Bedsit
– Bedsit in the UK
– Consists of a single room per occupant
– All occupants typically share a bathroom
– Falls under the legal category of houses in multiple occupation (HMO)
– Originated from the subdivision of larger dwellings
– Often occupied by young single people, students, or those with transitory occupations
– Bedsit equivalents in other countries
– Canada and the US have rooming houses and single room occupancy (SRO)
– Australia has flatettes
– New Zealand uses bedsit and granny flat interchangeably
– Nigeria has face-to-face apartment buildings
– Dublin and other Irish towns had bedsits, but they were banned in 2008
– References in popular culture
– Quentin Crisp’s autobiography “The Naked Civil Servant” features a London bedsit
– Bedsits are mentioned in songs by The Moody Blues, The Members, and Belle and Sebastian
– Al Stewart’s debut album is titled “Bedsitter Images”
– David Bowie and The Clash also reference bedsits in their songs
– Harold Pinter’s play “The Room” evokes the bedsit culture
– Bedsit in comedy and drama
– Tony Hancock starred in “The Bedsitter” depicting bedsit boredom
– “The Bed-Sitting Room” by Spike Milligan and John Antrobus is a satirical play
– The British sitcom “Rising Damp” is set in a house converted into bedsits
– Harold Pinter’s play “The Room” explores bedsit squalor
– Bedsit life is portrayed in various comedic and dramatic works
– Related concepts
– Apartment living
– Chambre de bonne in France
– Garret as a low-rent attic room
– Microapartments
– Studio apartments
This article needs additional citations for verification. (February 2013) |
A bedsit, bedsitter, or bed-sitting room is a form of accommodation common in some parts of the United Kingdom which consists of a single room per occupant with all occupants typically sharing a bathroom. Bedsits are included in a legal category of dwellings referred to as houses in multiple occupation (HMO).
Bedsits arose from the subdivision of larger dwellings into low-cost accommodation at low conversion cost. In the UK, a growing desire for personal independence after World War II led to a reduced demand for traditional boarding houses with communal dining. Bedsits are often occupied by young single people, students, those unable to purchase their own properties, or those whose occupation is of a transitory nature; the cost is typically lower than for other types of property. Someone whose employment is a long distance from their home may sometimes rent a bedsit to reduce the cost and inconvenience of daily travel.