What I rent: 400,400 a month in a studio in Birmingham, Tamika

Again, what do I rent? A weekly series exploring the reality of renting in the UK and abroad.

Last week we were in Colchester, Essex. There, sisters of digital developers rent a two-bedroom house for 70,870 a month.

Today we are in Birmingham. There, 27-year-old Tamika rents a studio alone.

Tamika is currently studying counseling and tutoring and has lived in Birmingham for the rest of her life.

Your current apartment is rented from a local building and on loan. That’s how she made it her own.

Hi Tamika, how much do you pay to live here?

Rent 400 400 per month, 99 99 electricity, 9292 town hall.

And what do you get for what you pay?

There are 3 rooms in total. It’s essentially a studio with a separate bathroom and kitchen, so you can touch the sofa from the bed.

Do you think it’s a good deal?

absolutely! I paid more for a smaller property or owned it in a worse location.

Also, this is a really nice apartment!

How did you find the apartment?

A friend of mine told me that when I rented an awfully small room, I had to verify ownership with the housing association.

After waiting about two years, I saw for the first time what happened to the apartment I’m in: I was kidnapped after a visit.

Where is the property? What do you think of the district?

It is mainly located in the jewelery district of Birmingham. This is a very nice area and very close to the city center, which is very convenient. It’s also surprisingly quiet considering how close it is to town.

What do you think of your apartment?

I spent a lot of energy making him feel like me. He was fully furnished and needed good paint and new flooring. So I spent a little time with paint (the floor is also painted) and colorful furniture and decorations, but it was worth it.

Was it difficult to decorate during the rental? Is the owner happy with his work?

This was certainly a problem in the past, but luckily my landlord is a breed that says “until you take down the doors and walls…”. So I was able to really drain my creative juice.

Do you think you have enough space?

I really wanted to fight in this space, but it’s surprisingly big for just one person.

Also, I have a great repository.

Is there something wrong with the house that you have to deal with?

My main problem is pretty stupid. Since there is only one window, there is not much natural light.

There were some pretty bad stains when I moved in, but I managed to get rid of them.

Are you planning to move soon?

not now! I am very happy with my apartment, the location and the rent are great so I don’t see myself giving it up right away.

And if you’re willing to rent, will you ever want to own a place?

I wish I had, but personally it seems elusive, so I’m certainly happy to keep hiring.

Yo Rento is a weekly series that airs every Tuesday at 10 pm.

Come back next week and have another sniff around the rental property.

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