Agency Fees

At the start of the tenancy in my new flat we had to hand over about £500 in agency fees.  That's a non-refundable sum on top of the deposit and first months rent that we also had to pay.

Given that we were the ones who found the flat on Right Move, saw no other properties with our agency and decided to take the flat a few days after we first contacted the agency - it did make me wonder what we were paying this huge sum of money for.

However, then came boiler bother! Boiler bother began on Day 1 actually when my Dad noticed that the pressure was too low.  Since then we've had  a boiler man/engineer/technician visit the flat 4 times.  We've also had the handyman come another time or two to fix various things. 

If our hot water cuts out any more times I feel like the agency will have earned that £500.

Generation Rent in the news again

Another flurry of articles about renting in the national newspapers.  Probably because an election is coming up and house prices and rents have continued to skyrocket in London.

http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/mar/29/general-election-could-hang-on-how-private-tenants-vote

One for boys and one for girls

If you don't mind sharing a room with 3 people you can rent a bed in Romford for £49 a week:

"There are 2 bedrooms with bunk beds one for boys and one for girls."

These are definitely for the girls only:

"I'm 25 male offering my apartment to a female for Free in exchange I'm looking for companionship."

"looking for couples of female roommate in central area"

c/o Gumtree.

Some rather 'unique' flatmates on Gumtree....

 A tenant with an unusual appendage:
"For sharing need to share with 1 person with attached toilet bathroom."

A heroic self-sacrifice from the current tenant:
"Basically I am young professional Male working as barista in central London and would like someone a (FEMALE) to share the room with me,You could have your own separate bed"

The tenants REALLY want to make sure you know where they are from:
"*** CESKY *** CESKY *** CESKY *** CESKY *** CESKY *** CESKY *** CESKY *** CESKY *** CESKY *** CESKY *** CESKY *** CESKY *** CESKY *** CESKY *** CESKY *** CESKY  "

A flat with a lot a spare bedrooms?
"Being practising CHRISTIANS when boyfriends or girlfriends visit, we use separate rooms overnight.

Terrible Estate Agent photos

The author of this blog has stumbled across some comedy gold here.  The property market really is a funny business!

http://terriblerealestateagentphotos.com/

How to save for a deposit whilst you are renting according to the press

I've noticed that newspaper articles about how to save for a deposit whilst you are renting seem to involve some rather dubious maths.

The Metro had a report this Friday entitled 'Renting is the new buiyng.'  In it they say that the average rent for a 1 bedroom flat including bills is £19 140 in London whereas the average rent for a room in a flat share and bills come to £7 914.  So that's a saving of £11 227.  With such a big saving you could get a 15% deposit on a £282 00 flat in three years only.

Well firstly dear Metro, not everyone earns £19 140 once we've paid our taxes.  And secondly, just saying that something is expensive so therefore not buying it SAVES you money is very bad maths.  By that token I could say that a bottle of Moet and Chandon costs £197 at Tesco and by not buying myself one for my daily champers bath I save a massive £72 000.

Sometimes a room is cheap for a reason!

£350 a month near Liverpool Street
"Please note that the room is WALK-THROUGH, however we can help you to place a curtain for your convenience."

£320 a month in Greenwich
"Has no door or windows and can't stand up in (unless you are short 5"!)"

£326 a month in Kings Cross
"Triple Roomshare (3 people) with balcony near Kings Cross Station."

£240 a month in Neasdon

"I m italian boy and I m 26 years hold.
I looking for roomate because the rent of the room is too expensive for me.

I want a female room share because she is more polite gentle clean and tidy compared to males."

£1 a week in Friern Barnet

"Average 15 hours per week helping in the house with general running of her household:  

-cleaning

-laundry

-ironing

-babysitting

-school run

-help with kids homework 

-looking after the house when they're away." 

£1 a week in Tufnel Green

"I'm looking for a female to house sit for me while I work away....I am looking for an open minded lady, I live an alternative lifestyle which will not suit everyone."