This ‘dystopian’ flat shows London‘s rental market is truly unhinged
From ‘no-WFH’ rules to £100-a-month charges for plug sockets, the bleak world of renting in London never ceases to shock us.
Despite paying eye-watering prices which eclipse those in the rest of the country, tenants in the capital are getting increasingly less for their money.
‘For a grand a month, you could live in a castle in the countryside,’ is a common refrain. And while many city-dwellers brush this off, saying they’re happy to compromise on space or living alone to be in the thick of it, some things really put it into perspective how unhinged London’s rental market is.
A recent Facebook Marketplace listing did just that, with commenters on Reddit describing it as ‘cursed’ and ‘dystopian.’
At £900 a month, the home is in line with the average room rent for its Haringey location, which currently sits at £949 in N postcodes.
However, although it’s billed as a one-bedroom flat, photos show what appears to be a corridor that’s been turned into a cramped living space.
Immediately inside the front door sits a single bed which fills the room, leaving no space for any wardrobes or other furniture.
There’s no kitchen in the property either; merely a dark bathroom with a shower cubicle and bars covering the only window.
The ‘ample storage space’ mentioned on the advert appears to be in the form of three makeshift plywood shelves in the bathroom and a wall-mounted coat hook.
The agent then emphasises the location – just beside Harringay railway station which runs regular services to King’s Cross and Moorgate – as an attractive feature for prospective tenants.
‘The property is well-maintained and benefits from a friendly and quiet environment, perfect for students or professionals,’ they continue in their Facebook post. ‘Don’t miss out on this excellent opportunity!’
Yet as you can probably imagine, when it was posted to the r/London subreddit, most users felt it was anything but.
The original poster, @Mongexx went for the caption, ‘quite possibly one of the most cursed rooms I’ve seen,’ which @Gracewitch agreed with, writing ‘Yeah, this is incredibly sad and dystopian.’
‘This should not be legal. It’s shameful to allow this to be considered “liveable”,’ replied @AbjectGovernment1247, while @tadmeister69 added: ‘Prison cell, £900 per month… only in London!’
Many questioned the legality of renting out a home without any cooking facilities, highlighting the Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act which came into effect in England in 2019.
This states, ‘If rented houses and flats are not “fit for human habitation”, tenants can take their landlords to court,’ and identifies ‘facilities for preparation and cooking of food’ as requirement.
However, the government’s guides for landlords says ‘it is for the courts to decide whether the dwelling is fit for human habitation,’ so it’s all a little ambiguous.
The landlord could argue that, since the tenants signed the agreement having seen the listing, they did so knowing which facilities were provided (or not). Even if officials rule in your favour, it’s still a lengthy process to get there.
When you need somewhere to live, you’ve got to do what you’ve got to do. But if you have a lot of stuff or love to cook, this probably isn’t the place for you and it’s best to simply avoid altogether.