Flats To Rent

Renting flats or apartments has gained in popularity over the last few years. Gone are the days where the early 19th Century English middle classes would never have dreamt of stepping foot inside a flat. Although in the late 19th century in London especially, mansion flats became fashionable to rent, it is only recently that renting flats has really become popular across the country. These days there has been a dramatic switch with everyone from business people and young professionals to those in retirement keen to rent.

There are lots of different types of flats to rent depending on your budget, space required and general features you are looking for.

New build flats vary from standard blocks of flats to more stylish and luxurious flats with fittings and amenities to match. At the top end of the market, flats are being designed with more than one level. Duplex and penthouse apartments often have two levels split with an internal staircase and we are now even seeing three level triplexes becoming more common. The appeal is going upstairs to bed and larger entertaining areas.

Older buildings, especially from the Victorian era such as warehouses and factories are no longer being knocked down but converted into unusual flats. This trend is set to continue as space for new build is at a premium.

Reports have shown that this country is fast becoming a nation that rent rather than buy. We are losing our love affair with owning bricks and mortar. Although the housing market is weak and prices have declined, with mortgages increasingly harder to get and large deposits required, demand for rented flats is on the up. Also with building space at a premium and property developer margins squeezed, flats are becoming increasingly the most popular home to build and easier to rent out.

Renting has become a lifestyle choice with people no longer wishing to buy but happy to continue to rent. People no longer want a hefty mortgage tying them to the same place for the next twenty five years or more. Instead people can choose where to rent and live in dream properties they could only hope to afford to buy. Even those that can buy are testing places by renting first.

The latest property trend for rental flats is stylish, sophisticated new build apartments designed to attract the young renters that can no longer get onto the property ladder or no longer wish to buy. People looking for rental flats no longer will make do but instead want good quality fixtures and fittings and landlords and letting agents that they can trust.

These young renters are renting from a lifestyle viewpoint with many flats now offering landscape gardens and a whole host of amenities to take advantage of. Renters also seek out the unusual such as a rental flat in a converted warehouse or a loft style apartment.

With the economy and housing market recovering and weak from the worldwide recession, rental is a trend and lifestyle choice set to continue, following in the footsteps of our European neighbours.