If you view renting as the reserve of early-twenty-somethings squatting in houseshares in London, think again.

Our weekly series, What I Rent, explores all sorts of different renting setups, from fancy studio flats to bargain homes.

Last week we were in Todwick, Rotherham, with Emma, who pays £850 a month for a four-bedroom house.

This time around we’re nosing around another four-bed property, but this time in Shipley, West Yorkshire.

This is the home rented by Anna, 36, a florist who loves to dabble in interior design on her Instagram, @greenflamingo_anna.

Having moved to the area ten years ago from Doncaster, Anna lives in her rented home with her husband, their three teenage sons, two dogs, a cat, and six budgies.

We chatted with Anna about what she rents.

Hi, Anna! How much do you pay to live here?

We pay £695 per month, with bills on top.

And what do you get for what you pay?

There are four double bedrooms, two shower rooms, kitchen, living room, dining room and game/play room, plus a small back yard.

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Do you feel like you have a good deal?

I think we pay a fair rent for the property, for the area and the size and spec.

What do you think of the area?

My home is in Shipley, West Yorkshire, perfectly placed between Leeds and Bradford.

The area is great, we are blessed with friendly neighbours and there is a good old-fashioned sense of community.

How did you find this property?

We found the house through a friend, it actually belongs to his parents. We have a great relationship with them.

How have you made the house feel like home?

We’ve been able to put our own stamp on the place by adding colour to the previously neutral walls.

I use rugs and throws to add texture, and plants, lots of plants!

Have you found it difficult to decorate while renting?

Our landlord is happy for us to decorate as long as we change it back when we leave.

I would love to have a new kitchen and bathroom but that might be beyond my skills.

Do you feel like you have enough space?

We have more than enough space, we are so lucky to be able to offer the boys their own room. There’s always a queue for the bathroom though.

Are there any issues with the home?

No problems as such. The basement is converted, so it is part of our contract to run a dehumidifier down there a few hours a day just to ensure it stays dry.

If I could change one thing I’d have a bath instead of two shower rooms.

Do you have plans to move again any time soon?

No plans to move until the boys move out – the place will definitely be too big for us then.

And are you happy renting, or would you like to own a home?

I’m happy to rent for now purely because we have such a good deal and don’t need to worry about the boiler breaking, etc, but we are not ruling out buying a home in the future.

Shall we have a look around?

What I Rent is a weekly series that’s out every Tuesday at 10am.

Check back next week to have another nose around a rented property.

How to get involved in What I Rent

What I Rent is Metro.co.uk’s weekly series that takes you inside the places people are renting, to give us all a better sense of what’s normal and how much we should be paying.

If you fancy taking part, please email [email protected]. You’ll need to take pictures of your kitchen, living room, bathroom, and bedroom, plus a few photos of you in your bedroom or living area.

Make sure you get permission from your housemates! You’ll also need to be okay with sharing how much you’re paying for rent, as that’s pretty important.

We’re not just after the prettiest places out there, by the way. We want the reality of renting, so if you’re currently renting a place you hate, we’d love to see that too (and sympathise greatly!).

This article contains placements with affiliate links.  We may earn a small commission on purchases made through one of these links on these placements.

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