Cosmopolitan UK — June 2017

120 ·^ COSMOPOLITAN

commuting for two

to three hours a day)

can put on your

mental health, the

scope of the problem faced by millennial

renters is insidious. “There was a huge

disconnect between what I did during the

day in the music industry – meeting bands,

helping to organise the Brits after-party – and

then returning to my grandparents’ house,” says

Sophie. “They struggled to understand that

I had to be out late because of my job, and

they worried about me. They couldn’t sleep

properly till I was home. I was so grateful to

them, but it just adds extra pressure, when

you’re already pushing yourself to your max.”

As Dot Dot Dot property guardians, the

Cosmopolitan housemates will pay £480 a

month, inclusive of bills. There will be 12

women, split across two buildings, but the

main one is a former Army Reserve Centre

owned by the Greater London Reserve Forces’

and Cadets’ Association (GL RFCA). The GL

RFCA got involved in this scheme because it

is keen that the building creates affordable

housing and contributes to local communities,

even while it is

between long-term

uses. Similar rental

properties in the

same area top £900

a month. The lower

cost, of course, is

part of the appeal.

But so is the

community side of

knowing you share

a common goal

with the stranger

on the other side of your bedroom wall;

especially when you realise that none of the

10 women you see here are from London

originally. As Charlotte says, “Before I moved

in, I only knew two people here. Moving to

a new city is scary at times. But living here

means I’ve got a ready-made group of friends,

all trying to make it in our own way.”

As the photoshoot draws to a close and we

start packing away the lights, make-up and

clothes rails, the 10 women drift off into a

corner. Someone turns up the Drake Spotify

playlist. Two others come back from the shop

with cheap prosecco and red wine. A few start

dancing, taking selfies and plotting their team

name for the pub quiz they’re all doing that

night. History has shown us that great things

can happen when clusters of women come

together for a common cause. First stop: pub

quiz. Next? Well, we’ll just have to wait and see.

ÅFor more information on becoming a property

guardian, go to Dotdotdotproperty.com. If you’re

interested in becoming a Cosmopolitan property

guardian in the future, email a small biography

of yourself to [email protected]

Want to make your

property look as

good as our

incredible guardian

home? Well, get

yourself on Ebay.

All of the furniture

you see on these

pages was kindly

donated by (and

sourced entirely

from) Ebay. What’s

more, most of it is

brand new and

supplied from

UK sellers. For

more interiors

inspiration, home

and DIY essentials,

and everything

else you need to

move house, go

to Ebay.co.uk/

homemove

FIND IT

ON EBAY

BEHIND THE SCENES

Amy Grier

“Someone much wiser than me

wrote that ‘a woman must have

money and a room of one’s own’

if she’s to succeed professionally.

The thing is, in the current climate, having a room

often means sacrificing the money part – which

also means sacrificing independence. Something

no woman in 2017 should have to do, and something

I’m really proud we’ve been able to help these 10

amazing women avoid.”

READ

“This house is a

blank canvas for

my artwork. It’s

going to be great

for my career”

*DATA FROM MAYOR OF LONDON AT GOV.UK AND THE VALUATION OFFICE AGENCY. HAIR SELEN HURER AT BTS TALENT, USING GHD. MAKE-UP EMILY-

JANE WILLIAMS AND EMILY

DHANJAL, USING BAREMINERALS. STYLING LILY AUSTIN. PHOTOGRAPHER’S ASSISTANT ROY BARON. HAIR ASSISTANT ANJA JOY BONT. MAKE-UP ASS

ISTANT LOUISA FLEMING.

STYLING ASSISTANT FLORENCE ARMSTRONG. INTERIORS STYLING ASSISTANT SAM CUNNINGHAM. HOLLYISABELLA.COM. RUGS PROVIDED BY CARPETRIG

HT

Artist Kayleigh

painted the

house mural

Small sofa,

£139; large

sofa, £210;

arched lamp,

£60; coffee

table, £250,

all Ebay

BEFORE

Kayleigh