikTok and YouTube accounts. 

How much do you pay to live here?

My rent is £2,450 per month, which I split with my boyfriend. 

And what do you get for what you pay?

A charming 55-square meter, one-bed maisonette, moments away from the best restaurants, cafes and shops central London has to offer. 

Do you feel like you have a good deal?

Definitely. We have so much space in such a great location. 

Where is your home based? What do you think of the area? 

Central London (Zone 1). I love living in the middle of everything. I can walk almost everywhere, there are so many great places to eat, and always things to do. I’m just a short 15 minutes from Regents Park.

The flat is also away from the busiest streets, so it’s nice and quiet in the evenings and I always feel very safe. 

How did you find this property?

Rightmove! I saw the apartment on the site, asked to tour it the next day and put in an offer later that evening. 

How have you made this place feel like home? 

The flat came unfurnished, so we’ve been able to bring in all our own furniture. It has some really charming features like Georgian windows, ceiling cornices and blue kitchen tiles.

I’ve tried to choose pieces that play into those features, while also incorporating Scandinavian colours and minimalism. 

Have you found it difficult to decorate when renting? Is your landlord happy with you doing bits? 

As someone who loves interior design, but has been renting for the past six years, I’ve had to learn a few tips and tricks on how to make fully reversible, renter-friendly changes.

I have used command strips to hang wall art, changed curtains, put up window film, and wrapped our kitchen shelves in contact paper, among other things. All these changes help make the flat feel more homely, and can be easily removed when we move out.

Do you feel like you have enough space? 

Definitely. The flat is very cleverly designed. We have closets and cupboards for outerwear, suitcases, clothes and linens/towels.

The bedroom is the biggest room in the flat, so we also decided to convert part of the room into a home office, which has been helpful for WFH.

Are there any problems with the home you have to deal with? 

We’ve had to have the washing machine and microwave replaced since moving in. We’re lucky to have a great property management team, and whenever we report a problem, they’re on it the next day. It’s really great. 

Do you have plans to move again any time soon? What about buying a place?

I’m incredibly happy and settled at the moment. Having moved five times over the past six years of living in London, you realise how costly and stressful moving is – especially with the current state of the rental market.

We signed a multi-year lease on this apartment, and we’re hoping to stay until we’ll eventually be able to buy. 

Shall we take a look around?

This article was originally published on July 13, 2024.

Do you have a story to share?

Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@Metro.co.uk.

It’s been a long wait, but refreshed legislation to put an end to no-fault evictions in rental homes moved a step closer to becoming law last night.

The new Renters’ Rights Bill passed its third reading in the House of Commons on Tuesday evening by a margin of 329.

Labour’s proposals keep many of the ideas included in the original Renters (Reform) Bill introduced by the Tories before the General Election – including the scrapping of Section 21 notices – while adding a few new ones.

Tenants will be given the right to request a pet, and will also be empowered to challenge landlords who hike up their rent by an unreasonable amount.

Deputy Prime Minister and Housing Secretary Angela Rayner said: ‘There can be no more dither and delay.

‘We must overhaul renting and rebalance the relationship between tenant and landlord.’

The new legislation would bring England closer into line with Scotland, where no-fault evictions have been banned for more than five years.

Housing minister Matthew Pennycook said it would ‘level decisively the playing field between landlord and tenants’.

It has been welcomed by campaign groups including the Renters Reform Coalition, which brings together 20 organisations supporting private renters.

Director Tom Darling said: ‘We renter groups have been consistent in calling for these, and though there are still areas for improvement, the fact that this government has listened means that a lot of renters will benefit from increased security of tenure.

However, he added: ‘We know from Scotland, where similar reforms are in place, that landlord abuse of eviction powers under the new system could be rife.

‘It is essential the bill contains thorough safeguards to prevent unfair or fraudulent evictions from taking place.’

What is a Section 21 notice?

A Section 21 notice, also known as a no-fault eviction, allows a landlord to ask their tenant to leave their property without having to specify a reason.

Renters are given at least two months to find alternative plans for accommodation before they must move out or face legal action.

There are concerns that the situation gives landlords the opportunity to kick out tenants who complain about their living standards – a practice called retaliatory evictions.

According to housing charity Shelter, around 500 private renters are served a Section 21 notice every day, and more than 26,000 households faced homelessness in the past five years due to no-fault evictions.

What is Labour proposing?

BBC News reported that the government plans to immediately ban Section 21 evictions once the bill becomes law.

That’s in contrast to the Conservative approach, which would have paused to check if courts were prepared to deal with the expected influx of cases as landlords are forced to lean on the justice system to secure evictions.

Other proposals in the Renters Rights Bill include:

• The right to request a pet, which landlords cannot ‘unreasonably refuse’
• Laws to end rental bidding wars by landlords and letting agencies
• More rights to challenge unfair rent increases
• Making it illegal to discriminate against those on benefits or who have children when choosing a tenant
• The expansion of Awaab’s Law, cracking down on landlords who do not fix mouldy homes, to cover the private sector

Shortly before the bill’s third reading, the government also added an amendment blocking landlords from asking for more than one month’s rent in advance from prospective tenants.

How soon will Section 21 evictions be abolished?

While the Renters’ Rights Bill is one of the first to be introduced this parliament, it may take some time to pass into law.

As with all pieces of legislation introduced at Westminster, there’s no way to predict how long it will take to get through its various stages.

Although just the House of Lords stands between the bill and its royal assent, the peers may take their time scrutinising its measures and their potential impact.

The Renters Reform Coalition believes royal assent is likely to come in the spring, with the abolition of Section 21 coming into effect this summer.

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

For more stories like this, check our news page.

There are many reasons why Minreet Kaur has never moved out of her parents’ house, but none of them are to do with money.

At 43 years old, Minreet’s mum and dad are her best friends. She’s lived in the same West London two-bed terrace with them, which they’ve owned since the 1970s, for more than four decades.

Every morning, Minreet and her mum, Pritpal, 73, make a cup of Indian tea, before going for a walk or a swim. They enjoy baking cakes, and Minreet’s introduced her mum to Netflix. The family are all avid runners; Pritpal completed the London Marathon in 2023, while Minreet crossed the finish line with her dad, Rajinder, 76, this year.

Minreet, a journalist, has slept in the same bedroom since childhood. The white cupboards, pink walls and white door have been there for 40 years.

‘All random colours chosen by my dad, who’s never wanted to change anything,’ Minreet tells Metro. She hasn’t added too much in the way of personal effects as she ‘doesn’t feel it’s her room.’

But she says that living with her parents is infinitely more comfortable than any home she’d be able to make for herself. She worries she’d feel isolated living alone.

‘They let me do what I want, and they leave decisions to me as they know I’ve always taken care of them,’ Minreet shares.

‘When I changed career, they told me not to worry if I have to do some unpaid work as they can support me — that’s a really nice thing for them to do too.’

Minreet contributes to the household bills and pays for the weekly food shop, petrol, and insurance policies — and she never asks her parents to chip in.

‘They have worked all their lives. It’s my duty to look after them,’ she says.

She spends around £500 per year on car insurance, £100 per month on energy bills, £37 per month on water and £50 per week on food. She’s also now a carer for Pritpal who lives with myeloma, a form of bone marrow cancer.

Can Minreet ever see herself moving out? Yes — but only if her parents came with her.

‘I want to buy a house as a first-time buyer, but I would still move my parents in with me,’ she says.

Of course, there are challenges to living with your parents in your 40s. Organising plans can be difficult, as her parents like to know where she’s going and when she’ll be home. ‘I feel guilty if I’m out and want to come home whenever I like. They will stay up and wait — it’s an Indian cultural thing and they worry a lot,’ Minreet adds.

Minreet, who is single, says dating is also tricky. She says men are ‘put off’ by her living arrangements — and there are other challenges too. Rajinder sleeps downstairs, and Minreet says she’d never want to wake him up when coming home late, whether with friends or with a date.

For Pritpal and Rajinder though, having their daughter at home is a blessing.

‘It’s brought us closer together,’ Pritpal tells Metro. ‘She brings a lot of warmth and noise to the house in a good way. She makes us laugh, and we are so blessed to have her.’

But, Pritpal does encourage her daughter to move out: ‘We do worry about her, as we would hate to see her on her own when we aren’t here anymore.’

It’s little surprise that adult children are actively choosing to stay at home. For many, money – and the general state of the housing market – is a huge obstacle.

It’s estimated that Gen Z are facing average monthly mortgage payments of £1,739 – double the Millennial average of £863, and almost thrice that of their Boomer grandparents who have paid around £775. And, in 2023, just 20.1% of 25 to 34-year-olds and 28.4% of 35 to 44-year-olds were homeowners.

And, in other cultures, multi-generational households are nothing unusual. In Italy, grandparents play a significant role in family life, and there’s even a Grandparents’ Day: Festa dei Nonni. In India, according to a national survey, only 40% of elderly couples live without their children (or only with their unmarried children).

And in 2025, fresh research from the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) finds that the number of 25 to 34-year-olds living with their parents has now increased by more than a third since 2006.

Then, 13% of this cohort were living at home, while by 2024, this figure had increased to 18%, equating to around 450,000 more young adults.

‘Stronger bond’

Back in the UK, Conor Lindsay, 27, is at the age you’d expect he’d fly the nest, but he’s enjoying fostering a closer relationship with his parents.

