{"id":747,"date":"2025-03-29T07:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-03-29T08:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.merlinscove.com\/?p=747"},"modified":"2025-04-13T08:05:28","modified_gmt":"2025-04-13T08:05:28","slug":"what-i-rent-we-pay-1700-for-our-west-sussex-four-bed-its-cheaper-than-a-mortgage","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.merlinscove.com\/index.php\/2025\/03\/29\/what-i-rent-we-pay-1700-for-our-west-sussex-four-bed-its-cheaper-than-a-mortgage\/","title":{"rendered":"What I Rent: We pay \u00a31,700 for our West Sussex four-bed \u2014 it\u2019s cheaper than a mortgage"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\n\t\t\"Fontwell,\t<\/div>
This week, we’re down near Arundel in West Sussex (Picture: Andrew Hasson)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Welcome back to <\/strong>What I Rent<\/a> \u2013 Metro\u2019s tenant diary<\/a> series exploring what <\/strong>renting<\/a> is like in the UK and further afield.<\/strong><\/p>\n

This week, we’re down in Fontwell near Arundel in West Sussex, meeting Bronwynn and Seb Wisdom at their four-bedroom rented home.<\/p>\n

The couple made the move from South Africa in 2023, and though they weren’t in a position to buy, they wanted more than just a small ‘starter’ home.<\/p>\n

And so, they looked to Arundel<\/a>, which just last year was crowned the most relaxed spot in all of Europe. It’s just three miles from the coast, after all.<\/p>\n

Here’s what Browynn had to say about their renting situation…<\/p>\n

Tell us about yourselves\u2026<\/strong><\/h3>\n

We’re Bronwynn and Seb Wisdom, aged 35 and 36, and we relocated to the UK from South Africa<\/a> in 2023. We had considered a range of options to find the right home for us and our two cats. <\/p>\n

\n

\n\t\t\t\tReady to start your homebuying journey?\t\t\t<\/h2>\n
\n

You can access completely fee-free mortgage advice with London & Country (L&C) Mortgages, a partner of Metro. Customers benefit from:<\/p>\n

\u2013 Award winning service from the UK\u2019s leading mortgage broker<\/p>\n

\u2013 Expert advisors on hand 7 days a week<\/p>\n

\u2013 Access to 1000s of mortgage deals from across the market<\/p>\n

Unlike many mortgage brokers, L&C won’t charge you a fee for their advice.<\/p>\n

Find out how much you could borrow online<\/a><\/p>\n

Mortgage service provided by London & Country Mortgages (L&C), which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (registered number: 143002). The FCA does not regulate most Buy to Let mortgages. Your home or property may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

We knew we wanted to put down roots, but buying a property immediately wasn\u2019t our priority, and we were concerned by the restrictions and rules of renting with a traditional buy-to-let landlord.<\/p>\n

\n
\n\t\t\"Fontwell,\t<\/div>
The pair moved from South Africa in 2023 (Picture: Andrew Hasson)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

When we came across our home in Fontwell, near Arundel in West Sussex, we realised we could tick each and every box with professional rental homes provider Leaf Living.<\/p>\n

What kind of property do you rent and how long have you been there?\u202f <\/strong><\/h3>\n

We reserved a newly built four-bedroom, three-bathroom family house at Leaf Living\u2019s Fontwell Meadows development, where we’ve lived since 2023.<\/p>\n

After seeing our families settle in the UK, our hearts longed to be closer to them. So, we made the decision to follow them and start a new chapter.<\/p>\n

Sebastian went ahead first, determined to find the perfect place for us. I stayed behind in South Africa, navigating the complexities of my British citizenship and ensuring every detail was in place for our beloved cats to make the journey with me. They\u2019re not just pets, they\u2019re family, and we couldn\u2019t imagine leaving them behind.<\/p>\n

\n

\n\t\t\t\tCould your home win an award?\t\t\t<\/h2>\n
\n

Have you given your home an award-worthy makeover that’s the envy of all your friends? <\/p>\n

Whether you own or rent, we want to see your fabulous homes and gardens given the recognition they deserve.<\/p>\n

