Welcome to What I Rent, a weekly series that explores the world of renting.
Every Tuesday, we go to other people’s rental homes, take a closer look around them, and then talk about how we made them feel like they owned their homes.
We were recently in Gedington with Terry paying £800 a month for a two bedroom house.
Today we caught up with Matt Hatt, 34, who works as a volunteer manager and runs the interiors Instagram account @hattathome.
He moved to Manchester for a temporary job in 2013, went to Dubai before staying for a while and then back.
In May 2022, she moved into her current apartment with her boyfriend George and rescued the cat Ketchup.
We spoke with Matt about his rental experience.
Hi Matt! How much do you and George pay to live here?
So when I came back from Dubai, I had to pay a year’s rent of £1,150 a month because no one was working. Bills average around £400 per month. A significant financial commitment!
Oops. And what do you get for what you pay?
2 room apartment with living room, kitchen, 2 bedrooms and bathroom. The second bedroom is also George’s home office and laundry room.
It’s a good deal, right?
Returning to the UK after living abroad for a long time, wanting to move to a new city, collecting everything from our London storage unit, shipping it to Dubai, unemployed, we stopped. No. Time was definitely of the essence as he is the most attractive tenant.
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I think I could have bought a similar property if it was a bit cheaper, but it was renovated when I moved in, and the size was perfect, the location was unrealistic, and the rent was reasonable overall.
In other words, no one wants to borrow as cheaply as possible.
In what you base? What do you think of the district?
We are in West Didsbury and we love it. There are many here.
If I could afford it here (spoilers!) I would definitely buy it, but renting is an opportunity to live in an area you probably can’t afford. We love to travel to central Manchester. if we don’t want There are so many great places to eat, drink and explore here.
How did you find your apartment?
Rightmove with a cocktail on the beach! I had never seen the property before making the offer. The first time I saw it was the day I moved in, but the video tour was great and ticked all the boxes, so I went for it.
Several offers have been turned down elsewhere, whether to rent or have to be the hottest tenant.
How did you make this place feel like home?
George and I have lived together for about five years. Over the years we have collected many nice things to make you feel at home.
When I moved in, there was no furniture and I needed large items like sofas and cabinets. With rugs, wall prints, and lots of style, I was able to quickly bring a lot of character, fun, and comfort to my home. But for more tips, check out my Instagram account (@hattathome).
Was it difficult to borrow? Is the owner happy with his work?
I haven’t actually had any contact with the landlord since I moved in, but I’ve followed the terms of the lease and haven’t done anything to cause permanent changes to the apartment.
It should be pretty easy to go back to a blank canvas on exit.
Do you think you have enough space?
The short answer is yes! This is our first 2 bedroom apartment and the second room is very useful as an office or guest bedroom. We love to invite friends and family to our home. It’s great to give guests their own room and space while staying with us. It makes me feel like an adult.
Do you have a problem with your home that needs to be addressed?
We were very lucky: the apartment was newly renovated, so we didn’t have any problems.
One time the front door was locked from the outside and some of us got stuck inside the building for a while but it was a great way to get to know the other tenants in the building!
Are you planning to move again soon?
We hope that the next step is at the time of purchase. The contract for this location expires at the end of May, at which time we hope to move into our location.
Have you ever wanted to own a place or are you happy to rent it?
Buying is our next step. Returning to the UK this year to meet up with loved ones and explore some of our favorite areas of South Manchester.
We hope to make an offer on the house early next year. Check out this space!
exciting moment. Shall we take a look?
What I Rent is a weekly series that airs every Tuesday at 10am.
We will be back next week for another sniff around the rental property.
How to join what I owe
What I Rent is a weekly series that takes people inside the places they rent to give them a better understanding of what’s normal and how much they should be paying.
If you would like to get involved please email [email protected]. You will need to take a photo of your kitchen, living room, bathroom, bedroom, and a photo of your bedroom or living room.
Make sure you get permission from your housemates! Also, you should be able to share how much you are paying for rent, as this is very important.
By the way, we are not only looking for beautiful places. We want to make rentals a reality, so if you’re currently renting a place you don’t like, we’d love to see it too (and lots of sympathy!).
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Source: Metro
I am currently a news writer for News Bulletin247 where I mostly cover sports news. I have always been interested in writing and it is something I am very passionate about. In my spare time, I enjoy reading and spending time with my family and friends.
