What I Rent: As a Bake Off finalist, my £2,800 a month Stratford flat has more ovens than bedrooms

Eleanor Noyce

Published August 10, 2024 8:00am

What I Own Pictured are Sandro, his partner Joshua and their dogs Pablo (small black dog) and Treacle. — We’re in East London this week (Picture: Joel Ford)

Welcome back to What I Rent – Metro’s tenant diary series exploring what renting is like in the UK and further afield.

For last week’s sister column, What I Own, we visited 25-year-old Liv Conlon at her flat in Glasgow. Having bought her first home out in Marbella when she was 18, in 2022 she decided to use the money from her two businesses to invest in another.

This time around, we’re back in the Big Smoke having a nosy around Sandro Farmhouse’s one-bedroom flat in Stratford, East London.

In 2022, Sandro famously competed on The Great British Bake Off, making it to second place. Now, together with his partner and their two dogs, Pablo and Treacle, he’s found the perfect work-from-home space in the area he’s lived his whole life.

Here’s what he had to say about his renting journey…

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Tell us about yourself!

I’m Sandro Farmhouse and I’m an entrepreneur, content creator, baker and most recently, an author having just launched my first cookbook ‘Good Vibes Baking.’ I had the amazing opportunity to be a finalist on The Great British Bake Off which changed my life!

How much do you pay to live here?

Our rent is £2,800 per month for our one-bedroom apartment. We live at Coppermaker Square, a build-to-rent neighbourhood in Stratford, so this helpfully includes Wi-Fi and a gym for both of us, as well as access to all other amenities and monthly resident events.

And what do you get for what you pay?

I feel as though we get a lot out of it. There’s a lot of added value that comes with living in a community like Coppermaker Square. Not only do we have a beautiful apartment, but we also have access to so many other amenities. There’s a spa area, a 25-metre pool, steam and sauna rooms and my favourite – a hot tub!

Downstairs there is a fully equipped gym, spin, and Pilates studios, which includes a programme of classes that are also all included in our rent.

We also have access to a roof garden, lounge, co-working area with all-day free coffee, and exclusive resident events which are always great. Recently Coppermaker Square has also launched a new pet wash facility, which has been useful post-walk.

The setup is perfect for someone like me who works from home. It means I don’t have to just stay at home to work, I can change it up and leave the kitchen to do some paperwork in the co-working area or lounge.

I can also charge up my social battery by playing a game of pool with fellow residents or unwind at the spa after a long day.

Do you feel like you have a good deal?

We definitely think it’s a good deal! Everything is such high quality and has provided such a seamless rental experience for us – not to mention we have the underground at our doorstep with easy and quick access to central London.

Having Westfield Stratford City an elevator ride away is also so handy! It makes it super easy to go out to eat or grab a last-minute outfit.

Where is your home based? What do you think of the area?

Our home is located in Stratford, basically right above Westfield Stratford City. The area is great, it is well connected with plenty of green space. I grew up here in East London, so living back here and watching the area evolve makes it feel special to be a part of.

There are so many great local restaurants and cafés around, and with Westfield on our doorstep, it makes it a convenient and fabulous place to live. I’ve been here my whole life, so it is where I feel the safest and most inspired.

Stratford is so lively and there’s always something happening. Especially now with things like the upcoming launch of hotspots like Sadler’s Wells East and V&A, it feels like a true creative hub, and we love living here.

How did you find this property?

I was invited to attend an event at Coppermaker Square when it first launched and instantly fell in love with it. The atmosphere and community really sold it to us.

How have you made this place feel like home?

We opted to move into an unfurnished apartment which meant we could make the space our own, which is so rare when you move into a rental. Plus everything feels so fresh, modern, and new!

We’re still adding new touches all the time but have loved how we were able to make the place perfect for my needs as a content creator. I had to fit in three ovens, two fridges and a huge island for all my cake making. The beautiful interiors and natural lighting are great for shoots too.

Have you found it difficult to decorate when renting? Is your landlord happy with you doing bits?

Unlike a lot of other rentals, we can make any changes we want, which is a benefit of living in a build-to-rent. We have been able to completely change the kitchen so I can best create and do my job.

Coppermaker Square has not only allowed us to make the changes but encourages everyone to make their home their own.

There’s an on-site maintenance team, so when you move in you get all the help you need whether it be painting a wall or hanging a shelf.

Do you feel like you have enough space?

Yes! The space is perfect and ideal for a couple, especially in London. All the green spaces on site and the roof terrace really help too, and you’re a quick walk from the Canals and Olympic Park if you need more wide-open spaces.

Are there any problems with the home you have to deal with?

We haven’t dealt with any problems – it has been really just wonderful to live here. There is an onsite concierge and maintenance team, so getting any day-to-day needs met is truly so easy and the staff are incredibly helpful.