Having moved out at 18 in search of independence, 27-year-old Jessica, a store manager at a pet care retailer, embodies a growing demographic of people choosing to rent rather than buy. In today’s housing market, the prospect of buying a home is out of reach for many, often requiring significant sacrifices like living with family and giving up the sense of having a space that’s truly your own. Like many renters, Jessica faced challenges in securing a pet-friendly property for her two dogs, Loki and Mac, while ensuring security and stability—a place that suited her lifestyle that she could truly call home for the long term.
Over the years, Jessica had experienced various rental situations, most recently sharing a three-bedroom apartment in Worthing with her partner, her brother, her brother's daughter, and Jessica’s dogs. While browsing Rightmove during a holiday, Jessica came across Fontwell Meadows, a build-to-rent development by Leaf Living near Arundel in West Sussex. A modern, two-bedroom house with a garden, that welcomed pets, immediately stood out against the properties on offer from traditional landlords; Jessica called and reserved her new home before even seeing it in person.
She and her partner secured their two-bedroom home for £1,425 per month, signing an initial 12-month contract. After a year of living there, Jessica extended the contract for another year, taking advantage of Leaf Living’s flexible and long-term tenancy options.
“For me, trying to buy is too difficult and would mean sacrificing a lot of my independence. I moved out at 18, and now at 27, it suits me to continue renting but I want to live in a house that feels like a home, not a stop gap. Where I was living before moving here, it was definitely a squeeze. I wanted more space to build my life with my partner and provide room for my dogs and the future.”
Jessica recalls the first time they visited their new home: “I was so happy; it had everything we were looking for. The whole moving process was super easy because we didn’t need to deal with a separate estate agent. Everything was handled directly through Leaf Living. They even let me come beforehand to measure for furniture, so we felt really prepared.”
Leaf Living, a professionally managed rental homes provider, offers spacious modern homes with long-term rental options in thriving communities across the country. Jessica was particularly drawn to Leaf Living because they welcome pets.
“As a pet owner, it can be very hard to find a high-quality rental home with modern amenities that also allows animals. Options don’t come up very often! My dogs are a huge part of my life—they come with me everywhere. So, it was important to me that my new home not only allowed pets, but also felt designed to accommodate them. The private garden is a bonus that Loki and Mac love. Opening the door to the garden for the first time was such a great feeling—they instantly fell in love with it.”
Jessica has especially appreciated the security the garden provides, particularly since Loki was diagnosed with glaucoma and struggles with his vision. "Having a safe outdoor space where he can enjoy the sunshine is invaluable."
Leaf Living’s homes are thoughtfully located across the UK, prioritizing green spaces with good transport links, along with convenient access to nearby towns and villages. All homes are built to an impressive specification. They benefit from spacious living areas, allocated parking and an EPC rating of B or above which keeps household bills low. All residents, across their developments, receive Sky broadband and have access to a range of intelligent devices, including video doorbells and chime for enhanced security, Hive Thermostats and Yale Keyless smart locks.
Jessica says: “What really sold us was the lifestyle that came with it. The area is beautiful, with plenty of green space—perfect for dog walks! There’s something different about renting a house like this compared to anything I’ve rented before. I have more space, I’ve turned the second bedroom into a guest room, and I’ve been able to host family barbecues. I even hosted Christmas here, something I would never have dreamed of before moving into this home. It feels completely like my place, and I love it. I’ve added my own personal touches, like pictures on the wall, and I’m even picking out paint colours. Honestly, I can’t see myself leaving for a very long time.”