C: Actually I think the attitude has changed a lot for the better in the past couple of years already. It's true that we are not as much at ease as the Germans, who usually sign 5 year leases without a blink of an eye. We need to inject more security into tenants and landlords and not necessarily by setting up all sorts of registries. Getting all the facts right would be a good start.

A: The assumption that people rent when they don't have the money to buy has died and gone to heaven already. Owning is just an option. You choose to rent when it is more suitable for you at a certain point of time and place in your life. So many people forgot the opportunity cost during the "great property race" and it was a shame that even young people got caught up in it. As for the political agenda - we're ready to support all the positive and innovative ideas that would help the private rented sector.

C: You can definitely call us tenantistas, but I don't intend to be renting forever - I will save up, work hard, and put all my effort, which would otherwise go into being a slave for the bank, into buying without a mortgage one day.

I’ve got the impression that, with the recession, you’ve moved away a little, editorially, from focusing on the luxury end of the market?

C: We're actually still in the discovery stage with the blog. We want to dig deeper into all areas of London and get to know all the types of tenants, landlords, and properties.

A: Luxury is different for everyone but one of our goals is to reveal all the qualities that would make renters stop and think every day: "Ahh, I am just so happy to live here!"

Landlords v tenants… it’s a relationship that can be every bit as fractious as buyers and vendors. Who’s getting the best of it in London?  

A: There have been many unpleasant surprises for London landlords in this economic downturn - more properties are on the market as it's harder to sell, prices have fallen, and there is a lot of insecurity. All this has made them realise how valuable a good tenant is and no doubt the tenants feel like winners.

C: Tenants definitely feel much better than they did a few years ago but landlords as well are, in many ways, in a much better place. For one, they are more caring now, which means the tenant is happier, which means the property is in much better hands. We're glad there is more information available from all the parties involved, which makes us more understanding and respectful towards each other. Many landlords, letting agents, and tenants today blog about their duties and problems, and you can see how their tone has in time turned from negative to constructive as they become more knowledgable.

Has Internet technology done anything to empower the tenant?

C: Where do we begin? In 2009 tenants are more informed and hence more confident - all thanks to the Internet. We have easy access to all necessary information - our rights, an overview of the market, the properties available, the avarage rents.

A: Of course the possibilities are endless and we're eager to see who comes up with something interesting next. We can be counted on for support.

What’s the long-term objective for Royals of Rent? Your other pages suggest you might become a directory or listings site for prospective tenants/landlords. Are either of these on the cards?

A: Ideally we would like to see Royals of Rent turn into this great interactive learning experience.

C: I'd be very happy to see similar sites in other cities around the world, lead by enthusiasts like us, so that we would have a better overview, could compare, learn from others, and perhaps take over their way of thinking and a few great solutions.

Thanks for taking the time to chat with the Rat and Mouse... and continued good luck with the blog.