Rentergirl Penny Anderson's monthly columns about living in private rented accommodation
No one is immune from the perils of life as a tenant Penny Anderson At some point, renting will touch your life, says Penny Anderson
Personal safety is paramount when flat-hunting alone Penny Anderson Always mention a partner, even if you are single, and don't be bullied into telling all, says Penny Anderson
Cheap, uncheerful new flats tick all the wrong boxes Penny Anderson Cheap brickwork, orange as fake tan, and grey external fittings typify many a buy-to-let investment hellhole, says Penny Anderson
Regulators need sharper teeth to bite bad landlords Light touch is old school. Tenants want to see some arse kicking, says Penny Anderson
High cost of living alone can often lead to shared misery This isn't about a group of friends choosing to live together, but a randomly assembled collection of diverse and clashing personalities, says Penny Anderson
The unsettling effect of landlords' short-termism Penny Anderson Because I live in private rented housing, it's entirely possible that I could find myself obliged to move every six months until I die, says Penny Anderson
Moving out can mean it's curtains for common sense Some landlords expect tenants to treat their property like a museum, writes Penny Anderson
It's far from OK in the 'affordable' corral Rentergirl Penny Anderson I had hoped the recent growth of buy-to-let would persuade landlords to cherish tenants on benefits, but I always was a dreamer, says Penny Anderson
Tenants should turn the tables on dodgy landlords Penny Anderson Prospective tenants are tested so thoroughly you'd think we were applying to be astronauts, says Penny Anderson