Metro has joined forces with the Ufurnish.com Home Awards<\/a> to show off the best in UK property – and we want you to be among them. <\/p>\n

From jaw-dropping before-and-afters to stylish spaces on a budget and rental DIY masterpieces, the awards recognise outstanding talent across 20 categories covering interiors, gardens, furniture innovation and home accessories.<\/p>\n

Entries are open now and as we build up to judging in May, Metro’s Property channel <\/a>will be brimming with inspiring homes and tips from those in the know.<\/p>\n

Need some inspo (or some eye candy)? Here are nine winners<\/a> from last year\u2019s awards to get your creative juices flowing.<\/p>\n

Head to Ufurnish.com<\/a> to enter now.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

Sebastian moved in with his parents, who welcomed him into their three-bedroom home with open arms. For nine months in 2023, their kindness gave him a roof over his head while he searched for our future home.<\/p>\n

They had space for him, and we were endlessly grateful, but we knew it was temporary. The house, though filled with warmth, wasn\u2019t quite ready for both of us, especially with our cats in tow. His parents didn\u2019t have pets, and we didn\u2019t want to impose.<\/p>\n

Every call, every update about potential homes brought us closer to reuniting. We held onto the dream of being together again, in a place we could call our own.<\/p>\n

Now, we couldn\u2019t be happier. The sense of comfort and belonging we feel here is something we\u2019ll cherish forever.<\/p>\n

How much do you pay to live here?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

\u00a31,700 per month with an initial deposit of \u00a31,900. There are no hidden costs such as service charges.<\/p>\n

And what do you get for what you pay?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Our house came with new white goods in the kitchen, which saved a considerable expense on upfront purchases and other added extras including fibre internet in our monthly rent, as well as a video doorbell, Hive thermostat and keyless smart lock.<\/p>\n

The living area is spacious, we have allocated parking and all the developers homes have an EPC rating of B or above, which keeps our household bills low.<\/p>\n

\n
\n\t\t\"Fontwell,\t<\/div>
The pair say that renting made ‘much more sense’ for them (Picture: Andrew Hasson)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Do you feel like you have a good deal?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

We initially looked into buying and even priced up a mortgage and worked out that we\u2019d end up paying \u00a3700 more on monthly mortgage payments for a property of the same size. <\/p>\n

From a financial perspective for us at the moment, renting made far more sense.<\/p>\n

What do you love about your home? <\/strong><\/h3>\n

We had to consider our cats and were delighted to find that Fontwell Meadows is a pet-friendly rental community. We probably inquired at about 40 or 50 places, and most wouldn\u2019t allow pets or even consider it, and any that did often charged more for smaller spaces because we had animals.<\/p>\n

The private garden has been another highlight, offering a safe outdoor space for our cats, who both love exploring.<\/p>\n

Where is your home based? What do you think of the area? <\/strong><\/h3>\n

In Fontwell, near Arundel in West Sussex. Seb has a 10-minute drive to work – and for me, it opened so many opportunities when job searching, as I could commute to a lot of different places, as there is easy access to cities like Chichester, Brighton, and Portsmouth. <\/p>\n

I ended up with a role based in Tangmere, so it’s only a five-minute bus ride, an easy daily routine.<\/p>\n

\n
\n\t\t\"Fontwell,\t<\/div>
The couple have been allowed to personalise their home (Picture: Andrew Hasson)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Why did you choose this property?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

When Seb originally came to view a different house at Fontwell Meadows, it wasn\u2019t quite the layout we wanted. Then our home became available, and the lettings team was super helpful in making sure we got the type of property that we wanted. <\/p>\n

When he couldn\u2019t attend a viewing, they even filmed a walkthrough for us so I, who was still in South Africa at the time, could see it too.<\/p>\n

Have you found it difficult to decorate when renting? Is your landlord happy with you doing bits? <\/strong><\/h3>\n

Our home is decorated beautifully with quality finishes, but we’ve been allowed to personalise our home with prior approval, which is a rare offering in rental homes.<\/p>\n

Do you feel like you have enough space? <\/strong><\/h3>\n

We weren\u2019t looking for a small starter apartment, as we needed a space that reflects where we are in our lives. We both really felt as soon as we saw the house that it was a place we could truly make our home.<\/p>\n

