Lovely Double Room in Fantastic Victorian House

** You MUST BE A DOG LOVER - IF YOU'RE NOT, don't bother reading further because you won't like it here :)

If you have watched the video tour then I am happy to arrange for you to come by to view in person. Please make sure you tell me some details about yourself so that we don't have you come round even if it isn't going to be suitable for any reason that may be obvious beforehand.

One of my lovely double rooms will be coming available on 28 Feb for a new housemate because the girl who has been in it is leaving to go travelling.. Ideally you’d be looking to stay for at least 6 months, or better yet, indefinite. You’ll be a female, definitely a non-smoker, and dog-lover, and a generally clean and tidy person who gets along well with others. Everyone who comes here comments on how lovely it is and that it is so homely - that is what I have always tried to achieve even if it is a houseshare. It is my home and I'm proud of it.

The rent is still lower than it was before the pandemic and I don't have plans to change this in the foreseeable future. I am sure you will be pleasantly surprised to see such a room for much less than the pre-covid price in the lovely Balham. Having nice, considerate and reliable housemates is what is most important to me.

Please ensure you tell me a bit about yourself, give your ideal move date/how long you plan to stay (indefinite is fine!), and show that you have read the ad (or enough of it) to have made a somewhat informed decision that you want to view. I have taken the time to write a very detailed ad to help you choose whether you’d be interested or not.

A few key facts:

** Non-smokers only - this means people are not smokers, rather than that you plan to smoke in the garden!

**No Couples - one occupant only or the house is too full.

**Other photos (the front of the house, garden, and the dogs) are on my profile. Click my profile photo to see these.

** Female only

** Possibly willing to consider a well-behaved small dog, but this cannot be guaranteed before thorough discussions and meetings.

* All bills included, except £5/month kitty

* 1 month deposit required - half of this as holding deposit, other half just before move in - all returned to you immediately after tenancy if no damage, missed payments, etc.

We are a homely and clean houseshare close to Balham and Clapham South. You’ll love it because of the lovely neighbourhood, big kitchen and lounge and the sweet dogs to cuddle. John Torode (the celebrity Masterchef judge) even rented this house for a year after his most recent divorce around 2014 and he created a cookbook while here called “My Kind of Food”. The cover photo was in my kitchen and there are a few other pictures throughout showing other aspects (in case that kind of thing is of interest to you)!

There are great transportation links to all over the city and the house is about 8 mins walk from Balham station (zone 3), but also only about 11 mins walk from Clapham South (zone 2) if you prefer to pay less for your travelcard.

This is a lovely 4-bed Victorian house, built in the late 1800s. I have 2 small dogs in the house who love people and will be delighted to welcome you. There is also often extra dog or two visiting (I board/pet sit for some owners when they are away/at work), so if you love four legged friends, then you will be happy here! That said, they do bark when people come in and love attention, so if you would be simply TOLERATING the DOGS, then I suggest we not waste each other's time :) I describe more about the dogs at the end if you are interested in knowing more about them, but no need to read it if not.

THE ROOM

The room is on the 1st floor and is very nice double with a very large built-in 2-door wardrobe with shelving and rail/hangers and a further section for storage above this. There is another 1 door wardrobe with shelving/baskets, a good-sized desk with comfortable swivelling desk chair (not the one shown in the photos), small chest of drawers, 2 bedside tables with 3 drawers each (one of which is under the desk), and a comfy double bed. There is also a small TV and aerial, but they can be removed if you don't want it in there. There is further storage under the bed, aided by the bed risers that give you more space. However, these could be easily removed if someone didn't want them. This room honestly has so much storage for anything you could possibly bring! Your window, which has a screen to prevent bugs, is less than a year old and faces our lovely enclosed garden and includes entertainment from our resident family of squirrels outside ;)

THE HOUSE

There is common space in the large lounge/diner, a large kitchen/diner with more amenities than you'll probably ever use! We have 1.5 baths, including a shared full bath with rain effect power shower on 1st floor and separate toilet on the ground floor. Having 1 shower with 3-4 people in the house has not been an issue at all, as everyone tends to need it at different times.

