Renting has its downsides, but I’ve decided to stop waiting and start living – plants, garden furniture and all | Rhiannon Lucy Cosslett

A Guardian column about renting, gardens and “stopping waiting” has struck a chord as millions of private renters adjust to new tenancy rights in England.

Renters are being encouraged to stop putting life on hold and start making their homes feel more liveable, even if they do not own the property.

The issue has been raised in a Guardian column by Rhiannon Lucy Cosslett, who wrote about deciding to enjoy her rented garden again after years of holding back.

Her article reflects a feeling many private renters will recognise: the sense that a rented home is temporary, uncertain or not fully “yours”, even when you may live there for years.

That feeling can affect everything from whether people buy plants and garden furniture to whether they decorate, improve storage, invest in decent curtains or make a child’s bedroom feel permanent.

For Cheshire renters, the subject is practical as well as emotional. Renting is expensive, deposits are large, moving costs can be painful, and many households are still saving for a first home while dealing with higher bills, food prices and borrowing costs.

In that situation, it can be tempting to live in a half-finished way, avoiding anything that feels too settled because ownership still feels like the real goal.

But Cosslett’s argument is that life does not have to wait until someone owns a property. A rented home can still be a place to enjoy, care for and improve within sensible limits.

The discussion comes at an important moment for England’s private rental sector. From 1 May 2026, existing assured shorthold tenancies automatically became assured periodic tenancies, meaning they now roll on rather than having a fixed end date.

Shelter says most no-fault evictions have now ended, with landlords needing to use a Section 8 notice and provide a legal reason if they want to evict a tenant.

That does not mean renters have complete security. Landlords can still seek possession in certain circumstances, including if they want to sell the property or move in themselves. But the reforms are intended to give tenants stronger protection and reduce the uncertainty that came with Section 21 notices.

For many renters, that shift may change how they think about their homes. If a tenancy feels less fragile, people may be more willing to invest time, care and modest money into making a property comfortable.

That could mean planting pots rather than digging up a garden, buying moveable garden furniture, using freestanding storage, improving lighting, or creating a better workspace without making permanent changes.

The key is to avoid spending heavily on improvements that cannot be taken with you unless the landlord has agreed in writing.

Renters should also check their tenancy agreement before making changes to gardens, walls, fixtures or flooring. Many agreements require tenants to keep gardens tidy, avoid damage and seek permission for more substantial alterations.

The royal comparison in Cosslett’s article comes from reports about the Prince and Princess of Wales’s lease at Forest Lodge in Windsor Great Park, which includes obligations to keep the grounds clean, tidy and free from weeds. The Times reported that the couple have a 20-year lease and are responsible for maintaining the property and grounds.

Most renters will not have royal grounds to maintain, but the principle is familiar. Gardens can become a source of both responsibility and enjoyment.

For families, a rented garden can still be valuable. It can provide space for children to play, somewhere to grow herbs or vegetables, and a place to sit outside without spending money on days out.

That matters when household budgets are under pressure. A few pots, second-hand chairs or a small table can make a rented outdoor space feel more useful without committing thousands of pounds to a property the tenant does not own.

There is also a mental health angle. A home that feels temporary for too long can make people feel stuck. Small improvements can help renters feel more settled and in control, even while they continue saving or planning for the future.

For Cheshire landlords, there is a lesson too. Good tenants are more likely to stay if a property feels like a proper home rather than a short-term holding space.

Allowing reasonable requests for small improvements, garden planting or pet-friendly arrangements can help create longer, more stable tenancies. Under the Renters’ Rights Act, landlords are also expected to consider pet requests reasonably, although further details and practical disputes may still depend on the specific circumstances.

The wider point is that renting is no longer a brief stopgap for many households. For some people, it lasts years. For others, it may be the long-term reality.

That means the question is no longer simply whether renting is “throwing money away”. It is also about how people can live well while renting, protect themselves financially and avoid delaying normal life indefinitely.

Renters should still be cautious. It is rarely sensible to pay for expensive permanent upgrades to someone else’s property unless there is a clear written agreement. But making a home comfortable, practical and pleasant is different.

Plants, garden furniture, rugs, lamps, storage, pictures, removable hooks and better organisation can all make a real difference without creating major risk.

For Cheshire households trying to balance rising rents, saving goals and day-to-day living, the message is straightforward: plan for the future, but do not postpone the present completely.

A rented house may not be the final destination, but it is still the place where life is happening now.

Open article on Cheshire Today