This is the London landlord blasted for advertising a tiny room in her top floor flat for £1,350 a month with an absurd set of rules.
Alice Bowmer posted the listing with the hopes of finding someone to fill a bedroom in her flat in Hampstead Heath, north London.
After asking potential tenants to adhere to a set of rigorous rules and shell out a significant amount of money for a small room, Ms. Bowmer faced a wave of criticism online.
In her rental advertisement, Ms. Bowmer stipulated that individuals interested in renting must refrain from using her living room and confine themselves solely to the bedroom, kitchen, and bathroom.
Ms. Bowmer also outlined additional requirements such as working long hours in the city on weekdays, being away from the London premises on weekends, and refraining from entertaining guests or utilizing the shared living space.
But when approached by MailOnline, Ms Bowmer declined to comment on her long list of demands.
Speaking through the intercom of the four-storey townhouse, Ms Bowmer, said: ‘I can’t speak now, I need to take a telephone call.’
However, she confirmed that she was renting out a room at her fourth-storey £800,000 flat.
Alice Bowmer (pictured) posted the listing with the hopes of finding someone to fill her bedroom in her flat in Hampstead Heath, north London. (Photo taken from X formerly Twitter)
A London-based landlord has been slammed on social media for advertising a ‘completely exploitative’ renting deal (pictured from Spare Room listing)
The listing had a number of ‘house rules.’ It explained that there should be ‘no guests, no pets, no use of the living space, no noise after 11 PM
The listing, posted on internet renting site Spare Room, requests that tenants do not return home until after 8:30pm since this is when the host teaches ‘audible’ violin lessons.
Also, the property does not have central heating and the lodger must instead use an electric heater ‘that can set via a timer on your phone.’
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.’
Ms Bowmer describes herself as a ‘live-in landlord’, in her profile for Spare Room.
She 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.’
‘The flat is located on a quiet residential street with very little traffic. The flat overlooks Hampstead Heath Park which can be accessed from the street (two minute walk), as well as close access to Hampstead ponds and lido for swimming.’
She asked that their potential ‘lodger’ be ‘a quiet, clean and friendly person’ though asked that they do not use the living facilities or be at the property in the evening or weekends.
Describing the room, she wrote: ‘The room is 2m x 4m with high ceilings.
The listing, originally posted on Spare Room, 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’
The host has since been subject to a barrage of online criticism after demanding prospective tenants follow a number of strict rules, all while paying £1,350 a month
Ms Bowmer also said that the house does not have central heating and the lodger must instead use an electric heater ‘that can set via a timer on your phone.’ (Photo taken from X formerly Twitter)
‘It had a bed, wardrobe, table, blackout blind and heater that can be set via a timer on your phone. There is no central heating however, the electric heaters are very effective and the bathroom has underfloor heating throughout. There is a dishwasher and washing machine available for use in the kitchen.’
Alongside the strict rules, Ms Bowmer boasted ‘lots of little independent shops, coffee places’ as well as an M&S and several nearby parks.
The listing also revealed that the deposit for the property would be £1,557.
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.
However, it appears as though changes have since been made to the advert, with references to house guests, curfew and noise, no longer in the property description.
In the updated advert, the landlord described themselves as: ‘I am a very friendly, tidy, quiet, clean and hard working person. I would like to share with someone who complements this.’
Commenters on the post were outraged by the ‘exploitative’ listing that insisted tenants be ‘banished from actually living there’
Commenters on the post were outraged by the ‘exploitative’ listing that insisted tenants be ‘banished from actually living there’.
One enraged viewer wrote: ‘This ‘free market’ attitude is pathetic, this shouldn’t be legal. Completely exploitative, selfish and attempting to take advantage of renter’s desperation to squeeze money out of a tenant while banishing them from actually living there. Total scum landlord.’
A second said: ‘No guests? You can’t even have a friend round to sit in the bedroom with you like a teenager.’
Others said the landlord was wanting ‘rent’ without having to actually live with the person. They said: ‘Basically just wants someone to pay her rent each month but not actually live there.’
A fourth agreed writing: ‘Quite clear that this person actually doesn’t really want anyone else in his house/flat but needs the rental income…’
However, not everyone agreed the the listing was unreasonable. One wrote: ‘There’s nothing wrong with putting this advert up if there’s someone out there willing to take it. I doubt there will be, but I’d just shrug and keep searching.’