We also have a nice garden which you are welcome to use anytime - though unlikely anyone other than myself and the dogs will want to use it in the colder months. There is a charcoal bbq that you are welcome to use if you clean up afterwards and are comfortable doing so. The housemates and I do this together on some nice weekends.

General cleanliness and tidiness are important here, and I make sure that excepting their actual presence and dog beds/toys, the house does not look (or smell) like it has pets. Consideration in common areas and toilets is paramount, as I never want it to look like "cleaning day" and expect housemates to clean as they go so that no one else needs to clean up after them. I just ask that no outdoor shoes are worn upstairs (carpeted) and that housemates be mindful of ensuring bedroom carpets and furniture are kept in good order and that no perishable/unsealed food/dirty dishes are left in there. We use the dishwasher so there shouldn't really be dirty dishes left for long unless you're in a massive rush and I simply ask that everyone pulls their weight in emptying it after it’s been run and taking out rubbish (only to bins at the front) when full. You'd be surprised how many people think there is a bin and dish fairy and are not inclined to do this unless explicitly asked, which I don't feel should be required with fellow adults.

We have a cleaning rota, so you would be expected to clean the common areas every 3-4 weeks. I do this instead of having a cleaner because I think people leave messes for the cleaner, which I expect to be just cleaned up as they go (I mean crumbs, wiping down the hob, countertops and table after use, ensuring toothpaste spit isn't on the tap, toilet is "streak free", etc. Really basic stuff in my opinion).

I rent the whole house and sublet the rooms. I used to be a work-obsessed data analyst, but have been focusing on my work with dogs for the past few years. This is why there are often extra dogs staying. I also do daycare for a few doggies as well, so you’ll get to know and love the regulars. When one does stay over, they are almost always ones on repeat stays with us, so you will come to know and love those who come. Very occasionally, I carry out a dog groom (haircut) at home (other than my own dogs) and I do this in a far corner of the living room which is really not used by anyone else. But I haven't been doing much grooming of late, so this is very unlikely to come up or be an issue. Just something for you to be aware of - but if you love dogs then it should be a bonus for you :) We do spend a lot of time in the lounge because it's the easiest place for the dogs and me to gather, but I am always happy for others to use it either themselves or to join me for tv, glass of wine, a dog cuddle, or a chat.

THE HOUSEMATES

In addition to the above, I'm originally from the US and have been in London for about 15 years, so this is very much home.

There are 4 rooms in total, and in addition to myself, you'd be living with 1 English and 1 Australian girl. Both of them work in Croydon - one is in education recruitment and the other is a primary school teacher. Both of them have active social lives, which somewhat makes up for the fact that I am usually home with dogs :P So, regardless of your level of activity, you'll easily fit somewhere in the wide spectrum here! With previous housemates, we've enjoyed hanging out together from time to time, whether just chatting about nothing, having a meal together, a bbq in nice weather, or the occasional glass of wine or film. We also keep our own schedules and do our own things, but are the kind of people who often keep doors open rather than always being completely closed off (not that we don’t close our doors – just not always!). Ideally I'm looking for a similar atmosphere when we are all here and everyone is settled. It’s the kind of place where if someone doesn’t come home, we notice, and it doesn’t just feel like a houseshare. This kind of atmosphere is really important to me.

RENT/BILLS DETAILS

Deposit required is 1 months' rent - half of that is used as a holding deposit to be paid asap after we have agreed for you to take the room, and the other half is paid by just before move-in. We will sign a lodger agreement prior to your moving in.

Included bills: Sky internet (very good wifi in all rooms), Sky TV in kitchen & lounge, TV license, water, electricity/gas, council tax.

We do also have a monthly kitty of £5 each (usually paid with rent) to pay for things like toilet/kitchen rolls, cleaning supplies, bin bags, soap, etc. I take care of the purchase of these things and ensure we never run out - I find this much easier than reminding a different person and worrying they may forget or buy a tiny 4 pack of loo roll when it's their turn! Lol.

