A tenant has complained his rental home’s kitchen was so poorly designed that it gave his wife a bad back. The property, a £1,040 per month flat in North London, had a very small kitchen with a sink cunningly positioned in the corner, between two units. This meant that anyone washing up had to lean forward for an extended period because the sink was so inaccessible.
Very Little Choice in the London Rental Sector
The couple were forced to live in the flat for two years and when asked, they said it wasn’t worth complaining to the landlord because they felt it would be a waste of time. They claimed landlords have all the advantages because of the lack of availability of affordable rental property in London. Although the couple spotted the sink problem when they went for a viewing, they feared losing the centrally located property to another party and went ahead with the tenancy anyway. It wasn’t until they started washing up every day that they realised just how badly designed the kitchen was.
A “Silly” Design
When the letting agent responsible for the flat was contacted by the press, they admitted that the design of the kitchen was problematic and there was nowhere else for the sink to sit. However, the agent did acknowledge that placing the sink in the corner was “a bit silly”.
The rental sector hinges on supply and demand. In London, there are too many prospective tenants and not enough affordable properties. As a result, landlords know they will always find a tenant, no matter how unappealing their property is.
