This is a very small house ( one and a half bedrooms, one v small, but adequate, bathroom upstairs; small living room and separate kitchen / diner downstairs.) Large back garden given over mostly to ( v.overgrown ! ) lawn. V. Small front garden / parking space. Open fire [ logs or coal ] heats living room and radiators elsewhere. Also heats hot water. Ludworth is a somewhat unprepossessing ex-mining village in County Durham - friendly village sub-post office newsagents being the only facility.
Three buses an hour to stunningly beautiful and historic Durham City which has many cultural facilities; also excellent shopping.
Edinburgh two hours by train. Ludworth is also not far from beautiful coastal paths for walking / cycling. These are accessible by bus. Or car of course even more readily if you have a car. The house is very basic - heating is by open coal fire - if you can do the work involved the house is very cosy. Kitchen has (old but functional ) electric cooker / fridge/freezer / new washer-dryer.
House has in the past been happily tenanted by such as academics at Durham University.
The arrangement I am looking for is one with NO payment in either direction - no rent to pay me and I don't pay you anything.
House-sitter responsible for ALL utilities, incl internet / tv licence / electricity ( by pre-pay meter ) local council tax / coal / water charges .
One or two rooms may benefit from a touch of paint but this could make a pleasant, modest home for one or two persons with handyman / gardening skills. House-sitting period negotiable.
Might suit writer / academic wanting quiet but with access to libraries / art galleries / theatre / etc etc - all of which Durham City has.
Durham University has excellent library facilities which would probably be available to a visiting academic. If not the City library - free to all - is excellent, for books / internet / dvds. NO pets.
Please write with FULL details of yourself /ves and what you are looking for in a house-sit arrangement. ALSO - THE V. EARLIEST START DATE YOU COULD MAKE, PLUS YOUR PREFERRED LENGTH OF 'RESIDENCY'.