Rental offered with open-plan toilet: ‘Asking to get ill’

There are no privacy walls in this studio flat that costs $1600 per month to rent. 

A small studio apartment in the UK town of Grays, Essex has been sending shockwaves through social media thanks to its unusual layout. 

The flat consists of one room with a king-sized bed in the centre. On one wall is a small kitchenette with a toaster oven and bar fridge. On the other wall is a shower and toilet. 

There are no dividing walls separating the bathroom from the rest of the space, and the toilet is just metres away from the main food preparation space. 

“This is a large bright studio with benefit of an en-suite,” says the listing on SpareRoom. 

“The property is newly refurbished, clean and well maintained. The room benefits from a kitchenette with an integrated fridge, freestanding freezer and plenty of storage cabinets.” 

The listing has raised concern among prospective renters, who are worried that the open-plan layout could present a health hazard. 

“That cannot be legal,” one user wrote on Reddit. 

“I really hope it’s not, toilet next to where you eat is just asking to get ill,” another commenter replied. 

The studio flat is listed for rent at £800 per month ($AU1604 per month, or $AU401 per week). 

It’s a price roughly on par with what you need to pay for a studio flat in inner Sydney. 

Studios in suburbs like Chippendale, Glebe and Annandale typically cost around $450 per week for one room with a double bed, kitchenette with microwave, and a separate ensuite. 

In Melbourne, a similar studio apartment in the CBD costs around $370 to $400 per week.

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