01-07-2025
London landlord slammed after advertising a 'beautiful' room for £1,175 per month with a SINGLE BED - and that's not the only major con
A London-based landlord has met with furious criticism after a picture of the room she was letting went viral on social media.
Described as a 'beautiful single room' in the leafy area of Parsons Green in west London, the property is currently listed for a hefty £1,175 a month on letting site SpareRoom.
Just a five minute walk away from the tube station and close to amenities, the room initially seems a steal in a crowded rental market.
However, people were quick to point out that the new lodger would only be offered a single bed, despite needing to cough up more than a grand each month.
In addition to having two housemates, one of these is a live-in landlord - which many renters associate with a loss of privacy, potential for conflict and difficult power dynamics.
'Deborah', the host who published the listing, is also charging a £1,000 deposit, although bills are included in the monthly rent.
Sophie Fernley, who reposted the listing on social media, wrote: 'Deborah are you off your f***ing rocker hahahahahaha'
She added: 'Guys if you see a nice normal room in London please send it MY WAYYYYYYYYYY as you can see I'm suffering.'
Others were also shocked at just how dire the renting options in the capital have become.
They said: '£1,175 just for that tiny place. What a JOKE!';
'And yet, it'll be off the market next week'; 'I've seen doubles in zone 1 go for less';
'Worst bit is that someone will snap it up';
'Bills included? Better include a private pool & concierge service for that';
'What's the chance that Deborah also thinks that if you stop eating avocados you'll be able to afford your own house and charge almost £1200 a month for one of the single rooms.'
Potential flatmates will live with two other women and will ideally be 'professional ladies'.
On SpareRoom, the listing reads: 'A quiet beautiful single room over looking a sweet garden.
'Clean, tidy, newly renovated, professional quiet house with garden in the heart of Parsons Green. Fabulous location, very close to the tube, park, bus, cafes, shops, restaurants.
'It is not a party house, but a beautiful tranquil luxurious haven for professional ladies - ideally.
'There is a piano in the drawing room and also a gorgeous beautifully kept garden to relax in.'
The room has been 'boosted' - meaning it's been pushed to the top of search results for a 24-hour period.
In January, a different London landlord was slammed for advertising a room for £1,350 a month - with an absurdly strict set of rules.
The homeowner posted the listing on renting website Spare Room, with the hopes of finding someone to fill a bedroom in their home in Hampstead Heath, north London.
The host was subject to a barrage of online criticism after demanding prospective tenants follow a number of strict rules, all while paying through the nose.
The poster requested that hopeful tenants work 'longish hours in the city during the week', leave London during weekends and avoid having guests or using the living room.
People were shocked at just how dire the renting options in the capital have become
Spotting the listing while browsing for potential homes, one hopeful tenant took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to lament the 'selfish' advert - where it received dozens of comments from angry renters slamming the 'exploitative and selfish' offering.
The listing proclaims to offer a 'lovely' flat with access to a bedroom, kitchen and bathroom - though the living room is strictly cited as 'not available for use'.
Users slammed the strict house rules which also requested that prospective tenants have 'no guests, no use of the living space' and make 'no noise after 11pm'.
Elsewhere, many have criticised the landlord's requests for how long prospective tenants are actually allowed in the residence.
Social media user Sophia took to X, where she posted screenshots of the original listing alongside the caption: 'Anyone looking for a single bedroom with no heating where you can't make noise and can only be home from 8:30pm to 8am (weekdays only)? Here's one for a bargain (£1350)!!!'
The listing reads: 'I work long hours from the living room so this area is not available for use. This space would ideally suit someone working longish hours in the city during the week and leaving the city for the weekends.'
Tenants are also asked to not return home until after 8:30pm since this is when the host teaches 'audible' violin lessons.
Meanwhile, the property itself does not have central heating and tenants must instead use an electric heater 'that can set via a timer on your phone.'
Deborah's house listing describes it as a 'quiet beautiful single room overlooking a sweet garden'
The post, which has now been viewed nearly a million times, includes a link to the listing - though this appears to have been altered since making it onto X.
The original listing - as revealed by screenshots on X - stated that the landlord was looking for 'a lodger' to share their 'lovely flat' in the South End Green, Gospel Oak area.
According to their profile on Spare Room, Alice is a Live in Landlord. Describing themselves, they wrote: 'I am a 38-year-old professional researcher and music teacher.
'I am also teaching the violin here in the evenings from 4-8:30pm Mon-Thurs, while this takes place on a different floor to the bedroom I am offering, it would be audible, so this room would suit someone who is not home until post 8:30pm.'