Conor hasn’t always lived at home in adulthood. He spent time in Australia, and has also lived with a friend. But after returning to the UK, with a small amount of savings and no job, he temporarily moved back in with his mum, Carmel, 56, and dad, Gary, 57 — a set-up which has now become long-term.

Conor, who lives in central Scotland, tells Metro: ‘I’ve always got on well with my parents as they’re quite laidback, but the older I’ve got, I think it’s turned into more of a friendship, rather than just being parented by them. It’s made our bond 10 times stronger.’

Conor pays £250 per month for both rent and bills. He does a separate food shops, but they share household items, like butter and milk.

‘We all do our own housework but I clash with Mum over cleaning,’ Conor says, dubbing Carmel a ‘clean freak’ before adding that, deep down, ‘I know she’s right.’

The family also have shared hobbies. Both Gary and Carmel, who have an older daughter, Jess, 30, play dominos together most nights. ‘I’ll join in and play which is nice,’ Conor adds. Conor and his dad also enjoy a weekend ‘tradition’ of watching Soccer Saturday.

The electrical engineer adds that he likes having a ‘support system’ around him. ‘As a single man, living alone can be very quiet. I don’t struggle with loneliness, but living alone is a lot less homely. I don’t think that feeling can be replicated unless you live with your family.’

But there are a few drawbacks to his situation – namely that, since his parents work different shifts, there is always someone at home.

‘I can’t really bring a date to the house unless I’m sure it’s going to be serious,’ Conor adds. ‘Weirdly when I was younger it didn’t bother me, but now I cringe at the idea!’

By comparison, all of Conor’s friends are on the property ladder, but he acknowledges that he simply prioritised travel over buying a home.

‘I’d like to buy my own place one day, but it’s going to take a while to save,’ Conor shares.

Meanwhile, Carmel and Gary love having their son at home. ‘We all get on well together,’ says Carmel. ‘We have plenty of room and we all eat at different times. We set him an amount and it’s always paid. Conor’s respectful of us, so it all works.’

While Conor pays his parents, not all families opt for this set up.

‘The best part of every day’

Shakila Karim, 26, lives at home with her mum, Sultana, 49, and dad, Karim, 51, in Hertfordshire. As an aspiring musician with no fixed income, she doesn’t pay her parents any rent, bills, or money towards the family food shop.

‘If I want specific snacks or alcohol I buy that myself, as my parents don’t drink,’ says Shakila, who is the reason for her family’s Ferrero Rocher sweet tooth — a treat she likes to buy the family.

When it comes to other household expenses, she pays for her own phone bill and car.

Shakila says their living arrangement works because they’re all so close. ‘I help Mum with her makeup, especially applying false eyelashes!’ says Shakila. ‘And I’m always borrowing her accessories, especially if I need more traditional clothing for a wedding. One time I needed to borrow her clothes for a Bollywood night in Hackney.’

And, her parents are always keen to hear her new material. ‘My dad always wants to be the first to hear my songs,’ she says. ‘He’s not very good at giving constructive criticism — he’s always a fan.’

Like Conor, Shakila’s initial motives for living at home were financial — she can save money while building her career. But she adds that now, ‘even if she had the cash to move out’ she’s not sure she would.

‘My parents are from a South Asian culture so they don’t really push their kids to move out as soon as possible. For me, it’s a cultural thing as well.’

Sometimes though, living at home is challenging for Shakila, who feels that her parents might use her as a safety net. ‘They rely on me a bit too much to be available when it comes to things like giving lifts,’ she says, remembering a rather early drive to Stansted Airport.

And, her ex-boyfriend used to ‘mock’ her for living at home. ‘I’m happy to always introduce my family to new partners, but it is a bit annoying how early it has to be, because I don’t have much of a choice to avoid it.’

But for Karim, continuing to live with his daughter has been nothing but positive.

‘My favourite thing is seeing her every day and having a chat whenever possible. I enjoy learning so much from Shakila,’ he says. ‘It’s beautiful to have someone who is so knowledgeable and compassionate.’

And, despite Shakila’s insistence that she enjoys living at home, Karim thinks her mind will change.

‘We don’t know how long she will be living with us, but we’re hopeful she will get a lucky break and have a career in music. I think she will want to live in her own property then.’

This article was originally published on November 19, 2024.

Do you have a story to share?

Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@Metro.co.uk.

Thousands of tenants could be kicked out of their homes before legislation to ban no-fault evictions comes into effect, a campaign group has warned.

The Renters’ Rights Bill was one of the first to be introduced by the current Labour government, coming after long-delayed similar proposals from the Tories were finally scrapped ahead of the general election.

Tenants are promised more rights to challenge unfair rent increases in the current version of the bill, while Awaab’s Law – which targets landlords who do not fix mouldy homes – would be extended to the private sector.

And Section 21 orders, also known as no-fault evictions, would be banned – meaning renters can feel more secure in their homes.

But the Renters Reform Coalition (RRC), which brings together 21 organisations supporting private renters, says such orders could be used thousands of times during the wait for the bill to become law.

If current trends continue, they said, more than 15,600 rental households will be evicted by bailiffs in the first six months of 2025 – a 12.2% increase on the first half of last year.

The Bill moved a step closer to becoming law today after The House of Commons supported it at third reading by 440 votes to 111, with amajority of 329.

It now progresses to the House of Lords to undergo further scrutiny.

But Conservative MPs warned more changes to the law could see an exodus of landlords, limiting the supply of homes for rent and driving rents up further as a result.

Lucy Tiller, policy manager for the RRC, believes assent for the legislation may come in the spring and its measures are likely to come into force this summer.

However, she pointed out that the number of no-fault evictions is currently at an eight-year high.

She said: ‘Some of the increase is because there was a massive downturn during the pandemic and we just still on the increase from that, but it is definitely the case that there are a huge number of Section 21 evictions going through at the moment.

‘We think, since the last government pledged in 2019 to ban Section 21s, over 100,000 households have been threatened with homelessness and 1,000,000 have received Section 21 evictions, so these are huge numbers.’

The coalition used statistics from the Ministry of Justice to estimate there will be 15,637 ‘landlord repossession actions’ in the first half of this year, based on the increases recorded between 2023 and 2024. The number includes private, council, and housing association rental households.

In September last year, Citizens Advice reported that they were receiving an average of 100 people every day asking for help with no-fault evictions.

The organisation said more than 70% of the people they supported in 2024 were facing homelessness as a result of being served the notice.

And at the 2024 Labour conference, RRC director Tom Darling said he had heard landlords warn of a ‘wave of evictions’ before the Section 21 ban came into effect.

Ahead of the latest phase of the bill’s progress, Housing Secretary Angela Rayner laid two amendments limiting the amount of rent landlords can demand up front to a month.

The move was praised by the RRC, which described ‘horror stories’ of prospective tenants being asked to pay a year of rent in advance to secure a home.

However, the coalition has also called for an amendment to restrict how much rent can be raised during a tenancy, saying a massive hike can be used by some landlords to force a de facto eviction.

Polly Neate, chief executive of Shelter – one of the coalition’s members – said: ‘To truly make renting more secure and affordable, the bill must limit in-tenancy rent increases in line with either inflation or wage growth.

‘It must also stamp out the other discriminatory practices, like unnecessary demands for guarantors, that drive homelessness by locking people out of private renting.’

A Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government spokesperson said: ‘Our Renters’ Rights Bill will deliver on our promise to transform the private rented sector, so that people can put down roots and save for the future without fear of being evicted on a whim – including plans to end ‘no fault’ evictions for all existing and new tenants at the same time.

‘Through our Plan for Change, we will tackle the wider housing crisis we inherited head on, building the homes we need, delivering the biggest boost in social and affordable housing in a generation.’

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

For more stories like this, check our news page.

Damp, leaks, and mould.

This is what my constituent in Bristol suffered through for six months in the flat that they rented. But even though they’d reported the problems countless times, nothing was done.

Shockingly, when the property management company finally started work on the roof, this only caused more leaks. Eventually the ceiling of one of the bedrooms fell in, forcing my constituent’s flatmate to move to temporary accommodation. 

This is a miserable, frustrating story – but perhaps all the more so because it’s so common.

We all know someone who has a horror story like this – who’s suffered a chronic cough because of mould, whose mental health has suffered because of the state of their home, or who has had to pack up and move every year because the rents just keep going up. 

Given this desperate situation, the Renters’ Rights Bill currently going through Parliament could not be more urgently needed. There are 11million people living in the private rented sector in England – their right to a safe, decent and secure home needs to be recognised and, crucially, protected. 

There’s lots to be welcomed in the Bill. From the outlawing of section 21 ‘no fault’ evictions, the creation of a new Decent Homes Standard (helping to clarify requirements and establish a level playing field), to ending the plague of poor-quality homes and giving renters safer places to live.

But there’s plenty that the legislation leaves out – and I’m worried that we’re about to miss an opportunity to transform the experience of renting a home. 

Crucially, the Labour government does little to tackle the eye-watering cost of renting. In 10 years, average monthly UK rents have almost doubled – and you only need to check your bank balance to tell you that wages have not.

In my home city of Bristol, if a 21-year-old rents a single room today at the average rate, they will have put £80,000 into a landlord’s bank account by the time they reach their 30th birthday. It’s no wonder almost two thirds of private renters could be struggling with their housing costs, and saving for a mortgage is an impossibility for so many. 

