Harringay, Haringey - So Good they Spelt it Twice!

Dog-Friendly Studio or Share Needed

Per Hugh's suggestion of posting this here...

I don't live in Harringay presently but am due to start a job nearby quite soon and am seeking above. The biggest problem is that I have a small dog (a Westie).

I'm okay with renting a self-contained studio, but one thing I'm hearing a lot is, 'No dogs, no dogs, NO DOGS!'

Also okay on sharing, but with all the good will in the world I'm not very mainstream and this probably needs to be considered. I'm a creative type, and a bit punky & gothy and maybe a bit geeky. Being a lodger in some terribly 'normal' household would almost certainly not work (I have to be realistic!). A share with some arty personality would be more equitable -- someone who 'understands' at least a little bit. :) (I guess the share angle is preferable in the sense also that I do rather like the idea of having a BATH... I'll tolerate shower-only if it comes to it, but...)

Can go up to £550-600pcm for rent budget-wise, although obv a share is more economical. Avoiding agency fees or excessive deposits always a plus. Bedroom or studio would need to be fairly spacious (not huge but adequate) as I have a fair bit of junk. Able to move at quite short notice; I have a tight deadline anyway.

A friend has a couple of possibilities he's waiting to hear on but I can't take it for granted. I have three weeks or so to find somewhere. The job won't wait forever. So I need to look into all possibilities right now!

Anyone? Leads, ideas, anything?

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Permalink Reply by ElleCarumba on April 10, 2011 at 21:52

have you tried placing an ad/profile on spareroom.com or moveflat? you can create one there as a wannabe-tenant and then see if any landlords approach you? You may have more luck as a lodger in a property lived in with the owner than in a HMO rented through an agency.

Most of the agencies/professional landlords will not take dogs especially in a small flat when they can pretty easily get tenants without a dog. But perhaps if you write an ad about yourself, covering your selling points as a good tenant then perhaps someone who owns a place might be more willing to take a chance?

You may need to offer to pay a higher damage deposit to cover any potential dog damage plus they may require steam cleaning of carpets etc when you move out (I worked part time in an a lettings agency as a student and that was manadatory for pets in case the next tenant had an allergy) Unfurnished properties might also be more amenable to a pet than furnished.

Is the dog going to work with you? If it is out of the house all day, that might make people more interested so include that in your profile/ad if that is the case. In a houseshare, the dog is unlikely to have licence to roam in the communal areas so people may be more comfortable with the idea if it is not shut in your room all day.

I am guessing you are new to living in London but I am afraid your budget is pretty tight even for a decent sized room in a houseshare on the Harringay ladder- a small double room in our houseshare is 500 quid not including bills and a so a large room in a decent houseshare is going to be at the top end of your budget even without taking into account the added complication of having a dog. I'd be very surprised if you can find a reasonable sized studio in Harringay for that budget. You might need to consider going a bit further east where your money will go further.

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Permalink Reply by E. F. Salzman on April 12, 2011 at 14:25

We've tenant at present but may be looking for someone else soon. We love dogs but do have 2 cats. I'm a writer and my husband's an artist. Have connected with you and if you send me your phone/contacts will get back to you.