What I Rent: We pay just £750 a month for our two-bed — our landlord let’s us do whatever we want

Welcome back to What I Rent – Metro’s tenant diary series exploring what renting is like in the UK and further afield.

Filled with wild waterfalls, dense forests and gorges, Brecon Beacons in rural Wales might not be the place you’d expect to find a maximalist apartment inundated with pop culture references.

But that’s exactly the home 28-year-old Harry White has created in his two-bedroom rental.

With a very relaxed landlord, Harry and his partner, James, have been allowed to use quirky design choices to inject their own personality into the property, investing money into renter-friendly hacks like peel and stick tiles.

Plus, they’ve got a pretty jammy deal at £750 per month, which they split evenly between them.

Here’s what Harry had to say about their renting situation…

Tell us about yourself!

I’m Harry White, a home and interiors content creator, based in Brecon, South Wales. I focus a lot on fun DIYs and renter-friendly projects. I have a huge passion for interior design and colour, as well as fun vintage pieces, which I love to showcase on my TikTok and Instagram. I live with my partner of 10 years, James Thomas, who is a gaming content creator.

What kind of property do you rent, and how long have you been there?

I rent a two-bed apartment, set across two floors. I’ve lived in my current rental for two and a half years, but I’ve lived in this area my whole life.

How much do you pay to live there?

I pay £750 for a two-bed apartment, and that is split between my partner and me (£375 each monthly), which I think is great value as we have a large space, with no neighbours above or below us.

And what does that include?

We have two large double bedrooms, a private entrance and a really great modern kitchen, with underfloor heating. The living room has an exposed brick wall and vaulted ceilings with original beams. There’s also a newly renovated bathroom.

How much do you roughly spend on bills per month?

Bills and council tax come to about £330 a month, which we split so it’s £165 each.

What do you love most about your home?

The property has so much character, which really made me fall in love with it when we viewed it.

It was originally two flats, and the landlord converted it into one flat, and it’s been renovated to a really high standard. It’s a really cosy space, and heats up really quickly, so it’s quite energy efficient too.

Where is your home, and what do you think of the area?

My home is in Brecon, which is actually part of Brecon Beacons National Park. It’s a very quiet and slow way of life here, but I really love the community feel and couldn’t imagine living in a busy city. The only downside to living in such a remote place is that there is no train station. The transport links aren’t great, so you need a car to get anywhere.

How did you find this property?

My last rental never felt like home, so I was always checking the local estate agent for new rentals. When I found this, I requested a viewing within one hour of the property being up. A week later, I had signed the contract.

How have you made this place feel like home?

As my job is a home-focused content creator, I’m always changing my space to feel fresh and alive. I also paint corners of my space often to add little pockets of colour. Plus, I’m always collecting vintage and unique pieces.

What’s inspired your interior design style?

I have a huge love for primary colours, so incorporating those into my home makes the space feel fun and ‘me’. I started collecting vintage furniture a few years ago. I always gravitated towards fun block colour pieces from the early 2000s, and I’ve kind of run with that theme. I like to describe the space as ‘curated maximalism.’

Do you have enough space?

Along with the two large bedrooms, I’m lucky to have three great-sized storage cupboards in the apartment. I do have a vintage lamp and chair obsession, so the cupboards are quite full. Also, having lots of storage is great for rotating furniture pieces to keep the space and my content fresh.

Have you found it difficult to decorate when renting?

Luckily, when I moved in, it was unfurnished and newly renovated, so I actually found it super fun to add all the colour and really make the space my own. I also have a great relationship with my landlord, and he’s cool with me adding colour to my space.

Can you talk us through each of the main rooms, and what you’ve achieved in them?

The living room is where we spend most of our time. It’s full of colourful, unique furniture pieces. I’ve added a large gallery wall, and I like to pick up a new piece of art each time I travel.

In the kitchen, I’ve added peel-and-stick checkerboard floor tiles; the previous slate grey flooring just wasn’t to my taste.

I’ve also added some white peel-and-stick tiles along the backsplash, which was originally shiny black. It brightens the space, and the colour looks great against the white.

The spare bedroom is basically our gaming/cinema room, complete with a huge 100-inch TV and the comfiest sofa I could find. The main bedroom is similar to the living room, full of pockets of colour.

I’ve currently got an ‘orange cave’ painted around the bed. I also recently created a red colour-drenched reading nook. The bedroom is all warm-toned colours, which makes the space feel really cosy.

Do you know how much you’ve spent doing the place up, roughly?

I’ve probably spent around £500 on actual DIY materials (things like peel-and-stick tiles, paint, etc).

What would you like to have in your home, but currently don’t?

My apartment has no outdoor space, which would be really nice to have. I do live in the countryside, though, so there are plenty of lovely walks and greenery right on my doorstep.

Are there any problems you’ve had to deal with?

No problems (touch wood), which is an absolute dream as my last rental had multiple issues, including a toilet which overflowed while I was on holiday and nearly flooded the place. I feel very lucky, as you can really tell this place has been done to a super high standard.

What are your non-negotiables in a home?

For me and my content, it’s really important to have lots of natural light. This space has lots of large windows and skylights, so it always feels bright. Also, a great shower is a must, coming from a rental which previously trickled lukewarm water.

What do you love most about your home?

That’s a hard one, as there’s so much I love about my current space. It would probably be the 12-foot exposed brick wall in the living room. It isn’t really something you find in an apartment in a small town in Wales, and it definitely has a wow factor when you walk into the space.

Do you have plans to move soon?

No plans right now. I’ve really made this space feel like home and feel really content and happy here.

Ever thought about buying? If so, are you making steps towards it?

I am currently saving, and of course, the dream would be to own my own place, but that is a future goal, and I’m actually really happy renting my space right now.

Shall we take a look around?

Do you have a story to share?

Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@Metro.co.uk.

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