The legislation is not perfect – so I have put forward an amendment to create a system of rent controls, to prevent tenants being treated as cash cows by landlords, and instead ensure everyone can afford a safe, secure and comfortable home.

My amendment would set up an independent body that would calculate what the proposed rent should be, looking at things like the location and size of the property, average incomes and/or local rents in the area.

There’s a lot of misinformation about how rent controls work, but in reality they’re an established part of private renting in 16 European countries. 

The UK is lagging behind – and as a result private rents (as a share of disposable income) are less affordable here than in any other European country apart from Norway and Luxembourg. Not only that, homes in England are in worse condition too.

There are other ways the new Bill needs strengthening. I’ve argued for a two-year protection period from evictions where a landlord needs to move in or sell, to encourage landlords to plan more carefully given the huge personal impact on tenants who are evicted.

One constituent I spoke to literally received her notice as she was moving her possessions into her new flat. For children in particular, sudden moves can take a massive toll – each school move at a non-standard time of year reduces a pupil’s expected GCSE grades by 0.5.

I’ve also proposed an amendment to help stop illegal evictions by increasing maximum fines to £60,000, and trying to make it easier for renters to get some of their rent paid back to them following an illegal eviction.

And I’m backing the right to withhold rent for serious disrepair – it’s only fair that if the accommodation renters are being provided with isn’t decent, they shouldn’t be forced to pay for it. Finally, the Bill will only be as good as its enforcement – it’s no good having rules if no one is making sure they’re followed.  

I’m really excited by the possibilities of the Renters’ Rights Bill because it’s high time the Government took action to protect renters. Until now, they have been at the mercy of the wild west of the private rental market.

But I don’t want to let a golden opportunity to truly revolutionise renting slip between our fingers. It’s plain for everyone to see that rents are too high, and any sensible government would curb this excess for the good not just of renters but the whole economy.

My fellow Green MPs and I will continue to fight for rent controls and the rights of all renters as this Bill goes through parliament, and I hope other MPs will join us.  

Do you have a story you’d like to share? Get in touch by emailing Ross.Mccafferty@metro.co.uk. 

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Flatmate gripes are familiar territory for many of us, but most of the time we’ll grin and bear it.

After all, is it really worth arguing over a few too many minutes in the bathroom in the morning or crumbs left on the kitchen counter?

For one woman though, frustration with her housemate reached boiling point after she suspected him of stealing her food, leading her to devise a plan to ‘poison’ the thief — proving it was him, once and for all.

Posting in Am I The Asshole on Reddit, the 25-year-old, who we’ll refer to as Lizzie*, was ‘vilified’ and branded a ‘psycho’ for taking such extreme measures, but apparently doesn’t think she’s done anything wrong.

Lizzie had initially lived alone in her flat but, due to financial difficulties, opened her home to a 27-year-old friend of a friend — we’ll call him Max*.

Max was ‘fine at first’; he didn’t smoke or do drugs and paid his half of the rent and utilities. But issues began to arise when Lizzie would come home after working night-shifts to find her food was missing.

She wrote: ‘I even started to label everything I made with my name, but my food still kept disappearing, which pissed me off.’

The young woman explained that she confronted Max about it multiple times and he denied it ‘over and over again’.

Lizzie recalled cooking ribs before work to reheat when she got home, labelling them with her name, and texting Max telling him not to eat it along with a picture of the container. Still, the food was gone when she returned.

After weeks of dealing with a food thief, she says she ‘just snapped’, adding: ‘No one lives here other than me and him and he doesn’t have a lot of friends… I know for a fact he doesn’t have anyone staying over, so it was him.

‘Plus, I even caught him eating my food a few times, so that just shows that he’s a sly pig.’

It was then Lizzie decided she was ‘going to mess with him’, and knowing Max was severely allergic to nuts, she went out of her way to buy some almond powder.

‘I put it in my trap meal of mac and cheese,’ she said. ‘I gave this guy a chance to spare his life, I told him not to eat it. I even made sure to tell him, “Hey, that mac and cheese is mine. Don’t touch it”.’

Lizzie sent him a picture of the container to be ‘extra clear’, and set up a secret camera to record her plan unfolding.

When she returned home, she discovered Max had eaten the entire batch and left the container on the table. Lizzie left the apartment, but received a furious phone call from his mother a few hours later, telling her Max was in hospital with an allergic reaction.

Lizzie wrote: ‘She was screaming at me, accusing me of being a monster and poisoning her son by feeding him nuts. I told her that it was food not meant for him, and sent her proof. I told her to read the messages I sent him, which showed the container and my reminder that he shouldn’t eat it.

‘His mum started berating me for being “careless,” asking why I would have something that he can’t eat… I got pissed and screamed into the phone that if he keeps taking my food, then I don’t know what else to do.’

While Lizzie said she didn’t feel guilty at all, many on Reddit were either sceptical about whether she was telling the truth, or outraged she ‘purposely put someone into anaphylactic shock’.

‘What if that was the time his allergy responded in a bigger way or he couldn’t get to his epi pen?’ @Crazylush wrote. ‘You literally could have killed him. Knowingly putting someone into anaphylaxis is pretty messed up.’

Another said: ‘You’re the a**hole. Attempted murder is bad, even when someone steals your mac and cheese.’

On the other hand, some felt Max was at fault for not listening to the clear instructions Lizzie sent him, telling him not to eat her food.

But what does a lawyer say?

Rachel Mason, a criminal lawyer at Slater Heelis Solicitors, tells Metro that Lizzie could be punished under the Offences Against the Person Act 1861.

She explains: ‘The fact that you are poisoning your own food makes no difference – the offence is made out because you are aware that someone else will eat it.

‘She could be prosecuted for maliciously administering poison or a noxious substance so as to endanger life or inflict grievous bodily harm or to injure, aggrieve, or annoy any other person.’

So, if it’s true, is there a solid chance Lizzie will land herself in hot water?

‘She is likely to be prosecuted,’ Rachel adds. ‘She knew this was a trap and set it up with the intention to catch him out. It is unlikely that she has an available defence and she’s at risk of a 10-year prison sentence.’

Essentially, don’t take a leaf out of Lizzie’s book — revenge may be a dish best served cold, but this is bound to leave a bad taste in everyone’s mouths.

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Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@Metro.co.uk.

This evening, like every other, had become a suffocating ritual.  

I was standing in a kitchen plastered in gruesome images of dead animals while my live-in landlord cornered me, obsessively preaching veganism. He told me that all animals can be vegan, and urged me to spread this message to everyone I knew. 

Despite knowing I was plant-based, I could feel his eyes glued to my ingredients as I prepared my dinner, as though hoping to catch me having something non-vegan so he could lecture me some more.  

His behaviour had been escalating since I moved in a month ago – initially starting off by giving me leaflets to hand out or sending me videos of slaughtered animals. 

Then one night, just over three weeks after I’d moved in, he urged me to cut off my family and quit my job to be more involved in his vegan group – who were focused on hosting regular vigils for animals – while my rent check funded his lifestyle. 

I knew then that I was trapped and needed to get out. 

Just weeks prior, I’d been living with my ex-partner. We had a very sudden and brutal breakup, which left me with a couple of weeks to find a new home.  

The market was ruthless and affordable options were scarce. I found myself in constant competition with prospective tenants for £1,000 per month studio flats, which eventually led me to turn to the option of flat-sharing. 

When I first saw the ad for a vegan house, it seemed perfect. I loved animals and had been a vegetarian for 10 years, so living with like-minded people appeared ideal.  

The low rent, all-included bills and no need for references added to this false sense of security. 

However, my first visit to the house was troubling. The cosy space that was pictured in the ad was cluttered and chaotic, filled with dusty furniture and dying plants. I was told there were tenants currently living there, though they were nowhere to be seen.  

I couldn’t afford to be picky, though. When the landlord told me the room was on the cusp of being snatched up, I panicked. I signed the contract there and then, and my doubts were quickly overshadowed by a fleeting sense of relief. 

But it didn’t take long for the situation to deteriorate. I quickly discovered that the lack of tenants was because there weren’t any, at least not yet. This was worsened by not having a lock on my door, a basic necessity I was promised.

And, scarily, the landlord’s veganism wasn’t just a personal choice; it was an ideology he imposed with fanaticism.  

Within the first month, three new housemates moved in. They were calm, timid and definitely not vegetarian, let alone vegan.

I couldn’t understand why my landlord, so zealous in his beliefs, would approve of tenants who lived contrary to him, unless he was trying to convert or control them.

It wasn’t long until the house became a shrine to his extreme beliefs, with signs Blu-Tacked on every corner, denouncing anyone who isn’t a vegan as an animal abuser.

Scarily, the landlord’s veganism wasn’t just a personal choice; it was an ideology he imposed with fanaticism

It became clear that his veganism wasn’t about ethical living but about control – every aspect of my life was monitored and scrutinised. 

His interference extended beyond just meals. Clothing and personal care products were also inspected. He’d throw out my housemates’ items if they weren’t certain brands he used, and I once caught him in the hallway inspecting my Converse, validating that they were vegan.  

Gradually he became increasingly invasive, checking bins after he’d been away to try and spot non-vegan food residue, as well as trying to follow me on social media.  

Housemates who struggled with English and mistakenly bought non-vegan Quorn products were swiftly evicted. He would find this out by going through their freezer drawers, confronting them and refusing to believe their explanations.

