The reality of living in a rented apartment

While waiting for a bus, I was wandering around Piccadilly Gardens and picked an August issue of Cosmopolitan. Failing to find horoscope (is not there anymore!), I stopped suddenly on page 102 titled : ‘’Are you caught in the rental trap?’’.
As you know, my blog mainly focuses on advice for rented spaces on a budget, so I sat on a bench sipping my matcha latte and I started reading the article. Perhaps, like an old lady nodding my head in agreement with every single word written, while staring in disgust at the pictures of mould and cockroaches! Reality! I must admit, I didn’t expect to find in a Cosmopolitan article about renting issues. I read Cosmo regularly, and I was even super lucky to be a finalist in Cosmopolitan Blog Awards (link) in Best for Home category!Yay!

Despite, I have passed my 30’s and I should be already on a property ladder, I am rather stuck in a renting waggon. About three years ago, I moved to Manchester after graduating with a First Class Degree and Dean’s award in contribution to an interior design, with a bag of dreams and hopes. Here, three years later, I am quite in the same position. I am not fortunate enough to have parents to crash at, while saving for a deposit, neither I earn enough to save for it. The reality is, that even after 3 years after graduation, I am still pretty much on a graduate salary. Recently, I have only managed to pay off my student bank overdraft thanks to my Live Lagom project and so far, this is the biggest financial achievement. Sad, I know! With a current Manchester market prices, renting an apartment close enough to town, that you can get there in 40minutes, cost nearly as much as I earn! There is not much left for food and basic needs. To save up some money, I would seriously need to get an extra income and work every single weekend, while already working late hours in a design industry, this is nearly impossible. I have learned now how to save up money on food, but I am still just adapting to my new lifestyle. Well, it will take a while but I will get there eventually, (fingers crossed)

A girl gotta eat, a girl gotta have fun! I am not that super savvy, despite my every effort. I try to decorate my flat in a budget friendly way and so far, I think, I am doing very well. I do have however needs that includes prosecco, new clothes or just this soo pretty key ring that I am going to lose in a few day anyway! I am trying to control my spendings and limit it to a minimum, but as per above, life is for living and I am not going to spend it on only eating bread and drink water! You can be super savvy and not spend at all and not enjoy life, or you can learn the way how to budget and enjoy life. Yes, of course, I am dreaming on my own apartment, my own little space that I can do whatever I want there, without having to have to worry if I am not going to accidentally damage my landlord furniture and lose my entire deposit! Neither having to have to worry about potential notice letter, when my yearly contract is coming to an end. I wish I could spend the £65 renewal fee on a new pair of Zara stiletto’s or this trendy copper desk lamp I’ve seen in a vintage store. I have previously written few articles about moving to a rented apartment plus before you rent hints and tips, advising about the deposit, location and explaining all about renting via an agency or private landlord.

In Manchester, prices are of course lower than London ones, so the salaries, Bien sûr! I had quite a dilemma where to move at first. I’ve seen so many beautiful apartments but there is always been ‘’but’. Mostly my ‘’but’’ was about owning 2 cats. Landlord’s and agency hate pets! Fact! They don’t care that my Maru, has the most beautiful blue eye’s that I can’t live without, neither they care that my Mia can fetch! Nasty people! Manchester city centre also is lacking parking spaces! Fair enough! Recently, a residents of an apartment block where I live, shared their rental prices. The conversation was triggered by a girl, who was wondering after a chat with her how she described; ex-boyfriend. I have instantly, hit right move and other rental websites to check the prices as well. Many comments on the forum suggested ‘it was way overpriced, which I totally agree! Right across the river, there is a really nice residential area surrounded by bars, shops and a canal; while we are surrounded by building sites only. We are woken up with drills, we are dealing wth constantly blocked roads by trucks and never ending scaffolding wrapped around the building blocks!

While working in a design industry, I am pretty excited for the new concepts of a several PRS Scheme’s emerging around Manchester city centre. PRS scheme, stand for the Private Rented Sector, which is a new housing development that all the properties are built for rent, and won’t be for sale. The schemes were created to make renting affordable, so people can actually start saving for a deposit while living in a city! There is special demographic target market aimed at millennials mostly between the age of 25-35. Most of the spaces will benefit of their own bars, restaurants and functional workspaces as much as focused on creating friendly communities for young professionals. I just came across Manchester Evening news article recently and read more about it. Have a little sneak as well! I am pretty excited, and hopefully, I will be able to live with one of those… but only if they Maru & Mia’s friendly of course!

Perhaps, when it comes to renting, I am a PRO! I have been renting in past 8 years. I’ve lost deposits, gone through an agony of living with your own landlord (worst ever) to not so blessing renting via an agency. I liked the fact that Cosmopolitan really brought the reality of renting in a tiny (shitty) space in a city, while you dream big! Sometimes the problem is not just the aesthetics of the space but the hazard to your health. I’ve seen people living with damp, broken boilers, in a super dangerous area’s while paying so much money for not even their own pads. I have to admit, I am lucky that my apartment is in a pretty livable condition and the only minus is the decor, dated tiles and furniture but here is where my super wonder woman skills are helpful! Ha! Of course, I wish I could live in a property with a character, brick walls and pretty wooden flooring instead of ripped laminate vinyl but I am quite close to town and most of all, I can keep 2 cats while this is pretty much forbidden these days in any Manchester city centre apartments!

If you live in London, perhaps you may grab that issue of a Cosmopolitan too! I spill little beans…You will find an amazing opportunity to become a property guardian and even decorate the place! Just look out for a hashtag #cosmohomemade

Can you create this opportunity in Manchester, pretty please?