Okay To Garden In A Rental?

There has been a rapid rise in the demand for rental properties with gardens. Having a house with garden to rent can boost your mental health, offer easier access to individuals with health issues, and improve the energy efficiency of your home.

Are you considering renting a house or an apartment with a garden? With the Coronavirus pandemic forcing us to self-isolate, it has become harder than ever to get out of your home and reconnect with nature. Having a house with a garden allows you to get some fresh air without exposing yourself to any unnecessary risks. It also lets you pursue gardening on the side, which can be incredibly therapeutic. Of course, like most things, a house with garden to rent also comes with certain challenges.

In this blog, we will review the rising popularity of garden properties and the main advantages and disadvantages of renting a home with a garden.

Market Report: The Growing Popularity of Rental Properties With a Garden
The Advantages of a House With Garden to Rent
The Disadvantages of Renting a House With a Garden
How Can Build To Rent Help?
Wrapping It Up

The Benefits and Challenges Of a House With Garden To Rent

1. Market Report: The Growing Popularity of Rental Properties With a Garden

According to a report by Rightmove, more and more renters are looking for a house with garden to rent. The report suggests that rental researches for homes with a garden had gone up by 16% in January and February of this year¹. With the lockdowns that got enforced later, the search volume for such properties went up by 26% on a year-on-year basis.

Another survey by SpareRoom suggests an even higher increase in demand for rental properties with a garden. It was discovered that the number of tenants seeking a garden increased by 98% annually. Additionally, the number of tenants in need of balconies and patios also increased by 96%².

The primary reason for this is the lack of quality outdoor time amid social distancing regulations. Most renters don't even have access to a private balcony and must remain cooped up in their homes, which can get incredibly frustrating. It is also bad for mental health.

Moments for relaxing at home

2. The Advantages of a House With Garden to Rent

It Is Great for Pet Owners

Depending on their age, most cats and dogs find it easy to climb stairs. It's a great form of exercise for them and keeps them healthy and active. However, stairs can also pose a hazard for pets as they get older and tire out more easily.

If you have a dog with short legs such as a corgi, a basset hound or a dachshund, then they can also risk serious injuries if they try and climb stairs on a repeated basis. Such dogs can suffer from ruptured disk syndrome and develop other problems. You can always use an elevator (if your apartment has one), but there is still a considerable risk.

If you have an older pet or one that cannot climb stairs without possibly hurting themselves, then living in a house with a garden is the ideal solution. Having a garden is also great as it allows your pet to get some exercise without having to leave the house.

Additionally, you can create a toilet area for your pet to go to when nature calls and dispose of any waste more easily. This will also save you some time and energy that would otherwise be expended towards helping your dog go and do their business outside the apartment multiple times a day. Click here to explore how to rent a pet-friendly property in the UK.

A woman sitting near a vegetable patch in a garden with a dog as her son holds a cat

It Does Wonders For Your Health

As mentioned earlier, having a house with garden to rent can help your mental health. Simply looking at a green space can be therapeutic. It can reduce stress and depression³. With the COVID-19 pandemic taking a toll on mental health, having a garden offers some much-needed respite from self-isolation. You get to go outside for a bit and breathe in some fresh air. If you have a family, then you can also play with your kids and spend some quality time together.

Furthermore, you can use this space to exercise in the morning and stay in shape. You can also set up some lawn furniture or a hammock and kick back and relax after a long day at work. If you are working from home, then you can move to your garden for a change in scenery.

These benefits are amplified if you take up gardening. Gardening is excellent for your health. It can:

Improve exposure to vitamin D, which is vital for bone health and boosting your immune system.
Lower the risk of dementia by 36% in people between 16 to 60 years old⁴.
Help combat stress and enable better mood regulation better than other outdoor hobbies⁵. Gardening also improves self-esteem.⁶
Help manage depression by creating opportunities for 'green therapy'⁷

a women happy to see sunshine

Besides the mental health benefits mentioned above, getting into gardening allows you to invest your energy into a new hobby. The physical activity involved can be very satisfying and can help offset any age-related weight gain. If you have a garden, then you can also grow herbs, fruits, and vegetables. Besides deriving satisfaction from the manual work involved, you will have a dedicated area that provides you with fresh, home-grown produce and herbs. This can allow you to eat healthily.