Because living plant-based was included in our tenancy agreement, none of them stood a chance against him legally. 

However, those who were clear threats to our safety were allowed to stay – in my seven months of living there, I experienced people punching walls and entering other’s rooms at night. It was only once they were caught with non-vegan items that they were evicted. 

My landlord would then act like a hero, as though saving the house from a ‘flesh-eater’ was more important than keeping us safe from actual harm.  

This all led to my landlord telling us that he would be installing cameras throughout the house – not for us, but for him, so that he could keep an eye on what food we were cooking and if we were sneaking prohibited snacks into our rooms. 

I felt like I had two options: rot away in this prison, or join his cult-like community. 

To avoid any scrutiny, I told my landlord one evening that I was moving in with a friend and would like to give a month’s notice. He tried to convince me to stay, offering to lower my rent and even promised that he wouldn’t let non-vegans live in the house. 

But after explaining that this wasn’t quite the issue, he became hostile and refused to return my deposit. At the time I didn’t care, I knew I needed to get out.

The only freedom the vegan house gave me was the ability to choose my next home, as I now had time to view multiple properties, speak with various landlords and tenants and ask the questions that mattered, such as ‘is the property safe and compliant with regulations?’ and ‘will the space feel like a true home?’.

I thankfully had more time to find somewhere that my boundaries could be respected.  

It took six weeks of searching, and I now live in another house I found on a housemate-matching site. There’s three of us total, but it’s peaceful and I no longer feel like I’m under constant surveillance.

However, there are still setbacks – a house never truly feels like it’s yours when you live with strangers; you always feeling a sense of impermanence. 

Sometimes, I find myself scrolling through flat-sharing ads when I’m bored, trying to spot more audacious landlords – funnily enough, I always see the open ad for my old room. 

Ultimately, my time in the vegan house was a microcosm of the broader UK housing crisis.  

This all led to my landlord telling us that he would be installing cameras throughout the house

With affordable housing in short supply, tenants are often forced to accept subpar conditions, leaving them vulnerable to exploitation.  

Landlords can impose authoritarian agendas in a home that is supposed to be a safe space, especially in cases where strangers are living together because navigating the challenges of cohabiting with people you don’t know is already uncomfortable. 

Ironically, the vegan house seemed less constrictive than others I came across online, where landlords expected tenants to not use their living rooms, never have guests over or to find somewhere else over the weekend. 

While I was strong enough to not succumb to the control of my landlord, there are countless others in similar situations who might not be so fortunate.  

There must be better tenant protections, established by governing bodies like local councils and the UK government, with systemic changes such as a stronger enforcement of rental laws for lodgers, clearer regulations around tenancy agreements and better support for vulnerable tenants that address both immediate needs and long-term solutions for a more equitable housing system. 

In a stable housing market, tenants would have the freedom to walk away from toxic situations and demand better living situations. In the current crisis, finding a safe and respectful home becomes a luxury rather than a right.  

Ultimately, the vegan house made me realise that even a home meant to align with your values can become stifling if it’s built on control rather than mutual respect. Everyone has the right to the security and freedom to live comfortably, and wellbeing should always come before rigid ideologies or profit.

Do you have a story you’d like to share? Get in touch by emailing jess.austin@metro.co.uk. 

Share your views in the comments below.

Moving house can often strike fear into the hearts of renters without thousands of pounds in savings to cover hefty rent and deposit fees, but now, landlords will soon be banned from asking for more than one month’s worth upfront.

The Renters’ Rights Bill will now make it illegal to ask tenants to pay more than one month plus a deposit equating to six weeks’ worth of rent – undoubtedly welcome news for those struggling to scramble together copious amounts of money after signing a new tenancy agreement.

In December 2024, figures from Zoopla placed the average UK rent at £1,270 per month for a property with between one and four bedrooms – but naturally, it’s much higher in London, reaching an eye-watering £2,188.

And, with Gen Zs and Millennials dubbed ‘Generation Rent’ – in reference to exorbitantly priced, largely inaffordable houses – many of us might not ever own a home without generational wealth, leaving us locked into the cycle of paying landlords thousands of pounds a year.

That’s when we’re able to even make our rent payments, too, as in 2023, a report from StepChange Debt Charity found that one in six private renters (equating to 1.2 million people) were relying on credit to make ends meet.

So, when we’re asked to pay several months’ worth upfront, we could either be rinsing our life savings or actively going into debt.

‘We’re putting an end to renters being ripped off by outrageous upfront costs that leave them struggling to make ends meet or locked out of housing altogether,’ Deputy Prime Minister and Secretary of State for Housing Angela Rayner told i newspaper.

‘Our Renters’ Rights Bill will transform the rights of 11 million private tenants, ending rental bidding wars and abolishing ‘no fault’ eviction, making the system fairer and giving renters more security, stability and protections.’

The new law could change renting in cities like London forever – where it’s commonplace to hear, while searching tooth and nail for a flat that’s actually liveable and affordable, of competitors volunteering to put down vast amounts upfront in a bid to secure it.

For working-class and low-income people without the security blanket of either inherited wealth or a decent amount in savings – or for people without a UK-based guarantor – this can make finding a new home a living nightmare.

Ceylin C is originally from Turkey and has been living in the UK since 2018. In August 2023, she needed a UK-based address to extend her visa by September 2023 – but she’d recently moved out from her previous flat and went back home to visit her family for a few days.

When she returned to London, she didn’t have anywhere to stay, and so the urgency of the situation was growing.

With only one month until her visa application deadline, she was frantically searching during one of the busiest periods of the year – when students are looking for new tenancies, as are many new graduates.

‘There weren’t many options, but I eventually found a flat in White City and I was very stressed about the visa situation,’ Ceylin, now 25 and running her own business as a freelancer, tells Metro.

‘I wasn’t thinking clearly, so I found this agency and I didn’t do any proper background research about them. Later I found that they were a very dodgy company.

‘Being a freelancer, you might make a lot of money in one month and then another not so much, so the income isn’t as stable. They didn’t like my financial records, so they told me that I needed to either provide a UK guarantor or pay six months in advance.’

Because Ceylin didn’t have a suitable guarantor in the UK, she had to go to her parents and ask to borrow £6,000 – the amount that would cover six months’ worth of rent – by the following week.

‘It’s a lot of money to ask for with very short notice, and I didn’t have enough in savings,’ Ceylin notes. Luckily, her parents were able to lend her the money – but acquiring it within such a short time frame was stressful.

But when she moved in, she was given the wrong room, and the flat was such a mess that the agency had to relocate her to a different one temporarily – though that wasn’t much better.

‘The stove wasn’t working, it was filthy, and there was expired food in the cupboards,’ she details.

‘I was showering at my gym four or five times a week or crashing at my friend’s place. I wasn’t even using the flat even though I’d already paid for it.

‘It effectively tied me to a contract that I couldn’t get out of. Because I’d paid for six months, I had to stay there.’

Naturally, Ceylin welcomes the news that the government is changing the policy.

‘From an international person’s view, imagine coming from a different country and you don’t know anyone, and you come from a poor background. It makes people very vulnerable,’ she says.

Ceylin isn’t alone. When renting a flat in Camden, Nell Mead was asked to pay one year’s worth of rent in one instalment – which equated to £31,200, since the monthly rent was £2,600.

‘I stayed for two years, and in the second year, I managed to negotiate it down to six months,’ Nell, who is 47 and works in East London as a physiotherapist, details.

‘I was evicted when my landlord’s mortgages – on his family home and the property I was renting from him – both came up for renewal and shot up. That was at the end of a two-year tenancy so although I was sad to leave, I could accept it.’

After moving out, Nell was once again asked to pay one years’ worth of rent in advance for a new flat in Leytonstone – this time amounting to £34,800 (£2,900 per month). When she re-signed for a second year, she managed to negotiate it down to six – £17,400.

She was initially told that she would be able to rent it for between three and five years, but after 14 months, she received a section 21 notice with no explanation despite having just paid for six months upfront.

‘It later transpired that my landlord’s wife had died and he wanted his house back which I have sympathy with, but the lettings agents still withheld my overpaid rent and my deposit for several months,’ she concludes. ‘The agent was awful.’

Along these lines, the government’s new move has been endorsed by ACORN, a trade union that works alongside renters and often fights against illegal evictions or poor living standards.

‘A ban on landlords being able to charge months and months of rent in advance is welcome news for the many renters struggling to secure a place to call home,’ ACORN’s policy officer Anny Cullum tells Metro.

‘We’re in the midst of a housing crisis, with rising rents and a lack of social homes causing misery for millions. Low-income people, young families and those on benefits are among those who are struggling most. They’re also the people more likely to be asked for several months, or even longer, of rent up front, something that is simply not possible for many.

‘This is an issue that ACORN has been fighting for years, and we’re pleased to see the government is moving to end it. The Renters’ Rights Bill should bring about huge positive change for renters, but we will continue fighting until everyone has an affordable and good quality home: a place to live a happy and healthy life.’

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A millennial couple who were repeatedly told they’d be able to buy a house if they stopped their frivolous spending on coffee have hit back in a unique way.

Ali Munro, 30, and Laura Casey, 31, decided to use their backgrounds as designers to create their dream home with a sweet twist: by building it with biscuits.

The couple spent £30 on sweets, chocolate, icing and of course, the biscuits and created a model home filled with bespoke works of art, including a double bed with marshmallow pillows that looks genuinely comfy.

