Welcome back to What I Rent, our weekly series that explores the ins and outs of renting.
Last Tuesday we were in Tonbridge with Fiona and Jamie, who pay £1,250 a month for their two-bedroom flat.
Today we’re hanging out with Aziza, 24, a cyber security analyst and content creator who shares her home on Instagram at @homewithaziza.
Aziza grew up in south England and moved for the first time in 2020 when she married her husband, heading to Bracknell in Berkshire.
In January of this year, she and her husband moved to Reading – along with their cat, Mika.
Here’s what they rent.
Hi, Aziza! How much do you pay to live here?
Currently we are splitting the rent, which is £462 each – in total monthly the rent is £925 for an unfurnished flat, and my husband also takes care of the bills.
And what do you get for what you pay?
There are two bedrooms and one bathroom.
In our previous flat we had two bathrooms which was such a luxury.
Having two bedrooms was very important to us as I work from home, so I needed a space where I could create an office.
Do you feel like you have a good deal?
I do think it was a good deal as previously for a furnished flat I paid £1,025, which increased to £1,100 after a year.
BILLS: Compare & Save
Energy
Quickly compare your energy and save an average of £216
Broadband
Compare broadband, phone & TV packages
ISA
Visit AJ Bell Youinvest to find out more about their low-cost ISA
Mobile
Compare mobile contract and SIM only deals
Car Insurance
Get a quote today and see how much you could save with Confused.com
While that area was very safe, it was definitely too expensive and I didn’t feel like the space was my home since it came with the landlord’s furniture.
So £925 for an unfurnished flat, I felt was a good deal.
Whereabouts is your home based? What do you think of the area?
I just recently moved again in January this year to Reading. I really love the area, it feels so lively and it’s a massive bonus that London is only a 20-minute train away! It’s great for shopping and I love how diverse it is which really makes me feel comfortable.
How did you find this property?
Through Rightmove.
How have you made this place feel like home?
I made this flat feel like a home because I designed the space for me and my husband, not for others.
Usually, a spare bedroom would be for guests but I made the spare bedroom an office space for the both of us, which is something we needed and use daily.
Being able to have our own furniture and choose the interior decor style was something I desperately was looking for in a flat.
Have you found it difficult to decorate when renting? Is your landlord happy with you doing bits?
While I was searching for a new flat, I noticed on the listing for this flat that there were many pictures on the wall. So I assumed the landlord was happy to let the tenant decorate the space.
This drew me to the flat even more as I was restricted in my previous flat to decorate by the landlord.
During the introduction I double checked the landlord was happy for me to decorate the space and she was as long as everything went back to the way it was.
Do you feel like you have enough space?
This flat is perfect for two people, however I would love a house with more space.
It’s not because this flat lacks space, it’s because I want to eventually get another kitten and would love to have a walk-in wardrobe for my shopping addiction.
Are there any problems with the home you have to deal with?
Boring and small stuff, but we tend to get sink blockages often, the water temperature is all over the place and the rug tends to fray a lot too. But nothing we can’t handle and is a huge pain!
I feel very lucky and blessed to have this flat with a great landlord.
Do you have plans to move again any time soon? What about buying a place?
Not for renting but definitely to have my own home.
I think, like most people, it’s a dream to have your own home, your own space with no one to answer to and where you can build a family.
True that. Shall we take a look around?
What I Rent is a weekly series that’s out every Tuesday at 10am.
Check back next week to have another nose around a rented property.
How to get involved in What I Rent
What I Rent is Metro.co.uk’s weekly series that takes you inside the places people are renting, to give us all a better sense of what’s normal and how much we should be paying.
If you fancy taking part, please email [email protected]. You’ll need to take pictures of your kitchen, living room, bathroom, and bedroom, plus a few photos of you in your bedroom or living area.
Make sure you get permission from your housemates! You’ll also need to be okay with sharing how much you’re paying for rent, as that’s pretty important.
We’re not just after the prettiest places out there, by the way. We want the reality of renting, so if you’re currently renting a place you hate, we’d love to see that too (and sympathise greatly!).
This article contains placements with affiliate links. We may earn a small commission on purchases made through one of these links on these placements.
Source: Read Full Article