Six millennials offer their best advice for anyone renting in their 20s

Living in a rental is a rite of passage for many people in their 20s. It’s widely regarded as the step before the first rung of the property ladder.

But the reality is that a considerable number of people are renting in the UK today – sometimes, for a lot longer than expected.

According to data from the London Assembly, less than a third of those living in London aged between 20 and 39 own their homes, while the figure for the rest of England is 41%.

We learn lessons about renting over the years we spend doing it – whether that we simply hate sharing a kitchen with strangers, or that we detest spending a considerable amount of our salaries on it.

Metro chatted to six renters about the things they wish they’d known about renting in their 20s, from shelling out for a cleaner to taking the necessary precautions when moving in.

Lucy, 36

If you intend to stay in your rental for several years, or if you find yourself there longer than you expected, I’d recommend getting a professional deep clean every couple of years.

Having lived in my old rental for eight years, the one-off end of tenancy clean did little to touch the sides. Granted, it was a flat in a Victorian house that hadn’t been updated for a long time, but still, I wish we’d kept on top of the deep cleans.

It may have made the moving process easier, and also, it’s just nicer to live in a flat that undergoes an intense clean every now and then.

Alice, 31

I’ve rented for the best part of eight years, but only in the past few months have I started thinking about the future.

Renting was something I viewed as a temporary, transient experience for far too long, to the point that I never invested in furniture or decent appliances — even when they would have enhanced my quality of life many times over.

I even stopped short of buying artwork and picture frames, thinking of the effort it would take to box it all up and move on to the next place. Now, as I edge closer to being able to buy my first home, I wish I had more memories to put in it.

Kristina, 34

I’ve lived in house shares for eight years, and I’ve made some incredible memories. Now, I’ve probably got enough money to scrape together to buy a house – but the sacrifices I’ll have to make, in terms of location, space and well, just how nice a place is, are starting to become very real.

If you’re in your 20s, and you’re loving the lifestyle that renting a home affords you, I’d say, there’s no rush. Older generations often say renting is ‘wasting’ money, but it’s only now I realise I was investing in a lifestyle, rather than bricks and mortar. We’re pretty hung up on home ownership in this country, but your choice to rent is valid too.

Ashley*, 32

Just bite the bullet and get a cleaner. I’ve lived in two flat shares: the first, where we had zero arguments, and I made some of my best friends. The second, where pass-agg was the norm, and I almost leaped for joy when my flatmate said he was moving out.

The difference? We had a regular cleaner for one and not the other – I’m sure you can work out which. It might be an extra out-going, but it saves so much drama, and makes your home a nicer place to live in.

Sabrina, 30

One tip: take photos of everything when you move in. If an agent tries to swindle you in the inventory when you’re leaving, this way, you’ll have receipts.

Of course, not all real estate agents are like this — there are lots of fantastic ones. Just a word of warning from someone who was burned before!

Jane*, 35

It sounds controversial, but don’t go through an estate agent. They’ll only slow everything down for you, so always go for a private landlord if you can.

Just make sure your deposit is protected through the Deposit Protection Scheme (DPS) and that you’ve signed a tenancy agreement. This might sound basic, but I once moved into a house in my early 20s without signing anything at all!

Also, accept the fact that you probably will get mice. It doesn’t mean you’re dirty – it’s sometimes just part of renting life.

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