Saturday, 5 November 2011

Looking to rent? Let battle begin: Prepare for a fight to secure a home in this brutal market | Mail Online

Looking to rent? Let battle begin: Prepare for a fight to secure a home in this brutal market | Mail Online

When I bought a flat with a friend in 2008, the market was at the height of hysteria. Properties were selling like hot bacon sandwiches and if you asked agents if you could go away and think about it, they laughed in your face.

Saying ‘yes’ on the spot was the only way you’d ever even get a toe on the property ladder. So, you’ll understand my frustration when, three years on, I am in a similar position, albeit in the rental market. I am looking for a property with my partner in North London.

We weren’t naive — we knew prices were going to be steep. According to the housing charity Shelter, the average rent for a two-bedroom home in the capital is £1,360 per month — two-and-a-half times the £568 national average.

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