A landlord was compelled to reduce the asking rent for a’studio’ apartment after confused house searchers complained the ‘disgraceful’ property was merely a corridor.
The landlord wanted £850 a month for a single room in a Cambridge semi-detached home.
The 5ft 7in-wide’studio’ purports to have its own bathroom and kitchenette, but images reveal that the cramped unit offers virtually no space to renters.
Reddit users who read the landlord’s Zoopla listing were quick to label the monthly fee for the studio as “disgraceful” and “repulsive.”
EPS Properties also acknowledged receiving complaints about the property listing, but dismissed the criticism by noting, “If it doesn’t suit them, they don’t have to rent it.”
Hasan Osman, a partner at the company, disclosed that he persuaded the landlord to reduce the price by £100.
According to social media users who viewed the listing photographs, the long, thin layout of the property resembled a hallway rather than a studio unit.
The perplexing photos depict a single bed pressed against a wall, with a shower behind it that is narrower than the headboard.
The 5ft 7in-wide room is made even narrower by a kitchen unit and a thin bar side, yet it extends 24ft 7in from its front door to the property’s concrete patio.
As of 8 a.m. this morning, there was no floor layout for the’studio’ on the ad, but the property boasts that all utilities, including Wi-Fi and council tax, are included in the rent.
Despite this, scores of Reddit users continue to criticize the size and pricing of the item.
One person remarked on Thursday evening, “£850 per month to live in a hallway? Wtf? ‘
Someone else stated, “It would be like living in someone’s hallway.” It is a disgrace.’
Someone responded, “No, it is truly like living in someone’s hallway.”
A third observer stated, “The box atop the refrigerator is even shocked.” Putting jokes aside, that is revolting.
The ad’s description reads, ‘We have a modest single furnished studio available for a six-month lease starting immediately.
The property features a private bathroom, kitchenette, and single bed. All utilities, including Wi-Fi, are included.
Mr. Osman admitted that £850 seems excessively exorbitant given the size of the accommodation.
He claims he persuaded the landlord to reduce the rent to £750 per month, and the Zoopla listing was changed at around 4 p.m.
The room exceeds the Government’s minimal size requirement of 6.25 square meters for a room occupied by a person over the age of ten, and Mr. Osman argues that his company, which handles properties for landlords, verified this before listing the space.
He stated, “I think the length of the land is adequate, but the breadth is a bit narrow. We attempted to fit a double bed in there, but there wasn’t much room.
People asked us how we could rent it for such a high amount, but they need to understand that as an agency, we can only advise our landlords on the appropriate rental pricing.
I believe $750 is a realistic price for Cambridge, he continued. You can rent a room with a kitchenette for £800 per month. Commentators must put matters in proper context.
There is a studio apartment with a kitchen, a refrigerator-freezer, a stovetop oven, a washing machine, a single bed, a shower room, and a toilet all in one room.
People enjoy making baseless complaints about everything and everything. I need not explain myself to them. If it does not suit a person, they are not required to take it.
I told the landlord, ‘We’ve been receiving some criticism online about this, and I believe the price should be lowered as a result.’ He has agreed to remove it.’
Mr. Osman explains that the current landlord purchased the property with the room in its current state, but plans to convert it into a communal space next year by combining it with the house’s living room.
He believes the former owner of the four-bedroom home converted the garage into an additional rental unit.