Everybody knows the London rental market is completely wild, yet people still love to evangelise about what a bad deal it is.
‘You can live in a mansion near me for a few pennies a week,’ is a common refrain among those in small towns and villages, but it fails to address a couple of important factors: people often need to live in the capital because of their job or family, and some just prefer the excitement of a bustling metropolis on their doorstep.
While it’s easy to brush off comments about how homes in sleepy hamlets are so much cheaper, though, it does sting to see what London money can get you in other UK cities.
TikToker Romeo (@romeoroams) recently shared a tour of his Manchester flat on the platform, and it is seriously swish.
The creative cirector and filmmaker pays just £1,500 a month for the large loft apartment, which boasts an open plan living room and kitchen (with space for a grand piano, no less), a massive bedroom on the mezzanine floor, an office and a bathroom.
Although Romeo has decorated with tasteful midcentury modern furniture to elevate the space, the flat itself is gorgeous, featuring exposed brickwork, wooden floors, huge windows and built-in shelving that most renters can only dream of.
And commenters agreed, including @gracejpg_ who said: ‘What a dream apartment’.
Others were gobsmacked by the price, with @__hellkat replying, ‘Man I need to leave London, this is insane,’ and @dazhaneleah adding (with a crying emoji), ‘The fact this would be like 3/4K in London.’
But is this actually the norm in Manchester, or was Romeo just lucky when searching for a flat? And what does his rent get you in other urban areas around the country? The only way to quell the jealousy was to find out.
Manchester
For a budget of £1,500, there’s plenty on offer in Manchester. This bright, airy one-bed in Castlefield has all the charm of the city’s old terraced buildings but is immaculately refurbished inside, while this two-bedroom Spinningfields flat in offers incredible views of the city with panoramic curved windows.
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Among the wealth of attractive options available on Rightmove in this price range, many have unique features like wood panelling and loft-style exposed brickwork. This place even has a roll-top bath in the bedroom.
It’s not all amazing, though. This studio apartment may be well-presented (and come with access to a gym and pool) but it’s far from roomy for £1,300. That sofa facing out at the window would also be hell on earth for anyone afraid of heights. And in this place, you’d be at risk of hitting your head on the ceiling whenever you wake up.
Overall, however, it was hard to find any listings that seemed wildly overpriced. The shabbier-looking places were few and far between, and tended to sit around the £1,000 mark.
London
London was a different story, and setting the price limit to £1,500 a month drastically limited the options – even in a much bigger city than Manchester.
There were some gems, but you’d have to be quick to snap them up as they were mostly in the ‘newly listed’ section of the search, suggesting they won’t be on the market for long.
At £1,450, this Walthamstow two-bed is great value (for the capital anyway), while for £1,500 you could live in a historic and character-filled building that used to be part of Brunel University.
The worst rentals I found on my search were especially bad, though. A Camden bedsit with a ‘kitchen’ that consists of a microwave and a desk would up your whole monthly budget, and despite its swanky Baker Street location, this pokey £1,425 studio is depressingly cramped.
If you want your own place for this price in London, you’ll likely have to compromise between location and living standards. So would you rather have a two-hour commute or cook your dinner two feet away from your pillow? It’s a tough one.
Edinburgh
The rental market in Edinburgh is interesting, as it’s a big student city and one with a lot of older housing stock. It’s on the expensive side for Scotland, but the properties available for up to £1,500 are often stunning.
Take this Merchiston Mews home, which won The Saltire Award for best small house that has two bedrooms, features like underfloor heating and a balcony, and looks like something from an interiors magazine. Or this cosy three-bed right in the city centre, or this beautiful tenement two-bed close to Haymarket. You’re spoiled for choice.
Yet Edinburgh’s landlords seem to have worked out that the location’s appeal means they can get away with a lot. For example, just because this small studio is situated on the sought-after Royal Circus, £1,400 is steep for what’s essentially a living room with a hob.
And calling this place ‘modern’ in spite of its granny curtains, decades-old sofas and school classroom carpets is a stretch.
Bristol
In Bristol you’re looking at mostly two and three-bedroom homes around the £1,500 mark. There are also plenty of finds with design features like exposed brickwork, bike storage and wood flooring (scratchy beige rental carpets are not the one).
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This three-bedroom in St George is a particular favourite, with a dreamy green kitchen, modern interiors and a big back garden that’d be perfect for barbecues come summer.
Properties aimed at students are often less appealing. Paying £1,430 for this little space is wild, especially since it’s advertised as a one-bedroom. Same for this studio near the University of Bristol, on the market for £1,500 a month.
Aside from those that are outright tiny, other flats seem to be fairly basic for the cost. Yes, this £1,480 place has two bedrooms, but it’s uninviting and drab.
DIY dreams come true
Further proof that rubbish rental homes aren’t exclusive to the capital – and £1,500 can be hit or miss wherever in the country you are.
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