woohoo!!!

I wasn’t sure about the place at first. It’s part of a converted Georgian house, and is not very modern, to put it kindly :o) There was one other girl there to see it, but she decided very quickly that it wasn’t what she wanted. I spent about twenty minutes looking over the place, and eventually told the landlord it wasn’t what I was looking for either. I went and got some coffee, but kept thinking it over. It has some of the same disadvantages as my current place, most importantly the lack of central heating, although there is electric heating; but it has some huge advantages too – it’s a much better area, it’s slightly cheaper, it’s far handier for buses, trains, city centre etc, it’s got a washing machine, and the landlord seems like a really decent old stick.

Eventually I decided the chances of my finding somewhere else with all those advantages within the next week were pretty slim, and I knew I’d be kicking myself if I ended up having to take somewhere less than ideal. So back I went, telling myself that if it had been let in the meantime I’d know it wasn’t meant to be. It was still available, though, and after looking around again, asking a few more questions, and negotiating the replacement of the very old and decrepit refrigerator, I decided to take it.

I officially take up residence next weekend, but the landlord gave me the keys and said I could start moving stuff in before that. My lease here is up the weekend after next, so that gives me two weeks altogether. Time to get packing!

deposit in hand, list of questions prepared, dressed for success, projecting (I hope!) the smart-serious-young-professional image, and more nervous than I’ve ever been since my last job interview…

Wish me luck!

to see a place that just hit the website an hour ago. It’s a 1-bedroom flat in Ballsbridge (YG, I might be ending up in D4 after all! lol ) and sounds lovely from the landlady’s description. It’s even got a washing machine! :o)

Viewing’s not till Saturday. It’s an open view and is supposed to start at 10.30, so I’ll be there at ten – there’ll likely be a queue :-p

suggested by a friend is to rent a two-bedroom place and advertise for room-mates. I don’t want to share, but if I did it that way it’d be more my place. I’d have to call it sharing rather than sub-letting, as there are legal complications to sub-letting, but I’d feel more in control, and there wouldn’t be the problem with the kittens which there would be if I were to move into a house-share. I’d still opt for my own place if possible, but it’s good to know there may be another option too.

The landlady just called. She says she’s willing to leave the rent as it is “as long as we don’t have any more costs”. Basically she’s asking me to take the place as is and not expect any further improvements. I told her I’d think about it and let her know this afternoon – 8.30am is not a good time for me to make big decisions :-p

I have no idea what to do. I was looking online last night and getting discouraged again at the lack of affordable places, and anywhere that did look reasonably priced either sounded like a dump or was in a really bad part of town. It would be so much simpler to just stay here, but do I really want to be here for another winter with no proper heating, no laundry facility and all the other problems? What to do, what to do…

I’ve just replied to the landlady’s email and told her I’m leaving. So I now have two weeks to find somewhere. Aaargh…

moving northside might be the way to go. It’s the rougher side of town, but there are some reasonable areas, and the rents are so much cheaper it’s unreal – I could rent a small house for what I’m paying for my teeny apartment. Might go and have a look at a few places next week, just to get a feel for the area.

my landlady has just informed me that should I choose to stay on after my current lease expires at the end of next month, she’ll be raising the rent. Again. For the third time this year. Way to go, lady. Everything else is messed up, why not take away my last little bit of security?

Ok, ok, I know she’s not deliberately trying to add to my problems. But I’m deeply resentful of her efforts to squeeze as much money out of this place as possible while putting the absolute minimum into it. The flat is not worth even what I’m paying for it now, and there is no way I can afford any more. The last increase stretched me to the point that I’m slipping slowly but surely deeper into debt each month, and while I’m sure there are areas in which I could reduce expenditure, I’m not willing to sacrifice my own quality of life to satisfy a money-grubbing landlady.

I haven’t replied to her email yet. I want to do some hunting first and see what’s available out there. This is the worst time of year to be looking for an apartment, since the student population has snaffled all the affordable accommodation; but hey, maybe my ideal home is still out there just waiting for me.