A London landlord has drawn widespread criticism after listing a room for rent at £1,350 per month, accompanied by an extensive list of stringent rules for prospective tenants, according to

The Independent.

The listing, posted on Spare Room, advertised a small two-meter by four-meter room in a flat near Hampstead Heath, North London. The landlord described the space as having “high ceilings” but lacking central heating, instead offering an electric heater controlled via a phone timer.

The advertisement specified that the tenant would have access to the bedroom, bathroom, and kitchen but would not be permitted to use the living room, as the landlord used it as a workspace. The landlord, a violin teacher, disclosed that she held lessons in the living room between 4 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. from Monday to Thursday. This prompted her to note that the room would best suit someone who was “not home until 8:30 p.m.”

The rules for tenants were particularly restrictive:

- No guests allowed.

- No pets.

- No access to the living room.

- No noise after 11 p.m.

The landlord stated that the flat was ideal for someone who worked long hours in the city during the week and typically left London on weekends.

Backlash and viral attention

The advert went viral on social media, garnering significant backlash. A post on X (formerly Twitter) about the listing received 6.9 million views, with the poster labeling it an “overpriced prison box room.” The widespread criticism led the landlord to remove the listing from Spare Room.

Matthew Hutchison, director of Spare Room, commented on the controversy:
“Ads like this are, thankfully, uncommon. While it doesn’t break any rules, it’s easy to see why it’s getting attention. With room rents so high, any restrictions on property usage will understandably annoy those at the sharp end of increases. Live-in landlords understandably want to find people who fit into their existing lifestyles, but there should be some compromise.”

Hutchison added that while the landlord might eventually find a tenant willing to accept such conditions, it would be challenging, even in a sought-after area like Hampstead Heath.

The incident highlights the increasing tension between tenants and landlords in a city where skyrocketing rents are already stretching affordability for many. Photo by Alanthebox, Wikimedia commons.