It Can Allow Your Home to Be More Energy Efficient

Having a garden can also help reduce your energy bills by lowering your annual heating and cooling costs. This mainly depends on the trees you plant and how they are placed. Adding a well-positioned tree to your garden provides shade to your home and reduces the amount of heat being transferred during the summer. It lowers the temperature of your yard by 6°F⁸. You can lower your energy bills for heating and cooling by 25% here⁹.

If you add three trees, then your cooling bills can decrease by 50%. Additionally, these trees disrupt airflow in the winter and help you cut back your heating bills by 10% to 30%¹⁰.

It Works Well for House Parties

A garden is ideal for hosting outdoor house parties. You can get a BBQ going or simply socialize with people in an open space. Depending on the size of the garden, you can also indulge in outdoor sports such as cricket, badminton, or tennis. If you have kids, you can also set up a swing-set for them in the garden.

Happy friends with drinks at summer garden party

3. The Disadvantages of Renting a House With a Garden

More Maintenance Required

Gardening is hard work. It takes time and effort to create a beautiful garden that delivers the benefits you desire. You will have to read up on gardening, find out how to care for different trees and plants, and take care of any pest problems that arise. You may also have to hire a professional gardener from time to time to maintain the garden and tackle any problems that are too complex and time-consuming for you.

If you are renting a home with a garden, then your landlord will also require you to maintain it to a certain extent and make sure it is well-kept. Therefore, you must be prepared to dedicate some time to tending to your garden every week. If you have a hectic job and cannot make time for this, then renting a house with a garden may not be the best option for you.

Maintenance of the surroundings of the house

Lack Of Privacy And Security

A ground-floor apartment or house with a garden is more easily accessible. However, it can also create privacy and security concerns for you. Neighbours and other pedestrians walking by might be able to look into your home through a window. You might also have to deal with more noise from the street.

Having double-glazed and well-insulated windows and doors can help cut down the noise and prevent any passers-by from invading your privacy. To address security issues, we suggest installing a robust home security system that helps reduce the chance of a break-in.

Ensuring The Garden is Pet-friendly

While living in a house with a garden is great for pets, you need to make sure your garden is pet-friendly. This primarily involves planting hardy plants that are less prone to getting damaged by pets.

Additionally, you should try to create a shady retreat where your pet can lie down and rest and use fewer pesticides for gardening. You can try and find something that is safer to use, but most pesticides can be very harmful to pets, and it is best to cut back as much as you can. If you do end up using chemicals such as weedicides, make sure your pet remains in the house until the spray dries on the weeds.

two friendly dogs in nature.jpg

4. How Can Build To Rent Help

Finding a house with garden to rent can be difficult in London. As per the Office of National Statistics, 20% of households in London do not have access to a private garden. These numbers are highest among ethnic minorities, with approximately 40% of Blacks and 22% of Asians stating they did not rent or own a home with a garden¹¹.

The Build To Rent model offers a solution to this problem. Many Build To Rent flats and apartments offer a private balcony and a communal garden to renters. While a private balcony is not the same as a garden, it can deliver similar benefits in terms of offering an outdoor space. You can also set up a small garden on your balcony if your landlord permits it.

Communal gardens are also beneficial. They provide you with a social space to interact with other people. You can chat with your neighbours, take a walk, exercise or read a book. You also go outside the apartment without exposing yourself to unnecessary health risks. This can help improve mental health and help derive all the benefits associated with green spaces.

A man lifting a boy in a large communal garden with a child and two women in the background

These gardens are maintained by the onsite maintenance team so you don't have to worry about tasks such as lawn mowing or tending plants. There are no privacy or security issues to deal with either.

Besides this, Build To Rent developments offer other facilities such as pet-friendly apartments, pet-grooming services, concierge service, parking facilities, lift access, efficient heating and cooling systems and furnished spaces.

5. Wrapping It Up

Having a house with a garden has its benefits and challenges, but for the most part, the advantages outweigh the disadvantages. If you are struggling to find a house with garden to rent, we suggest you take a look at Build To Rent apartments that offer a private balcony and a communal garden. Visit buildtorent.io to discover the best apartment listings with these features and explore a whole new renting experience!