\n
\n\t\t\"Fontwell,\t<\/div>
They wanted a space that reflected where they were in their lives (Picture: Andrew Hasson)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

What do you like about renting your home?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

The process was so smooth. The paperwork was straightforward, and we didn\u2019t have to wait weeks to get things agreed upon. If anything does happen, they\u2019re super responsive and quick to sort things out. <\/p>\n

We don\u2019t feel anxious about raising concerns because we know the team is there to help. We feel like we\u2019re in a place now that really feels like home, and we know we are going to be here for a long time. We originally signed a tenancy for one year, but we have already extended that.<\/p>\n

How did you find this property?<\/h3>\n

We spent a tonne of time online, looking for homes that suited our look, feel and lifestyle. We came across Leaf Living in this search, and their homes at Fontwell Meadows went straight to the top of our list. <\/p>\n

The lettings agent took Sebastian to see a few houses so he could find the size and layout that we both wanted, as I was still in South Africa at the time. When the agent sent through a video for me to see and it was still available, we both knew it was the one for us.<\/p>\n

How have you made this place feel like home?<\/h3>\n

We haven\u2019t done too much to the house yet; it was a beautiful brand-new home to move into with no decoration or repairs needed. We\u2019re planning on being here for a long time, so we\u2019re not in a rush to find our interior style.<\/p>\n

What would you like to have but don’t with this flat?<\/h3>\n

We have everything we need and more with this home; there isn\u2019t anything we would add at the moment. Seb has since bought an electric vehicle to match the house because we have the EV charger available here. No hassle with any extra installation was needed.<\/p>\n

Are there any problems with the home you have to deal with?<\/h3>\n

We\u2019ve not had any problems, and the team is super quick to get back to you if you need anything.<\/p>\n

When our Wi-Fi went down, that could have been a disaster as we occasionally work from home, but there was an extremely quick turnaround from our property manager to fix things. It’s helpful that you\u2019re not just dealing with an agent but a professional landlord.<\/p>\n

Do you have plans to move again any time soon? What about buying a place?<\/h3>\n

We might look to buy in the future someday, but we have no plans to move. In fact, we have extended our original tenancy because we have everything we need here.<\/p>\n

