When Issy Packer's grandad recently asked how much money she'd handed over to her landlord, he expected an answer filled with regret. His assumption was that the substantial sum could have been a deposit for her own home. Her response, however, defied the classic generational viewpoint on property.
The £33,000 Question: Rent or Regret?
"How much do you think you've given your landlord since you've moved in?" was the probing question. After a moment's thought, Packer, a music journalist and editor, delivered a surprising verdict: "It's the best £32,000 I've ever spent." Over the past five years, her share of the rent for a two-bedroom flat in central Bristol has totalled over £32,000. While her grandad saw this as money lost, Packer sees it as an investment in a life she loves.
Her journey to city centre living began in 2020, after returning from a seven-month trip abroad. Moving out of her parents' home on the outskirts of Bristol with her sister, they secured a ground-floor flat with a small garden, just streets away from the vibrant Gloucester Road. The rent, split between them, was and remains affordable at £1,112 per month combined, though it has risen annually.
Location, Lifestyle, and the Reality of Buying
For Packer, the calculus was never solely about ownership. Growing up reliant on parents' lifts or erratic buses cemented her desire to live where life happens. "I longed to be able to meet my friends at a club or a pub and be able to walk home," she explains. This central location has been transformative for her career and social life, allowing her to walk to the many gigs she covers and fostering local friendships and hobbies, like starting a music listening club.
The financial reality of buying in her desired area makes renting a pragmatic choice. In 2025, average house prices in her area were around £394,000, with flats averaging £282,000. "I cannot afford to buy a flat or house in the centre of Bristol, which is where I want to be," she states frankly. She is unwilling to sacrifice her prized location for the sake of ownership, a sentiment that challenges the traditional pressure to buy at any cost.
Beyond the Mortgage: The Value of a Good Rental
Packer also highlights the often-overlooked benefits of a positive rental experience. In recent years, her landlord has promptly replaced her washing machine and oven and fixed her freezer shortly after being reported. She acknowledges her luck, contrasting it with friends' horror stories of unresolved damp and broken boilers.
Looking ahead, Packer does see herself buying within the next five years, but without the rush. This allows her to save deliberately without compromising on her non-negotiable: being at most an hour's walk from the city centre. Her story reframes the rent-versus-buy debate, arguing that the freedom, flexibility, and immediate quality of life renting provides can be worth every penny of that £33,000.