It is the flat of dreams, after all – who’d get a mattress so plush in a rental?

Ali said: ‘Sometimes certain people of our parents’ generation make comments about how if only young people learned to be more frugal and stopped spending money on oat flat whites and streaming subscriptions they’d be able to buy a house.

‘But when the average property price is over 12 times your yearly salary, this argument simply becomes futile.

‘While our biscuit house is hopefully beautiful and interesting to look at as a piece of craft, it’s also meant to be a sad reminder of the deeply troubling housing crisis we’re all in.’

Ali and Laura’s experience isn’t unique: there’s a common misconception plaguing both Millennials and Gen Z that if we simply cut out expenses like Netflix and coffee (or the age old splurge, avocado toast), we’d be able to magic a house deposit out of thin air.

But in London, where Ali and Laura live, the average property now costs £687,243, according to figures from Rightmove.

Comparatively, Halifax’s House Price Index for December 2024 places the typical UK house price at £297,166 – considerably lower than the going rate in the Big Smoke.

And in 2024, data from OnTheMarket showed that the average deposit for first-time buyers was £53,414.

So, would refraining from buying coffee really help you out all that much?

Let’s say you spend £20 per week on coffee – which would certainly be at the higher end – and opt to stash it away for one year. In total, you’d end up with £1,040.

Assuming you saved only this amount every week, it would take you 51.3 years to save the average deposit (excluding interest). By which time, you’d likely be retired – and wouldn’t qualify for a mortgage anyway.

And so, Ali and Laura argue that this coffee theory is ridiculous, noting that they’ve been ‘experiencing the effects of the housing crisis first hand.’

‘[We] wanted to make something that draws attention to this issue in an accessible and slightly satirical way,’ Ali continues.

Along these lines, a highly detailed biscuit house project seemed the perfect way to use their ‘aligned skills‘ as creatives.

But the biscuit house isn’t just a little bit of fun: the couple hope that it will facilitate a discussion that could influence the government to act.

‘We’d love to see more genuinely affordable houses being built and stricter regulations on buying as an investment,’ Ali adds.

‘We know the housing crisis is complicated, but we’d welcome any action that contributes to levelling prices.’

Posting their creation on Reddit has now attracted the attention of more than 11,000 people.

‘When you do finally get a flat, I think you should get a massive poster of that NICE biscuit as a reminder of when it all seemed so far off,’ @ComprehensiveBee1819 added in the comments section.

Meanwhile, @DS_Pauly made light of the often-astronomical prices renters face for arguably very little space, writing ‘that’ll be £2500pcm. Bills not included.’

‘Well if you stopped wasting money on frivolous stuff like pick n mix you’d have your deposit saved up in no time!’ @gerrymetal added in jest, while @WingHeavyArms labelled it ‘so sweet and yet so sad at the same time.’

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With 2025 comes the Labour government’s first shot at a full calendar year in power – and plans are already in place for it.

There’s still a long way to go until the next scheduled general election, but Sir Keir Starmer is itching to get some tangible changes under his belt.

After all, the next round of local elections is coming up on May 1, and the PM would surely like his candidates to have something positive to point towards.

While plenty of surprises will certainly come this year, here are a few of the things the government has told us to expect throughout this year.

May, July, autumn: First rail companies nationalised

Louise Haigh may have departed as transport secretary in November, but her biggest idea will only start to play out in spring.

Under her nationalisation plan, the government will save on money by only taking on rail franchises when their private contracts run out.

By that token, the first operator to come under the new Great British Railways umbrella will be South Western, which is based at London Waterloo.

After it is brought into government ownership in May, c2c – which serves Essex and London – will follow in July.

Greater Anglia, which covers much of the east of England, is expected to be nationalised at some point in autumn.

June 1: Disposable vapes banned

The banning of disposable vapes was first announced in January 2024 by the previous Conservative government.

But those proposals were shelved when the general election was called in May, so it’s Labour who will have the responsibility for carrying it out.

Announcing the move last October, circular economy minister Mary Creagh said it would help ‘end this nation’s throwaway culture’.

Health minister Andrew Gwynne added: ‘Banning disposable vapes will not only protect the environment, but importantly reduce the appeal of vapes to children and keep them out of the hands of vulnerable young people.’

But the decision has been criticised by the UK Vaping Industry Association, which argued it could result in a black market.

Summer: Renters’ Rights Bill comes into effect

Championed by Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner, the Renters’ Rights Bill was prioritised by the government in the weeks after the election.

Once again, it has its origins in proposals made by the Conservatives, who first promised to scrap Section 21 ‘no fault evictions’ under Theresa May.

But those plans had also fallen by the wayside by the time last year’s general election came round.

Labour’s plans also involve the end of Section 21, but add measures like the right to request a pet and making it illegal to discriminate against prospective tenants who are on benefits or who have children.

Some of those details may be changed when the bill goes to the House of Lords, but campaign group the Renter’s Reform Coalition anticipates it will receive royal assent in the spring and come into effect in the summer.

October 1: Junk food ad ban

Wes Streeting announced last month that TV adverts for junk food would be banned before the watershed from October 2025.

The move is designed to tackle childhood obesity, which the health secretary said is ‘unfair on children’ and ‘adding strain to our NHS’.

But eyebrows were raised when a list of dishes categorised as ‘junk food’ under the plans was revealed.

The government is using a technique from the Food Standards Agency called the nutrient profiling model to determine what’s healthy – therefore safe to show on telly before 9pm – and what’s not.

So it’s not just burgers and pizza. Among the foods deemed not sufficiently nutritional are rice cakes, muesli, protein bars and instant porridge.

Uncertain: Assisted dying legalised

This is one measure with a big question mark above it, but we’re certain to hear an awful lot more about it this year.

The vote to progress legislation on legalising assisted dying in November was likely the biggest ethical decision made by the British Parliament in the last decade.

However, the path to royal assent is far from smooth. Opponents have vowed to continue trying to prevent it from passing future votes, and some supporters have said they will only continue to back it if changes are made.

Labour MP Kim Leadbeater’s bill is now in the committee stage. A source told Metro that it should pass through the House of Commons by May – if indeed it gets that far – and could be law by the end of the year.

There are always complications around such thorny issues, though, and even if the bill does go all the way it could take two years for it to come into force.

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

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A cubby beneath the stairs, a bathroom separated from the kitchen by a shower curtain, and a £15,000 telephone box were just some of the wackiest properties to hit the market in 2024.

Whether listed for rent or sale, we’ve reported on all the weird and wonderful homes across the world, from London to San Francisco.

There have been air raid shelters listed for hundreds of thousands of pounds, homes decorated with wall-to-wall mirrors, and opulent houseboats for £1,000,000.

And yet, one thing remains clear: renting is still a slog and property prices remain high.

Landlords are hitting tenants with increasingly unhinged requests – like being asked to limit their showers to two minutes – and some are even being catfished by fake owners and then ghosted when the real one comes to knock on their door.

So, without further ado, here’s Metro’s round-up of just some of the weirdest properties that caught our eye in 2024.

A studio flat that sleeps 10…just like the Big Brother house

Compact is an understatement for this studio flat that sleeps ten – it’s more like a game of Tetris gone wrong.

In October, the seafront pad went up on OpenRent in Brighton – and arguably sounded like a bargain for a property in this beachfront location.

Decorated with pink rose wallpaper, rainbows, pink princess bed canopies and fake ivy, the home was described as ‘perfect’ for builders or students as it was listed with a minimum stay of one month.

Potential tenants were also able to move into the property on the day of the viewing — but they needed to pay an extra £35 for the pleasure.

A bed in a conservatory listed as a ‘studio flat’ for £1,200 per month

Studio flats at exorbitant rates were a running theme in 2024, as one Manchester offering proved in September.

With its exposed brick walls and glass roof, the room on offer was perhaps more akin to a summerhouse than a flat, and on the market for a whopping £1,200 per month. It did at least have its own front door though, accessible via the main house’s kitchen.

Furnishings inside were fairly limited, comprised of a double bed, leather sofa, a desk and chair, and a chest of drawers. However, there were no self-contained kitchen or bathroom facilities that one might expect to find in a ‘studio flat.’

The listing even made it onto the SpottedonRightmove Reddit thread – where naturally, commentators were less than impressed.

‘How can you possibly ask someone “how often do you need to cook food” as part of a rent application?’ @UnderstandingFit8324 questioned, while @lazyclarence wrote: ‘the more I look at this, the worse it gets.’

A tiny door in Cornwall that led to a micro-home ‘ready for the apocalypse’

In 2024, we’ve seen plenty of ex-air raid shelters go up for sale – including one for £25,000 near Torpoint in Cornwall, for £165,000 in Surrey, and £36,000 in Derbyshire.

These formed a living piece of history, as many were one of around 1,500 listening posts constructed by the Royal Observer Corps nationwide in case of a nuclear attack.

Given enough food and water for two weeks, soldiers had access to both a landline and radio communications so that they could report back in the event of nuclear fallout.

While this tiny door in Cornwall didn’t house an ex-air raid shelter inside, it certainly gave off that vibe.

Described by online commentators as ‘ready for apocalypse’ and fronted by a teeny tiny front door, this unique Penzance property used to be a pumping station – and it’s so tucked away that it could easily be missed from the main road.

It hit the market for £45,000 back in August, and while it might’ve been a micro-home, there was certainly more packed in there than meets the eye, including a kitchenette, dining space, sleeping quarters and a full bathroom. What more could you possibly need?