Shall we take a look around?<\/h3>\n
\n
\n\t\t\"Fontwell,\t<\/div>
Welcome home! (Picture: Andrew Hasson)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\n
\n\t\t\"Fontwell,\t<\/div>
The pair have been allowed to make alterations (Picture: Andrew Hasson)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\n
\n\t\t\"Fontwell,\t<\/div>
Is that an air fryer we spy? (Picture: Andrew Hasson)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\n
\n\t\t\"Fontwell,\t<\/div>
The pair considered a wide range of options when looking (Picture: Andrew Hasson)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\n
\n\t\t\"Fontwell,\t<\/div>
What’s for dinner? (Picture: Andrew Hasson)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\n
\n\t\t\"Fontwell,\t<\/div>
Of course, there are plants aplenty (Picture: Andrew Hasson)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\n
\n\t\t\"Fontwell,\t<\/div>
…and they didn’t want to be limited by a buy-to-let property (Picture: Andrew Hasson)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\n
\n\t\t\"Fontwell,\t<\/div>
Look at that huge TV screen (Picture: Andrew Hasson)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\n
\n\t\t\"Fontwell,\t<\/div>
Fancy a bit of Netflix? (Picture: Andrew Hasson)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\n
\n\t\t\"Fontwell,\t<\/div>
The pair share two cats together – and this is one of their toys (Picture: Andrew Hasson)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\n
\n\t\t\"Fontwell,\t<\/div>
They’ve got three bathrooms in their family-sized home (Picture: Andrew Hasson)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\n
\n\t\t\"Fontwell,\t<\/div>
Everything is pristinely decorated (Picture: Andrew Hasson)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\n
\n\t\t\"Fontwell,\t<\/div>
There’s even a heated towel rack in here (Picture: Andrew Hasson)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\n
\n\t\t\"Fontwell,\t<\/div>
Scrub a dub dub (Picture: Andrew Hasson)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\n
\n\t\t\"Fontwell,\t<\/div>
It’s the classic What I Rent toothbrush shot (Picture: Andrew Hasson)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\n
\n\t\t\"Fontwell,\t<\/div>
And it’s another bathroom! (Picture: Andrew Hasson)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\n
\n\t\t\"Fontwell,\t<\/div>
Complete with a diffuser for added relaxation (Picture: Andrew Hasson)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\n
\n\t\t\"Fontwell,\t<\/div>
There’s plenty of storage space in here (Picture: Andrew Hasson)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\n
\n\t\t\"Fontwell,\t<\/div>
We’re big fans of that fluffy hoodie (Picture: Andrew Hasson)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\n
\n\t\t\"Fontwell,\t<\/div>
They use their spare rooms for extra storage (Picture: Andrew Hasson)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\n
\n\t\t\"Fontwell,\t<\/div>
They worked out they’d be spending \u00a3700 more on a mortgage (Picture: Andrew Hasson)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\n
\n\t\t\"Fontwell,\t<\/div>
One of the spare rooms is used as an office\/crafts space (Picture: Andrew Hasson)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\n
\n\t\t\"Fontwell,\t<\/div>
…and there’s a nook for the cats, of course (Picture: Andrew Hasson)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\n
\n\t\t\"Fontwell,\t<\/div>
This is an impressive gaming set-up (Picture: Andrew Hasson)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\n
\n\t\t\"Fontwell,\t<\/div>
…and yet another cubby hole for the cats (Picture: Andrew Hasson)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\n
\n\t\t\"Fontwell,\t<\/div>
Bronwnn does crafts in her spare time (Picture: Andrew Hasson)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\n
\n\t\t\"Fontwell,\t<\/div>
You’re never too old for a cuddly toy or two (Picture: Andrew Hasson)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\n
\n\t\t\"Fontwell,\t<\/div>
…or three (Picture: Andrew Hasson)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\n
\n\t\t\"Fontwell,\t<\/div>
Renting made ‘more sense’ for the couple when they moved (Picture: Andrew Hasson)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\n
\n\t\t\"Fontwell,\t<\/div>
We’ve made a friend! (Picture: Andrew Hasson)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\n
\n\t\t\"Fontwell,\t<\/div>
And here we have Bronwynn’s sewing machine (Picture: Andrew Hasson)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\n
\n\t\t\"Fontwell,\t<\/div>
Us too Bronwynn, us too (Picture: Andrew Hasson)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\n
\n\t\t\"Fontwell,\t<\/div>
Their moving-in process was super ‘smooth’ (Picture: Andrew Hasson)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\n
\n\t\t\"Fontwell,\t<\/div>
They’ve already extended their tenancy beyond a year (Picture: Andrew Hasson)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\n
\n\t\t\"Fontwell,\t<\/div>
Many of the places they viewed originally weren’t pet-friendly (Picture: Andrew Hasson)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\n
\n\t\t\"Fontwell,\t<\/div>
…but they found the one in the end (Picture: Andrew Hasson)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\n
\n\t\t\"Fontwell,\t<\/div>
Hi there again, friend (Picture: Andrew Hasson)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\n
\n\t\t\"Fontwell,\t<\/div>
The cats love the private garden too (Picture: Andrew Hasson)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\n
\n\t\t\"Fontwell,\t<\/div>
…and spending hours out here in a pet-safe zone (Picture: Andrew Hasson)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Do you have a story to share?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@Metro.co.uk<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

This week, we’re down near Arundel in West Sussex (Picture: Andrew Hasson) Welcome back to What I Rent \u2013 Metro\u2019s tenant diary series exploring what renting is like in the UK and […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":749,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[13],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-747","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-property"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.merlinscove.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/747","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.merlinscove.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.merlinscove.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.merlinscove.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.merlinscove.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=747"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"http:\/\/www.merlinscove.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/747\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":794,"href":"http:\/\/www.merlinscove.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/747\/revisions\/794"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.merlinscove.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/749"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.merlinscove.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=747"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.merlinscove.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=747"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.merlinscove.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=747"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}