Welcome back to What I Rent – Metro’s tenant diary series exploring what renting is like in the UK and further afield.
This week, we’re in Battersea visiting Joanne Baudin, who first saw homes in her building advertised on the side of a red London bus. Along with her boyfriend, Adam, she was one of the first residents to move into the development in August 2023.
Fast forward to 2025 and the pair have made friends with their neighbours thanks to the communal spaces and activities on offer, which range from ice skating to clay workshops and yoga classes.
Their property might be compact, but they use the entire building as their home. Now, the only thing they feel they’re missing is an art studio and a sauna.
Here’s what Joanne had to say about their renting journey…
Tell us about yourself!
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I am a 32-year-old interior architect, artist, public speaker and lived experience advisor, and I live with my partner Adam Kirton who is a writer, educator and teacher.
What kind of property do you rent and how long have you been there?
I rent a studio apartment with my fiancé at Folk Co-Living Florence Dock, which is a communal living property where we have a private apartment, but share all our living spaces with other residents.
It’s somewhere between a house share and a holiday destination. We moved into our flat in August 2023 shortly after the building opened. Initially, we signed a one-year contract which we have now extended for another year.
How much do you pay to live here?
£2,060.
And what do you get for what you pay?
Our apartment has a kitchenette, en-suite bathroom, double bed, TV and desk, as well as a storage unit in the basement where we store our suitcases, and camping equipment. We also use the bike storage for our bicycles.
This price includes all bills, a 24/7 onsite front desk team, shared spaces like roof terraces, a fitness studio, cinema room, bar, onsite shop, andco-working space — the list goes on.
There are also free events every month. Since we’ve lived here there’s been laser tag, ice skating, soap making, cooking masterclasses, yoga classes, clay workshops, and sip n’ paints. There are also big annual parties in summer, and at Halloween and New Year’s.
However, the developer, Folk, does offer different pricing options depending on the length of your stay, the size of your studio and whether you live alone.
Do you feel like you have a good deal?
Absolutely, considering that we live a one-minute walk from the Thames and have access to so many facilities, it really is a competitive price.
Folk makes for a stress-free life; we appreciate the simplicity of a bills-included contract and accessing everything we need without leaving our doorstep.
What do you love to do in your flat?
The thing I love the most about living here is the ease of all bills included within the contract and access to the many facilities. I run a creative club with other residents where we experiment with different art mediums every month.
I use my flat mainly as a bedroom and do the majority of ‘living’ in the shared spaces: movie nights in the cinema, a game of pool after work, meal prepping in the community kitchen, creating art and writing on the 7th floor with beautiful views of the city, or reading in the library and sunken lounge.
Where is your home based? What do you think of the area?
I love the Battersea area. Living on the river in London is a wonderful way to experience London and I regularly use the Uber Boat as a way of commuting which makes it a pleasant experience compared to the tube or bus. I also love the many cute local shops and restaurants in the area.
How have you made this place feel like home?
We have chosen to really embrace the co-living lifestyle, and as a result, have made incredible friends from all over the world, working in a variety of different fields.
Once you walk into Folk you are met with a different atmosphere. We also get involved with the local community, supporting the food bank, working with local charities, and striking deals with local businesses.
Additionally, the Folk team is so friendly, encouraging, and supportive.
Have you found it difficult to decorate when renting? Is your landlord happy with you making the place your own?
Before moving to Folk, I’d always rented in old houses where landlords weren’t precious about me painting the walls or hanging pictures. I thought that I’d struggle with a new build, but that’s not the case.
The aesthetic is modern, neutral, and minimalist so it makes for a great backdrop to add personal touches like books, plants, and of course, art.
Do you feel like you have enough space?
Despite our actual apartment being quite small, we feel like we have plenty of space. We use our apartment as a bedroom and the entire building as our home.
We do batch cooking in the community kitchen, have friends over to play board games in the lounge, and use the gym, video games room, cinema, library. The co-working space is also ideal for my hybrid work life.
What would you like to have but don’t with this flat?
The apartment itself could be improved with a little relaxation area, a comfortable chair to sit in and read with a cup of tea. I enjoy using the co-working space, but it doesn’t lend itself to creative work, so I would adore an art studio to use with all my fellow creators and artists in the building.
I also wouldn’t object to the addition of a wellness area in the gym, while having a meditation garden and a sauna would elevate the experience of living here.
Are there any problems with the home you have to deal with?
Thankfully, we don’t have to deal with any maintenance issues ourselves, we simply log a maintenance request through the resident’s app. We’ve done this for our flat, but also for the shared spaces.
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I find it user-friendly as it gives the option to take a photo, video, voice note or simply text, which is followed up by the maintenance team or reception. It is a fantastic little system.
Do you have plans to move again any time soon? What about buying a place?
The dream and plan is to move to the country, buy some land and build our own house, but while we live in London, we have no plan or desire to move anywhere else.
This place is more than our home, it is our community, and we are happy here.
Shall we take a look around?
Do you have a story to share?
Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@Metro.co.uk.
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