CAR PARKING

If you have a car, please be aware that without a permit, street parking here has a MAXIMUM STAY of 4 hours at a time and is only free OUTside the hours of 9.30-17.30 on Mon-Sat (bank holidays are free). If you do wish to bring your car then I would need to get a permit for you from the council which will be recharged to you (has to be purchased by the person on the main lease) and must be paid prior to its purchase. From memory, I believe it is under £200 for a year and that there are also a 3 and 6 monthly options. Let me know if you need this and I'll get the details.

THE AREA – for those unfamiliar with Balham, it is a pretty vibrant area with lots of great independent restaurants, pubs and bars, as well as good coffee shops/brunches if that's your thing. There are a number of fitness options (including an anytime fitness open 24 hrs, leisure centre with pool, specialist Fight City gym with various member or pay as you go classes, and a number of independent venues with classes ranging from spin to barre fitness - most within a 5 min walk - the exception being the leisure centre which is 10-12 mins walk. There are a good selection of shops - both independent and chain, and also a few nice charity shops which are good for dropping off anything you no longer need.

The area is fairly affluent, with a good mix of families and young professionals. It is a fairly upmarket area, as evidenced by the fact that many terraced houses remain intact (like this one) rather than split into flats and the huge Waitrose nearby. :) There are plenty of other supermarkets as well - including an Aldi local, large Sainsburys, Co-op local, and As Nature Intended between here and Balham station, as well as a large Tesco and an M&S at Clapham South. Hildreth St market also has produce a few days a week, and there is a local farmer's market on Sat mornings at a school just about 3 mins walk away. Additional shopping is short bus/tube ride to Tooting Broadway (also walkable if not in a hurry) or 2 train stops away at Clapham Junction, if you prefer.

We are a 5 min walk from the very large green space of Tooting Common, which has a cafe, pond, and the largest outdoor pool/lido in Europe! We are less than 15 mins walk to Clapham Common and the amenities there (or quicker if you wish to jump on a bus for a couple stops), a short distance from Wandsworth Common and just 2 train stops from the gorgeously landscaped Battersea Park on the river (I used to live there and sometimes miss that park!!) and the very big Clapham Junction train station, giving you great connections.

Balham is the first stop in zone 3 and offers both the tube and overground from one station, which makes commuting easy from here. It also means that all the people leaving the tube for the train gives you the chance to get on without throwing elbows (unlike at clapham common and north, if you have ever had the pleasure!). There is also a very simple cross-platform connection to the Victoria line at Stockwell. The northern line runs 24 hours on Fri and Sat and finishes late on other days.

You may also choose to buy a zone 2 travelcard and walk the little bit extra using Clapham South station (technically in Balham) - it is about a 13 min walk as opposed to the 8 mins to Balham station.

DOG DETAILS - for those interested in knowing more about them prior to meeting them

The dogs are 1 girl aged 6, and 1 boy aged 8. He is a large shih tzu and did not start out as mine, but was essentially abandoned in my care after staying for 1.5 years and he was already part of the family, so was never going anywhere! This was over 3 years ago. His name is Gatsby and he is super sweet and everyone loves him... belly rubs are his favourite and he often wears a bowtie on his collar, so everything he does is even cuter!. :) He does have a bigger bark than his body size, but generally is one who joins the chorus rather than starts it off - though he will certainly shout about his love for you when you come home! If it weren't for him, I'd probably have also gotten a cat by now, as I love them. But I don't think it would be fair since Gatsby is the type who would think chasing it/barking at it was a game even after getting a few whacks in the face! Lol

The girl is 6 year old Zuri, who is a yorkie x maltese. Zuri is the barky one, I'm afraid... but she IS a terrier, after all. She's very sound sensitive and terrified of a lot of loud noises (big bangs, fireworks, thunder, popping corks, live music, etc). :( But, she makes up for her barking with cuteness, sweetness and playfulness. She just loves people so much and often her barking is out of excitement to see you (which makes it harder to change, though we do have some tricks to manage)! She loves a cuddle and to give kisses, but you can certainly tell her whether or not you are receptive to her advances, lol. That doesn't mean she won't plant a sneaky one on you when you least expect it, however. Haha! She and Gatsby love to play together and always compete for people's attention, so if one comes to you, you can be sure the other isn't far behind!