Why I hate renting

Thu, 02 Feb 2006 23:44:22 +0000

I hate being a renter. It sucks. A lot.

I'm the person who, over the next year, will probably pay about £10,000 towards someone elses mortgage. You would think that would put me in a position of power or, at least, some consideration. Not a bit of it. You see I have to deal with a lettings agent.

These people are making - what - 10% from the landlord for doing very little apparent work. "We're managing the property." Right. Like it's the Dorchester Hotel. But they still find time to chisel hundreds of pounds out of the tenant in fee's for administration and inventory. That's assuming they bothered to listen to your requirements and show you anything even remotely suitable to rent.

I had one agent take me to see a place today that was... well... disgusting. Hello? Clue-meter needle not even flickering.

This industry needs a serious shake up.

Maybe because it's because i'm not a Londoner

Fri, 24 Feb 2006 20:53:33 +0000

Well, almost.

I took possession of my new place in Maidenhead but I won't be fully moved until next week. The good news is that the new house is larger and, if anything, nicer than I remembered from when I viewed it. I've also met my neighbours and they seem very nice too. All in all I think I should be very comfortable there.

It does mean that, after this weekend, internet access is going to be a little intermittent. I'll almost certainly get ADSL of some kind although it's bound to be slow since BT are the only people that seem to do my area and they don't even guarantee 1Mbps at my distance from the exchange.

I've lived in London long enough now to think of myself as a Londoner. It's going to be weird to adjust to a different pace & style of life.

Curiouser and Curiouser! on house-hunting

Why I hate renting

Maybe because it's because i'm not a Londoner