Flat
Well, I put a deposit down on a place tonight.
I saw it yesterday. It's in Stoke Newington, right by Clapton Station, and also near to Stoke Newington and Rectory Road Stations. I don't know about the other two, but Clapton, although not on the overland, is on a National Rail line with a special arrangement so that it accepts Oyster pre-pay (edit -- having checked, the other two are on a different branch of the same line, subject to the same arrangement)... so this is basically the same as being near a tube station -- and it's Zone 2, rather than Zone 3, as I am now. In addition it's a fifteen minute walk from the 73 bus which will get me to college in 40 minutes, and the cycle ride is just over half an hour. There's a huge Somerfield (supermarket) up at Stamford Hill. The road is also very pretty.
There are four rooms in the place and -- here's the major downside, and I do hope it will turn out OK -- I don't know who I'll be sharing with. Three of the rooms (including the one I've taken) were empty and being shown -- I actually considered one of the others, a double looking out on the back garden, but decided to go for the king because -- downside two -- the place has no shared lounge. The fourth tenant is already living there; I didn't get to meet him but the agent says he's a British professional in his thirties and seems nice.
The kitchen is also not HUGE, but it's adequate, and the bathroom has been newly and beautifully redone, and there's a separate toilet. The back garden is technically available to the whole house but the only way to get into it is through the studio apartment downstairs. However, apparently the woman who lives there is very nice. There are two or three parks very nearby too, and it's about a half hour walk -- or ten minute cycle -- from where Tom and Ruth live.
It's a king size room, and the landlord has agreed to get me a desk and chair (there's a double bed, wardrobe and chest of drawers already in there). I may have to sort out bookshelves myself, and also possibly soft furnishings (duvet, sheets and towels) but I can live with that. It's £476 inclusive of general utility bills and council tax, but I'll need to get my own internet connection (although as there's a tenant in there already, I'm guessing the phone is already connected -- I forgot to check that -- but basic TV is, so the phone must be).
I didn't realise that I actually really wanted it until I got a voicemail from the agent today saying she was sorry, but the landlord had said no pets because a cat would put off other, prospective tenants.
I called her back and said, look, I'm really serious about this room, I can move in this weekend, are there people who are specifically interested in the other two rooms and if so could she ask them how they felt about a cat?
She called the landlord, then called me again straightaway and said, the landlord had told her the cat could come but it was her responsibility to find tenants who would agree to live with us!
So I am basically happy. The place has just been newly renovated. It's on a nice road. It's well-located. The room is HUGE. Daisy can come. And the agent (she's freelance) seems really sweet so I'm counting on her to choose nice people for the other two rooms.
Phew. NO MORE FLAT-HUNTING!!!! YAY!!!!!!
I saw it yesterday. It's in Stoke Newington, right by Clapton Station, and also near to Stoke Newington and Rectory Road Stations. I don't know about the other two, but Clapton, although not on the overland, is on a National Rail line with a special arrangement so that it accepts Oyster pre-pay (edit -- having checked, the other two are on a different branch of the same line, subject to the same arrangement)... so this is basically the same as being near a tube station -- and it's Zone 2, rather than Zone 3, as I am now. In addition it's a fifteen minute walk from the 73 bus which will get me to college in 40 minutes, and the cycle ride is just over half an hour. There's a huge Somerfield (supermarket) up at Stamford Hill. The road is also very pretty.
There are four rooms in the place and -- here's the major downside, and I do hope it will turn out OK -- I don't know who I'll be sharing with. Three of the rooms (including the one I've taken) were empty and being shown -- I actually considered one of the others, a double looking out on the back garden, but decided to go for the king because -- downside two -- the place has no shared lounge. The fourth tenant is already living there; I didn't get to meet him but the agent says he's a British professional in his thirties and seems nice.
The kitchen is also not HUGE, but it's adequate, and the bathroom has been newly and beautifully redone, and there's a separate toilet. The back garden is technically available to the whole house but the only way to get into it is through the studio apartment downstairs. However, apparently the woman who lives there is very nice. There are two or three parks very nearby too, and it's about a half hour walk -- or ten minute cycle -- from where Tom and Ruth live.
It's a king size room, and the landlord has agreed to get me a desk and chair (there's a double bed, wardrobe and chest of drawers already in there). I may have to sort out bookshelves myself, and also possibly soft furnishings (duvet, sheets and towels) but I can live with that. It's £476 inclusive of general utility bills and council tax, but I'll need to get my own internet connection (although as there's a tenant in there already, I'm guessing the phone is already connected -- I forgot to check that -- but basic TV is, so the phone must be).
I didn't realise that I actually really wanted it until I got a voicemail from the agent today saying she was sorry, but the landlord had said no pets because a cat would put off other, prospective tenants.
I called her back and said, look, I'm really serious about this room, I can move in this weekend, are there people who are specifically interested in the other two rooms and if so could she ask them how they felt about a cat?
She called the landlord, then called me again straightaway and said, the landlord had told her the cat could come but it was her responsibility to find tenants who would agree to live with us!
So I am basically happy. The place has just been newly renovated. It's on a nice road. It's well-located. The room is HUGE. Daisy can come. And the agent (she's freelance) seems really sweet so I'm counting on her to choose nice people for the other two rooms.
Phew. NO MORE FLAT-HUNTING!!!! YAY!!!!!!