In an article published this week, writer Rhiannon Lucy Cosslett shared her decision to invest time and money in her rented garden after years of neglect. The piece notes the relatability of the Prince and Princess of Wales's tenancy agreement for Forest Lodge, which requires them to keep the grounds 'clean and tidy' and 'free from weeds'. Cosslett's own contract contains a similar clause, but she says landlords have rarely enforced it.
After four years of letting the garden slide, Cosslett says she decided to start enjoying it again. She credits a letter from her landlord Clarion Housing informing her of new legal rights under Labour's tenancy reforms: now tenants can only be evicted for a very good reason. Clarion also allows tenants to choose wall colours and keep pets. Cosslett notes she no longer hides her cat Mackerel during inspections.
Cosslett has lived in her north London rental for 15 years. While grateful for the security, she reflects on the money 'thrown away' on rent and the impossibility of homeownership without a large deposit. She dismisses suggestions to move to Swansea, stating she has strong reasons to stay in London. The property, she notes, is increasingly surrounded by millionaires digging cellars.
In the garden, Cosslett admires roses she planted ten years ago from Poundland cuttings, now 8ft high, and a magnolia tree that finally flowered after a decade. She admits to holding strong views on landlords, suggesting it should be socially unacceptable to be one. However, she acknowledges that the royals, despite their tenancy agreement, will never face the true realities of renting – such as waiting on hold for a landlord or worrying about mould affecting a premature baby's lungs.