A telephone box in East London for £15,000

It wasn’t all studio flats and air raid shelter-style properties that defined 2024. One iconic ex-telephone box went up for sale in East London to tune of £15,000.

Synonymous with the capital alongside London’s black cabs and double decker buses, the city remains home to many of these landmarks – despite the fact that their numbers are, sadly, dwindling.

As a Grade II listed building protected by Historic England, buyers weren’t permitted to remove it or alter the exterior – so any grand renovation plans needed to be shelved.

However, the box did have planning permission for retail use as well as mains electricity, posing the potential to be converted into a small business.

In fact, many of these red kiosks have been transformed into coffee shops, mini libraries, florists, bakeries and even life-saving defibrillators.

A studio flat for £850 with a ‘bathroom’ behind a shower curtain

London certainly outdid itself this year with its standout property market. It’s one of the most expensive in the world, ranked fourth globally for prime property and third for ultra-prime property.

And the rest of us aren’t necessarily always thriving either, as the average cost of a house in the Big Smoke has now reached £526,000, as per figures from Gov UK, while renting averages out at £2,190 per month.

It might seem cheap at £850 per month, but in November, a studio flat was listed in London (where else?) missing one crucial detail. The toilet wasn’t enclosed behind a door, but a shower curtain.

The nature of a studio flat might be that everything is contained in the same place, but this was incredibly cosy – and nestled right next to the kitchen, no less. How’s that for hygiene levels?

A £192 cubby under the stairs inside a one-bedroom flat

In October, a Harry Potter-style cubby hit the market over in San Francisco for just £192 ($250) per month.

Naturally, it was listed on CraigsList and was a seemingly harmless request from a tenant who needed to make a bit of extra income and, with it, to recruit a like-minded gamer to be friends with.

Measuring just 3ft by 10ft, the advertised area was without a door when it was listed – but the tenant did note that it could be ‘blocked off with some jury-rigging.’ But it didn’t exactly scream privacy.

Do you have a story to share?

Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@Metro.co.uk.

Welcome back to What I Rent – Metro’s tenant diary series exploring what renting is like in the UK and further afield.

This week, we’re up in Birmingham chatting to Patrick Magner. Having moved to the West Midlands to study at university, he fell in love with the city and decided to stay.

Now, he pays £1,275 per month for a one-bedroom flat he shares with his girlfriend, and they’re hoping to save enough money in an ISA to buy one day.

In the meantime though, his current flat is so beloved by friends that he’s become the designated host for get-togethers – and some mates even want to move into the building themselves.

Here’s what Patrick had to say about their renting situation…

Tell us a bit about yourself!

I’m 24 and work as a transport planner in the city. I moved to Birmingham about seven years ago for university, following in the footsteps of my parents, and fell in love with the city so I decided to stay.

It’s got so much going on and so much exciting potential that you don’t tend to realise until you’ve been. I now live with my partner who works at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital – also nice and close to our new apartment.

What kind of property do you rent and how long have you been there?  

We’re renting a one-bedroom apartment and moved in at the end of June this year, shortly after the building’s completion.

How much do you pay to live here?

We pay a total of £1,275 a month for a fully furnished apartment, along with use of all the amenities across what is a brand-new, purpose-built rental address.

And what do you get for what you pay?

We get a really spacious apartment which is furnished throughout with a king-size bed and extremely modern furniture. It also has lots of windows, which (bizarrely) not all city centre flats seem to have in my experience.

The real highlight is the residents’ facilities which we have full access to, including a ‘Sky Lounge’ – a big entertaining space on the rooftop with views over the entire West Midlands.

It makes us the envy of our friends, who have nominated us very much the hosts of most get-togethers now. In fact, some are already looking to join us here once their tenancies are up.

The facilities also include a great gym which we’re in all the time. In my opinion, it matches the quality of any mainstream membership chain and is well above the other purpose-built rental offerings we looked at in the area. There are squat racks, trap bars, watt bikes and Smith machines! As a runner, having all this quite literally under the same roof enables me to keep up all the necessary strength and conditioning training.

We also have a business lounge, with superb broadband, quiet areas and meeting rooms, ideal for my WFH days. 

In addition to the amenities, there’s also a courtyard garden, we have a concierge-style onsite team round the clock, a residents’ app and various events, which are great for getting to know other people.

Do you feel like you have a good deal?

I’ve lived in Birmingham for over seven years and experienced my fair share of renting.

When you look at the market, most decent one-bed properties in the city are well over £1,000 a month so this stacks up as great value given all the extras, and what I’m ultimately saving in things like gym membership fees.

As a brand, Cortland is on the more luxurious spectrum of renting experience, but the difference is abundantly clear and it still makes good financial sense.

So much so, several of our friends are considering moving in together to take the step up now they’ve seen what renting could be like.

What do you love to do in your flat?

I love to cook! The kitchen is fantastic: extremely spacious and fully equipped with modern appliances. We also love hosting and entertaining friends, especially up in the Sky Lounge.

Where is your home based? What do you think of the area?

We’re set on Broad Street in the city’s Westside district. I’m just a 20-minute walk from my office in the Jewellery Quarter (a perfect commute) and equally well located to make the most of the nightlife and bars that both Broad Street and the nearby Brindley Street have to offer.

We’re really well connected with the tram network close by, train station and a plethora of bus services which run along Broad Street into the city centre and out towards Selly Oak. I couldn’t ask for a better location.

How did you find this property?

We’d been scouring the portals in a rather stressful lead-up to the end of our previous tenancy when the Cortland Broad Street properties suddenly came to the market, which we spotted via Rightmove.

We went to see one other purpose-built rental development but fell in love with Broad Street straight away when we visited and made the decision the same day. 

How have you made this place feel like home?

We’re part of the community WhatsApp group and have attended a Cortland event to get to know our neighbours and the brilliant team. We’re looking forward to doing more of these as more people move in and our neighbour pool grows.  

Have you found it difficult to decorate when renting? Is your landlord happy with you doing bits?

We don’t feel the need to really decorate as we really like the existing layout and style of the apartment, particularly as it’s brand new and done by a professional designer.

Do you feel like you have enough space?

At first, we were dubious of the idea of a one-bedroom apartment, worried it would be too small for the two of us. However, we were pleasantly surprised here as they are spacious by comparison and have a lot of clever storage too.

The under-bed storage is a real game-changer and allows us to ensure we can store lots of stuff here to avoid visible clutter within the apartment.

What would you like to have but don’t with this flat?

The only thing I can think we were missing was an ironing board. But that’s it. Which says a lot about how well-equipped it all is for us.

Are there any problems with the home you have to deal with?

We’ve had no problems here. There was one small snag when we moved in, but it was sorted by the onsite team on the very same day.

Do you have plans to move again any time soon? What about buying a place?

We do want to buy our own place eventually, when we’re settled longer term and the investment makes the best financial sense.

For now, as we build up our Help to Buy ISAs, this is an ideal home – and we intend to stay until we’re ready to put down a deposit.

Shall we take a look around?

Do you have a story to share?

Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@Metro.co.uk.

It’s no secret that renting in the UK is a wild ride. When tenants aren’t contending with astronomical prices, they’re dealing with nightmarish flatmates, mould, or difficult landlords.

Gen Z and Millennials have collectively been dubbed ‘Generation Rent,’ and in London, people pay at least 50% more for rent on average than anywhere else in the UK. The average is now an eyewatering £1,625 per month.

In 2024 alone, Metro has reported on a live-in landlord who timed his lodger’s showers and set a maximum limit of two minutes, as well as someone who unknowingly paid rent to a fake landlord for six months. He only realised when the real owner showed up to evict him.

So, with that in mind, we asked our readers for their most unhinged landlord stories, from bizarre requests that overnight guests pay £10 per stay, to a specific clause that renters weren’t allowed to use a fan in their room – even in blazing mid-summer heat.

Jess, 24

Location: London

Rent: £997 bills included

Year: 2023

‘My girlfriend and I were splitting the cost of rent in a room in a shared house for 6 months while we looked for a more permanent alternative.

‘In my contract for the room, it was stated that fans must not be used on the premises (likely due to the electric bill). If we were to use them, we’d be charged £10 a week, apparently.

‘I won’t admit whether I broke this rule or not. But we had a 30C heatwave that summer and my room turned into a sauna. I hope he enjoyed whatever he managed to buy with the tiny amount saved on electricity!’

Laura, 30

Location: London

Rent: Around £650 per month

Year: 2016

‘Once, the kitchen sink in a flat I shared with seven other people was completely blocked and spewing brown water everywhere. I tried all the usual solutions but nothing worked, so I called my landlord.

‘He was already quite a dodgy guy and used to call me late at night ‘to chat’, but I thought he’d at least do the bare minimum to help (even if just for the sake of his property). Nope: he refused to come out or call in a professional, instead telling me to buy sulfuric acid and pour it down the plughole.

‘Given this is a highly corrosive substance that can cause burns and reacts violently with water – let alone the multiple chemicals I’d already used – I said I wasn’t comfortable with his ‘solution.’

‘He then flew off the handle, told me I was useless and threatened to come round, throw away my belongings and change the locks if I didn’t leave within the next few days. I (stupidly) hadn’t signed a proper tenancy agreement so just decided to cut my losses and do a runner.

