Cheap Rent. Pedigree Cat. Right by the station.

TLDR: 1 room in a basic 2 bed flat by East Finchley station, your own small bathroom, cat flap in your window, £450 per month including bills. Short Lets welcome.

The flat:

The flat is two minute walk from East Finchley high street and 3 minute walk to East Finchley tube (Northern Line) via a shortcut. East Finchley is a funny place, good for charity shops, cafes and cheap and cheerful neighbourhood restaurants. It’s not Finsbury Park or Hackney. It is close to Muswell Hill, Hampstead Garden Suburb and Highgate which are boujie and smart, but it is not these things. It is somewhat close to Hampstead Heath - walking distance if you are willing to cross the A1 road, which runs straight into Archway and Highbury & Islington via the 263 bus.

The flat itself is 2-bed 2-bath. It’s not big but it’s built for 2. The main space is nice and relaxed - the kitchen is functional. The whole place hasn’t been refurbished in some time, so don't expect smart fittings. Everything works well and I make sure it’s comfortable, but it’s dated and not in a particularly charming way. I know the Landlord and want to treat the space with respect.

It’s a nice spot to work from home from and the washing machine, TV and fridge are new. There isn’t really outside space but the local area is relatively safe and there’s a tree somewhere.

The room:

The room is small. It’s essentially a single bedroom. 2.6m x 2m. It’s currently not being used and I’d prepare the space for you (or you could have your own designs!). I have a single mattress in storage and can buy a single bed frame at my cost, or I would buy a single or double sofa bed depending on your preference. There’s a desk in corner currently housing some work stuff which I'll remove. I can remove the desk completely and there’s a small wardrobe in storage if you'd like. It's a blank canvas.

The room gets nice light through the big window which opens wide, but you’re also at the front of the property so you might want to fit a privacy screen. This won’t work for someone with loads of stuff or who needs a lot of space.

There is a cat flap in the window which relates to the next paragraph.

The cat:

Blue also lives here. Blue is a 2-year old Russian Blue cat who is extremely elegant, sociable and a bit full of himself. He is present, warm, curious and communicative. I'm fitting a cat flap in the window as it's the only appropriate place for it in the flat, so he is likely to come in through the cat flap in your room. He may want to sleep on or near you. He may want to go in or out your room in the evening times or early in the morning if you've shut your door.

This is the first time I’ve had a subtenant here and this is an experiment - I hope it works with him and a housemate. You will obviously need to be very comfortable with cats, but you can also be boundaried and pick him up etc, I’m not precious about him but I do want him to be comfortable, which is why I fitted the cat flap so he can explore the local area. If Blue was disturbing you in the night I would happily fit a second cat flap in your door and split the costs.

The housemate:

I am a 29 year old therapised and reformed middle-class f***boy from London who now runs a busy charity. My work is my focus and I spend a lot of time at the office, which is why I am looking for someone to be around at least some of the time to keep Blue company. I like to host Shabbat dinner parties, watch and play football, go to the gym, practice yoga (obviously), socialise with my friends and niblings, and have open and meaningful conversations. I am not looking for a stranger who I never connect with but I’m also not looking for a best friend or partner.

I keep a decent sleep schedule and am up early so while I'm open to socialising and hosting, I tend to do so only at the weekends.

The deal:

The rent is £500 including bills. It’s cheap because it ain’t glorious and I know how difficult it is to live in London at the moment (hence the subtenant). I don’t need a proper contract, but I will insist that you pay rent on the first day of the month. When you want to leave you can give me one week notice, and if I wanted you to leave I would give you four weeks notice. I’m not a landlord and I want the flat to be a safe space and a peaceful home.

If you’re interested, please send basic details of who you are - share whatever info you like. If it sounds like a good fit I'll suggest some times for a viewing. If I don't reply quickly or at all, I apologise in advance.

Peace!