One bare room for rent: 80 takers

According to Savills, the cost of renting a home could increase by as much as 25 per cent over the next two years

The email shot into my inbox. “8pm is super late for me. Is it possible to come over at 6.30pm?”

“Half six? Are you serious? LOL.” I was tempted to reply, with an actual cackle, like a comedy villain. Or better yet, I thought fleetingly: maybe I wouldn’t reply at all, my silence a mark of disdain for the emailer’s request, with his notion that he could dictate the terms of our arrangement.