‘I later heard from one of the people who still lived there that the landlord had come round with a bottle of sulfuric acid and proceeded to blow up the whole kitchen. Karma in action.’

Will, 23

Location: London

Rent: £875

Year: 2024

‘I moved into my first room in London and noticed one of my flatmates had her boyfriend around all the time.

‘Wasn’t much of a deal to me as they kept to their room. We got a message from the landlord one morning saying that any guests should be preapproved by him and need to pay a fee of £10 a night.

‘I had no idea how he knew and was scared the girl would think I had blabbed but turns out he had cameras on every floor of the building staircase so could see who went into which apartment and when.’

Emma, 30

Location: Leeds

Rent: £400

Year: 2019

‘Travelled five hours up the M1 to move into my new house. Pulled up outside to find a builder smoking a cig sat on my front step.

‘Confirmed I was actually at the right address and walked in to find the whole downstairs (kitchen/living room) was a building site… ‘renovations’ still in progress which the landlord failed to tell us about.

‘With no kitchen, I argued with the landlord that this was (obviously) completely unliveable to which they suggested we could eat at their friend’s Chinese takeaway for free “for the next week or so” until the kitchen was finished…

‘Obviously, we didn’t take them up on this as Chinese takeaway for breakfast, lunch, and dinner for a week would likely have killed us.’

Rob, 37

Location: London

Rent: £1,450 for a three-bed flat

Year: 2019

‘Someone once tried to break into the flat I shared with two other people. They didn’t succeed, but they kicked the door to the point that it split in two and needed replacing.

‘The landlord tried to pin the cost of replacing the door on us, claiming it should come out of our contents insurance (the overall cost for the emergency locksmith call out, new locks and door replacement came to over £3,000).

‘Once my flatmate threatened him with legal action and explained somewhat sarcastically that if we’re to pay for it we’ll all the cut the door into three pieces when we all move out, he quickly got the door fixed, but he still managed to get the locksmith to install one less lock.’

Cat, 28

Location: Hertfordshire:

Rent: £700

Year: 2023

‘To pay an extra £50 a month to park on her driveway. The driveway was part of the house and had plenty of space. Charging to use the driveway was just a way to make more money!’

Do you have a story to share?

Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@Metro.co.uk.

From mould to spiralling rent, many of us have a nightmarish landlord experience.

But one renter may have trumped us all, after sharing the rules his landlord expected him to follow.

The live-in landlord not only imposed curfews, but also time restricted showering.

How long were showers expected to last? A mere ‘minute or two’, enough time for just a splash or water and a dash of soap.

Sharing their story in the @TenantsInTheUK Reddit thread, attached was a photograph of the tenancy agreement.

It reads: ‘During the working week, it is helpful if lodgers can be in the house by 11pm because the dog will bark when someone comes to the front door which will have the effect of waking up others in the house.

’If the lodger will be later back, it is helpful for the landlord to have a heads up.’

But since they worked in hospitality, an 11pm curfew wasn’t realistic – and so ended up having to sneak back into their own room.

The paperwork also states that tenant showers are limited to between one and two minutes because it is ‘too expensive’ if they’re any longer, and ‘saves water.’

‘The dog would bark its f***ing head off at the drop of a hat,’ the poster wrote under the username @PotentialWoodpecker1.

‘He would also monitor his [water] metre like a hawk to check we didn’t go over the daily limit. I was so anxious about showering when he was in the house that I would only shower after he left to go to work.’

Reading all this, one might assume that perhaps the landlord was being frugal for a reason – but he actually owns several investment properties ‘that he rents out through Airbnb’ and ‘goes skiing in the Swiss Alps whenever he wants to take his kids.’

‘I’ve never seen a man so uptight about his money that he would try to restrict someone’s shower time,’ they added. ‘I get it, it’s expensive times but one or two-minute showers especially in winter feels more like a prison than a home.

‘I’m literally paying my rent to occupy the room and use its facilities so I think it’s pretty unfair that he treats me like this.’

Naturally, others were horrified at the landlord’s stipulations – and took to sharing their own equally perturbing experiences in the comments.

‘Many years ago when I was looking for either somewhere to lodge or a house share in London, I came across a few situations like this,’ @23Doves recalled.

‘One Letting Agent politely pointed out to me that were I to accept the (very mouldy, horribly dated) room on offer for a not particularly cheap price, I should note that I wouldn’t be allowed to use the kitchen or any of the communal spaces after 8.30pm, because “the owner likes to have her own space after that point.”’

@Zutsky recalled one previous tenancy where the landlord tried to put a quota on how many times they used the stairs.

‘She thought it would “wear them out”… she even tried to claim against the deposit for “using the stairs too much,”’ they wrote.

And for @mpanase, their previous landlord didn’t want them to walk inside their room after 11pm or before 8am – even the five steps from their desk to their bed.

‘I was always like a ninja, [but] apparently it made the floor creek anyway. She didn’t like me arriving after 10pm or leaving before 8am either, because the dog (which I was not warned about, would bark,’ they wrote.

‘She was happy to take rent though.’

However, a fellow landlord also commented on the post, and explained that when you’re a live in landlord with a lodger, rather than tenants who rent the entire time, rules are to expected.

‘As a live-in landlord, I have a couple of lodger rules, albeit not as restrictive as this. No parties or visitors without advance agreement, that kind of thing,’ @cammyammyammy added.

‘I also make it clear that my routine is bed at 9 and rise at 5. Energy usage…it is my house after all.’

Do you have a story to share?

Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@Metro.co.uk.

A tenant spent six months paying rent to who he thought was his landlord, only to realise that he’d been the victim of a scam.

‘I rented an apartment from this guy about half a year ago for me and my son,’ the post from @Capable_Blood1968 in the AmIOverreacting Reddit thread shared, noting that until now there had been ‘no issues’ and that his landlord was ‘friendly.’

But when he got a knock at the door from someone who claimed to be the ‘actual owner’ of the building, he knew something was horribly wrong.

The fake landlord, who was actually the tenant, had been illegally subletting.

The Redditor wasn’t without reason for believing that his ‘landlord’ was who he said he was, as he’d been given what looked like a legitimate lease and paperwork.

‘I was confused…apparently this dude has been illegally subletting to me with fake contracts and hasn’t paid rent to the real owner in months,’ the post continued. ‘I’m not sure how long for exactly, but enough to start the eviction process.’

After the Redditor realised what was going on, he quickly texted his fake landlord, demanding an explaination.

At first he claimed it must have been a mistake, but he went onto to deny that the tenant had sent him any money for ‘rent’ in the first place: ‘I’ve spoken with my bank. I’m sorry I cannot find [a] record,’ the scammer’s initial reply read.’

Despite the Redditor pointing out that he’d signed a lease – and that since he knew he had kids, he’d been put in an unthinkable situation, the scammer eventually ignored his calls.

Sadly, he wasn’t alone, as many recalled similar experiences in the comments section – including @Intelligent—Bug, who was in a rush to find a flat when they were 18.

‘Guy told me he was subletting to me, I didn’t bother checking with the landlord,’ his words read.

‘His stuff was there so I guess I naively assumed he was incentivised to pay the rent. Come to find out 1.5 months in he wasn’t so I got kicked out. I did get back every cent I paid to the kid though [and] I had an obvious advantage because my dad’s an attorney.’

@RespawnUnicorn recalled an experience of their neighbours, who had someone try to sell their house illegally.

‘They had just got married…both parties had owned their homes but obviously only needed one, so rented the other out,’ they recalled.

‘No issues with the tenants until about a year later when they had a pint with their old neighbours who asked them how the sale was going. Turns out the tenant had put the house on the market.’

And for @inComplete-me, sadly they were ‘evicted on a cold day in January’ after they found out their so-called ‘upstairs landlords’ were actually squatters.

Do you have a story to share?

Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@Metro.co.uk.

Waking up in a plush bed in a spacious bedroom on the second floor of a London house, I felt the most relaxed I had in ages.

There were windows overlooking a verdant garden, I could hear birds singing and a fluffy labradoodle soon rushed up the stairs to bid me good morning.

Yes, this comfy abode had a lot to do with my renewed sense of zen. 

But the best part? This house didn’t come with a mortgage, rent or bills attached.

Here’s the catch though: This three-floor detached house with a huge garden and a spacious kitchen in the heart of London, was not actually mine. In fact, it belongs to a perfect stranger.

No, I wasn’t squatting or breaking and entering. I’ve actually been living in London rent-free for the last nine months and it’s all thanks to an app.

My husband and I moved to Paris in 2020, but we had to travel to London once a month when we had work here. 

Unsurprisingly, we quickly tired of relying on expensive hotels and Airbnbs for accommodation. And that’s when we found ‘Trusted House Sitters’.

When one of my friends first told me about the app, I was skeptical: The idea of staying in a stranger’s home felt weird. Then I remembered that renting an Airbnb is not that different, so I figured I’d give it a look.

The app was free to download and while there was no acceptance or heavy application process there was a £99 fee to pay to join – this is mainly to help the app to stay afloat and also act as a deterrent for people who don’t plan to use the service appropriately. 

As an annual fee I didn’t think that was too bad, so I decided to sign up. 

I filled in a profile with information and photos and then began my search for our first homesit and found it works much like AirBnB or Booking.com: You look for the location you are interested in, select your available dates, and scroll through the options until you find an offer that you like the look of. 

