"Homes without lounges are becoming a reality for renters on tight budgets faced with a lack of available lets. Nearly a third of homes advertised on flat-sharing website SpareRoom in the first half of the year had no living room. Ella Murray, aged 22, who shares with three other people in London, said: "At this stage in my life I'm not willing to sacrifice money for more space.""
"Landlords say turning a lounge into a bedroom helps them cover their higher mortgages and other extra costs, while meeting demand from tenants. But a lack of communal space means many renters are living and working in one bedroom putting them at risk of social isolation. Some also point out the "false economy" of being forced to go out to socialise which can cost more than a night in with friends."
Nearly a third of room adverts on flat-share platforms in the year's first half lacked a living room, with London at 41% and Birmingham rising from 16% to 22% over five years. Landlords convert front rooms to bedrooms to meet demand and help cover higher mortgage payments and other costs, adding extra tenants per property. Renters often live and work within single bedrooms, increasing risks of social isolation and prompting extra spending to socialise. Official data show average private rents rose 5.5% to £1,354 monthly, while Rightmove reports about 10 prospective tenants competing for each available rental. The data excludes studios and one-bedroom listings.
Read at www.bbc.com
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