The Great Apartment Search of 2012, Chapter Three
I wrote this a few days ago and I wasn’t going to post it because it’s pretty much a whiney, woe-is-me complain-fest about how I hate the rental situation going on right now in this economy. However, now that I’ve found a place and signed a lease (wooo to the hoooo!) (and I’m not afraid of potential landlords reading my bitter rants) and I’m over-the-moon excited about my new place, I thought it would be good context for how great it is to have finally ended The Great Apartment Search of 2012.
The big thing that is getting me down right now is that there seems to be some kind of unspoken rule (or maybe it’s law, I wouldn’t know) on how many square feet a child requires in an apartment. Did you know that? I didn’t know that. I know that Bug and I can live in a very small space but apparently landlords in Southern California do not agree with me. I’ve been turned down for FOUR apartments now because the landlord didn’t feel comfortable having two people living in a one bedroom studio.
Honestly it irks me a bit. I can understand on the super small ones. Eeeking out an existence in an apartment the size of a dorm room would be sad for Bug but it wouldn’t be impossible. Especially since her Dad would live just around the block with a three spacious bedrooms AND we would have the beach within walking distance… We are out and about all the time having fun. It’s not like I would lock her in the closet while I worked. I just don’t know…I guess since there are so many applications they have to judge me based on something and that seems to be it.
The apartment I’m looking at now (which I didn’t get) has a full-size kitchen AND a very large bedroom. It doesn’t have a living room but that’s okay with me. I’ll just put my expedit bookcase crossways in the bedroom and BAM! Two rooms. One for a double bed, one for a chair and all of Bug’s toys. My office could be in the kitchen with plenty of room to spare for a dining room table. I’d call it perfect. Bug sleeps with me anyway by choice so it’s not like she needs a whole bed area to herself just so she can stack her stuffed animals on it.
I would love to tell those landlords that I don’t feel comfortable paying two thousand dollars for two rooms but I don’t think they care much about my opinion. They probably think I belong back in the ghetto anyway. Speaking of, it was particularly ghetto last night at 2am in my neighborhood. I just can’t stand it here much longer. Also: three cockroaches this morning in the living room.
11 Comments
Christine
Oh, so happy to hear you’ve found a place. Is it this one you’re describing? How wonderful to be back by the beach and so close to Toby for Bug!
Rebecca
Yay!!! So glad you finally found a new place! I can’t wait to see you all moved in! (And double-yay for being back at the beach!)
minutepapillon
I’m so glad you signed a lease and are happy with it! Can’t wait to read about it! Congrats from France!
BeachMama
YAY!!! I am happy that you found a place! I look forward to hearing all about it and how close are you to the beach??? I guess you can look at one great aspect about the landlords and that is that they are looking out for people and their children, although they are missing out with you and Bug, I am sure there are others not so adapting as the two of you :)
susie
Congratulations! I’m so happy you’ll be back by the beach as you belong. And I’m sure it will be so much easier to have Toby right nearby so you won’t have to do all that driving. You’re not going to know what to do with all that free time! Most of all, I’m so happy that you and bug are carving out such a great life for yourselves. It hasn’t come easily, so you should take extra pride in everything you’ve done for yourself and for her. (And just think of the giant place you’ll be able to afford when your invitation business is a giant success!) :)
a chris
Glad to hear your search was a success! With plenty of time to spare.
Since I realized I needed an Expedit, I’ve become aware that they’re everywhere. Ordered a tiny one for kiddo’s books. Want MORE.
Laura
I know this is a bit late, but I wanted to point out that I don’t think those landlords could have legally turned you away from those 1 bedrooms because fair housinflg regulations prevent them from discriminating against families with children. I’m no expert, but I did just go through some fair housing training that made it clear that it isn’t their business on whether they thought the space was big enough for the 2 of you as long as it was of reasonable size. If it was a size that a couple would have rented, the fact that she is a child çould not have factored into it.
Yara
I am so glad your search is over & you found a nice looking place : )
We had such a hard time finding a place to rent with our three kids (and then we did it again, and again)
I think a lot of landlords use this ‘rule’ about enough space for kids (I’m not sure that’s even a real law???) as an excuse to just not rent to people with kids.
We have 3 bedrooms now, but do any of my kids want their own room? Nope. They are happiest sharing one bedroom. (but having the extra room is still nice, because, you know, I have a lot of kids)
Mrs. Wilson
Yay!!!!!! Congrats! The place looks really nice! I love seeing the blank canvas of a new apartment, full of possibilities. I know you two will make it home in no time. :)
Kerry
I’m with Laura in suspecting that it’s probably illegal for landlords to refuse to rent to you because of your child. I wonder if you’re even legally obligated to mention her on your application. Something to keep in mind for next time maybe…new place looks awesome!
Kuky
I’m trying to read but Nathan saw the link for your bunny books so I guess that’s what I’ll be doing now. Reading…but not what I came on to read. Ha ha ha!
Ok gave something to occupy him real quick. Just going to say, I think I’ve mentioned to you before about how my cousins lived in a tiny place in Hong Kong and they were a family of four and five. Maybe it’s an American thing or maybe they were just using it as an excuse not to rent to someone with a kid. Annoying landlords.