However, as the service is review-based – Trusted House Sitters says 79,212 pets/houses were added to the app in 2023 and they currently have over 200,000 members in more than 140 countries – I was warned it might be hard to find our first sit.

Generally, you have to send a request to the owners selling yourself as a great house/pet-sitter and it’s important to bear in mind that some homeowners have specific requirements or preferences.

For example, I’ve seen listings where owners have stated that they prefer couples over those travelling alone or even sitters who speak the local language or who have experience with farm animals. It all depends on what kind of adventure you are looking for.  

Luckily, I managed to find a pet sit in a remote part of France, only accessible by car, which I had. This meant that the competition was thin, and the chances of me getting the sit were pretty high. 

After having a chat with the owners, we made our way to the Bordeaux region where we spent a week looking after two extremely well-behaved terriers in a lovely countryside villa, with a huge pool and a pizza oven in the garden that we put to very good use. We had so much fun that, from that moment on, most of our holidays or weekends away involved looking after someone’s pet. 

From there, we made sure to do a few pet sits that were easy for us to do (but not popular) all so we could get our first reviews. 

Gradually our reviews built up over time and before I knew it, three years of being on the app had passed.

In that time we’ve spent weeks in Barcelona and Amsterdam with the only requirement being to look after some cute pets. We even spent a week in a gorgeous villa in Tuscany, working from the pool instead of our boiling-hot apartment.

But it was only this year that I unlocked the app’s full potential. 

At the beginning of 2024, we decided we wanted to move back to London permanently. The only thing we hadn’t anticipated was the nightmare that the rental market had become post-Covid.  

Originally we’d hoped to find a place similar to the one we’d left behind for our Parisian adventure – a lovely two-bedroom flat in East London for roughly £1300 – but it soon became apparent that we were living a pipe dream.

We spent months trying to find a place but were gradually having to compromise on more and more of our needs.

Even when we came to accept that we might have to spend £1,600pm for 350sq ft, every single flat we saw was unlivable – complete with damp patches and a low ceiling – or fell through. 

By June we just thought that enough was enough. 

Throughout this time we had been pet-sitting for three months and we’d actually loved it. So, I realised, why not continue doing that for a while?

For this specific moment in our lives, it seemed like a perfect solution.

We could use this time to really figure out if coming back to London was a good idea for us and if so, where we felt more at home in the city. And not having bills to pay would also allow us to save money and give us more freedom in our work. 

Suddenly, I felt a lot less anxious and a whole lot freer.

Now, we’ve stayed in flats all over London including the luxurious stay I mentioned earlier. And when I woke up in that plush king-sized bed, I was glad all those flats we saw fell through. I’d never get to experience this otherwise.

Don’t get me wrong, not every house is as incredible as this one: I’ve had dogs with separation anxiety and owners messaging me constantly, but overall, the positive experiences outweigh the bad ones. 

And really, how can I complain when they’re all free of charge?

Sometimes we stay for only a couple of days and others for months but doing this has allowed us to get to know the city in a way we never had before. 

Of course I know that this can’t last forever. Not having a fixed address is not a long-term solution and securing one sit after the other can be stressful, but I have loved this experience and would recommend it wholeheartedly to anyone who can afford to be a bit nomadic.

If you work from home and have a flexible schedule, this app can allow you to live in different places while saving for a deposit or a big trip. 

For us, it’s been a great way to test out life in London again, and I plan to use it in the future for both trips and longer stays.

At the end of the day we all want a place to call home, but for right now, I’m okay with borrowing someone else’s.

Do you have a story you’d like to share? Get in touch by emailing jess.austin@metro.co.uk. 

Share your views in the comments below.

Welcome back to What I Rent – Metro’s tenant diary series exploring what renting is like in the UK and further afield.

This week, we’re in East London visiting Arooj Aftab, who pays £1,780 for her share of her two-bedroom, two-bathroom flat with her sister.

Since moving in, she’s seen her bills cut drastically, as her monthly rent payment even includes a free coffee prescription, a co-working space and even access to a state-of-the-art gym.

Here’s what Arooj had to say about her renting situation…

Tell us about yourself!

My name is Arooj Aftab, Founder of Done With Diversity and What’s The Solution? I consult brands on culture and community, pushing for more representation both behind the scenes and on camera.

I curate and share ideas, and I like to make visions come to life. I’m definitely a bit of a multihyphenate.

What kind of property do you rent and how long have you been there?

I rent a two-bed home at Westfield’s Coppermaker Square in East London, where I have been living with my twin sister Kaya for the last 12 months, and we’ve just renewed for another year.

How much do you pay to live here?

My twin and I split the rent, and my half is £1,780. It’s a two-bedroom, two-bathroom, in the heart of Stratford, right by Olympic Park and Westfield.

And what do you get for what you pay?

A tonne of amenities. Before moving here, I had separate outgoings for a gym, co-working, and even coffee. This is now included in my rent which is great.

I also have access to so many amazing amenities such as a resident’s lounge which has screening rooms, games, a private dining room and a roof garden.

All residents also get access to amazing events and networking opportunities. I have attended everything from sound baths and aromatherapy workshops to local restaurant takeovers and cooking classes.

These events provide fantastic opportunities to meet and connect with fellow residents and like-minded creatives, while also learning new skills or focusing on my health & wellbeing.

The real cherry on top is the 25m pool and fitness centre – it’s got everything including a huge gym floor, sauna and steam room – plus spin classes and a yoga studio. You really don’t have to ever leave.

Do you feel like you have a good deal?

Yeah for sure. There’s a lot of added value that comes with living at Coppermaker Square. I think the amenities and community are great for the rent I pay.

Having everything on my doorstep has been so convenient. It’s also helped my workflow in ways that I didn’t think and I think it falls down to accessibility and ease.

What do you love to do in your flat?

Everything. Since moving to Coppermaker Square I have become such a homebody, but my true love is hosting and having friends over. Particularly now that I have a far bigger space than I used to, as well as access to things like a BBQ on the terrace and a bookable private dining room.

It’s so nice to have people over and bond over a nice meal. Plus, I can easily pop down in the lift and straight into Westfield to grab anything I need for entertaining.

Where is your home based? What do you think of the area?

My home is based in Stratford, East London. The area is buzzing with creativity and just feels so right for me. East London has its own charm, and there’s a lot going on here all the time.

Stratford in particular, has so many cultural hubs and there’s always something to do in the area that makes it so exciting. The V&A is also opening here very soon, which I’m excited about.

Coppermaker Square is also super well connected via the underground, Overground and Elizabeth lines, with easy access to other cool East London areas like Hackney Wick, Shoreditch, and Dalston.

There are also some incredible universities around, such as UAL, UCL, and the University of East London, which also has a Stratford campus. Having worked with them before, I’m inspired by the creativity and innovation of the students and the talent that is in and around the area.

How did you find this property?

I found this property while looking for a place that suited my needs as a creative professional and stumbled upon the social media page. The community aspect, location, amazing resident events and amenities offered at Coppermaker Square were a perfect fit for me.

How have you made this place feel like home?

I’ve made this place feel like home by decorating it with my personal style, incorporating pops of colour and unique pieces that act as an extension of my fashion. Creating a space that is warm and inviting is so important to me.

Some of my favourite pieces include coffee table books, pink and sage Mustard Made cabinets, and an art wall made up of a collection of prints from local shops. Being part Pakistani, it was important for me to incorporate Urdu prints and add texture and colour to my home.

I feel like when you can add your own personality into the space, that’s when you can really make it a home. With Westfield and so many local retailers on our doorstep, sourcing unique elements that make it feel personal is easy.

Have you found it difficult to decorate when renting? Is your landlord happy with you doing bits?

One of the things I love most about Coppermaker Square is the complete freedom to decorate my home and really make it my own.

It’s a luxury that few rentals allow – at my last place, we weren’t even allowed to touch the walls. But here we are encouraged to decorate and customise our spaces. I’ve been able to paint walls, hang artwork, and create my ideal living area.

Additionally, the onsite maintenance team is always available to help with moving in and transforming your space. On the Resident App, you can book services and support, so there are always hands on the ground to help you bring your dream apartment to life.

Do you feel like you have enough space?

Yes, I definitely feel like I have enough space. The two-bed apartment has plenty of room, and the communal areas provide additional flexibility and space to enjoy. Having access to a dedicated co-working space means I can easily switch environments, which is great for productivity.

The larger space and access to amenities like a roof garden, lounge, and green spaces like the public square and Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park nearby make it feel even more spacious.

What would you like to have but don’t with this flat?

I feel like I have everything I need. Though a private outdoor space like a balcony would be a nice addition to enjoy the views over East London – there are other homes in the development that do have these, so we could easily make this a reality.

Are there any problems with the home you have to deal with?

There haven’t been any issues at all. The concierge and maintenance team are so helpful, and we have a Resident App where you can raise any requests.

Plus, there is someone on the concierge desk 24 hours a day, so there is also a friendly face to chat should anything ever come up. Everyone at Coppermaker Square is incredibly helpful in addressing any day-to-day needs.

Do you have plans to move again any time soon? What about buying a place?

I definitely have no plans to leave anytime soon. I’m happy with my current living situation at Coppermaker Square. As for buying a place, it’s something I might consider in the future, but for now, renting suits my lifestyle and work needs.

The value and convenience of having everything I need on my doorstep, as well as such a lovely community, is unmatched.

Shall we take a look around?

Do you have a story to share?

Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@Metro.co.uk.