Jemma and Georgia have known each other for ten years (Picture: David Sandison /Metro.co.uk)

Renting in London usually means shacking up with at least one other person. It’s expensive in the city – so your dreams of growing up and getting your own one-bed flat remain, well, dreams.

If you’re lucky, you’ll live with someone who you also consider a mate.

That’s the case for social media manager and editor Jemma, 27, who lives with her friend Georgia, who she met at university ten years ago.

They share a two-bedroom flat in Merton, in London, and take pride in making their rented place feel like home, sharing their interiors on Instagram to inspire other renters to do the same.


They each pay £800 a month (Picture: David Sandison /Metro.co.uk)

Hey, Jemma! How much do you pay to live here?



The rent is £1,300. Our council tax (Borough of Merton) is on the higher end of the scale, bringing our bills to around £300.

We both put £800 into the joint account each month to cover the rent, council tax, water, gas/electric, Virgin TV/Broadband and contents insurance.

And what do you get for what you pay?

Two bedrooms, one fantastically large living room, a kitchen and one bathroom.

It’s quite an old block (presumably once all council owned) and all rooms – with the bathroom being the only exception – are generous in size.

We struck gold with this one.

It’s the little details that make their flat feel like their own (Picture: David Sandison /Metro.co.uk)

Are you happy where you live?

It’s taken nearly 10 years of living in London – and some not so great properties – but I can finally say I am happy with where I live.

It’s funny how much your living situation can impact your mental health, which is why I’ve always tried to make my home the best it can be, despite the limitations of renting.

I love that the flat is spacious, cosy and inviting. It feels like an actual home I can see myself wanting to stay in for many years to come.

Raynes Park is leafy, quiet and a far cry from the inner city. The best decision I ever made was to move closer to the ‘burbs.

The only annoyance is that I now rely heavily on the train as opposed to a Tube, and we all know the rep of South Western Railway…

Note the colour-coded books (Picture: David Sandison /Metro.co.uk)

Do you feel like you have enough space?

Yes, definitely! It’s such a spacious flat.

Of course I’d love a bigger bathroom, but the rest of the rooms more than make up for it.

In fact, this is the largest bedroom I’ve ever had in London. I hate to say it but I feel #blessed.

I live with one of my best friends who I met at university 10 years ago. I’ve definitely taken on the role of the nagging mother, much to her dismay.

Are there any problems with the flat you have to put up with?

Because the building is fairly old, the plumbing isn’t fantastic. Let’s thank the high heavens for drain unblocker! I’m no Mrs Hinch, but I can 100% recommend the Buster Plughole Unblocker for anyone who struggles with slow shower draining (how riveting is my life?).

A very Pinteresty fireplace (Picture: David Sandison /Metro.co.uk)

How have you made the flat feel like home?



We have an amazing landlord who has always been open to us making it as homely as possible. He took me to Ikea once so we definitely lucked out there.

Despite my initial resentment of the magnolia walls (which my landlord has apologised for since his wife – typically after he had already painted – advised him to go with white) I think we’ve done a fab job at making it feel like home.

Like most rentals, it’s all in the decor: prints, plants, soft furnishings, knick-knacks you definitely don’t need but buy anyway. That kind of thing.

Have you faced any challenges making a rented property feel homely?

One challenge I’ve faced is the fact that I can’t change the wall colour or the kitchen and bathroom floors. I’m not a fan of the floors in those two rooms because they’re a nightmare to keep clean.

I’m also reluctant to go too crazy on renovations – money wise – because I’ve been in a place before where I was asked to leave due to the landlord selling soon after signing the tenancy.

I guess my anxiety of that happening again is a challenge in itself – oh, the joys of your home belonging to somebody else.

I guess the other challenge is putting things on the walls. I rely heavily on command strips (the renting MIRACLE) but some things I’d like to put up require some drilling. I’m sure my landlord would be ok with it but I haven’t asked yet.

Every flat needs cacti (Picture: David Sandison /Metro.co.uk)

Do you have plans to move again?


Absolutely not. Not for (hopefully) a very long time.

Moving is stressful and the thought of moving all my furniture fills me with dread.

If I did have to move, I’d love a house or maisonette with a garden so that I could have a cat. A pet is the only thing missing from this flat.

And what about buying a place?

Like many of those my age living in London, it’s a pipe dream.

I’d love to own my own home but I would struggle to do so as a single person, and it would never be in London.

Sadly, I don’t have the privilege of living with a parent rent-free, have no inheritance coming my way, and not a high enough disposable income to save the amount required.

I mean, I don’t even eat avocado on toast so god only knows why I can’t buy a house… Can I blame the Tories?

We’ll allow it. Let’s have a look around.

Welcome in (Picture: David Sandison /Metro.co.uk)

The living room (Picture: David Sandison /Metro.co.uk)

Cosy furnishings are a must (Picture: David Sandison /Metro.co.uk)

We’re fans of that pillow (Picture: David Sandison /Metro.co.uk)

The living room doubles as a dining area (Picture: David Sandison /Metro.co.uk)

(Picture: David Sandison /Metro.co.uk)

The kitchen (Picture: David Sandison /Metro.co.uk)

Have you ever seen such a fancy drying area? (Picture: David Sandison /Metro.co.uk)

(Picture: David Sandison /Metro.co.uk)

Bonus points for the matching kettle and toaster (Picture: David Sandison /Metro.co.uk)

Georgia in her bedroom (Picture: David Sandison /Metro.co.uk)

Excellent artwork (Picture: David Sandison /Metro.co.uk)

And here’s Jemma’s bedroom (Picture: David Sandison /Metro.co.uk)

Nice, right? (Picture: David Sandison /Metro.co.uk)

(Picture: David Sandison /Metro.co.uk)

Diptyque candle. Fancy. (Picture: David Sandison /Metro.co.uk)

And some lovely prints (Picture: David Sandison /Metro.co.uk)

(Picture: David Sandison /Metro.co.uk)

The ring light is a giveaway that Jemma is a social media manager (Picture: David Sandison /Metro.co.uk)

(Picture: David Sandison /Metro.co.uk)

It’s okay to judge people’s book collections (Picture: David Sandison /Metro.co.uk)

Finally, the bathroom (Picture: David Sandison /Metro.co.uk)

And one toothbrush (Picture: David Sandison /Metro.co.uk)

What I Rent is a weekly series that’s out every Tuesday at 10am.

Check back next week to have a nose around another rented property.

How to get involved in What I Rent: What I Rent is Metro.co.uk’s weekly series that takes you inside the places people are renting, to give us all a better sense of what’s normal and how much we should be paying. If you fancy taking part, please email whatirent@metro.co.uk. You’ll need to have pictures taken of your kitchen, living room, bathroom, and bedroom, plus a few photos of you in your room. Make sure you get permission for your housemates! You’ll also need to be okay with sharing how much you’re paying for rent, as that’s pretty important.

MORE: What I Rent: Kelly, Kieran and Grace, £625 a month for a three-bedroom house in Hinckley, Leicestershire

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