'Prison-cell' flat that costs £475 a month is like a sit-com set

This crazy flat in Lincoln is so tiny that is being compared to something out of a comedy sketch by social media users who can't help but ridicule the place.

This £475-per-month 'self-contained' studio, offering a shower, kitchen and bed - all crammed into one room - on Carholme Road could be straight out of the funniest episode of the classic British sitcom, Are You Being Served?. With no toilet and segmented by only one oppressive room divider, people are saying it is reminiscent of an episode the show where Mrs. Slocombe finds herself living on an empty floor of the store, surrounded by similarly cramped and comically divided spaces.

Adding to the quirks, the flat boasts a shower right in the room, while residents must share the toilet with others in the building. A tiny wall separates the kitchen from the bed, and the shower cubicle is placed humorously close to the cooking hob. Some have suggested it’s like living in a sitcom set – not quite the luxury lifestyle some might envision.

Programme Name: Are You Being Served?

Are You Being Served, was a beloved British sitcom that aired from 1972 that centred around the hapless staff of a department store navigating absurd situations. This Lincoln flat, with its laughably cramped quarters, seems to be paying unintentional homage to that era of British comedy.

The flat is available "fully furnished", with a single bed, mirror, hob, and a small cupboard for storage, the Rightmove listing says: "Available to rent is this fully furnished and self-contained second-floor studio flat. "It features a kitchen area with a cooker and fridge with a freezer compartment, a single bed, and a shower with a shared WC. It also offers an on-site laundry facility.

Picture of inside the flat showing The tiny wall separates the one bed from the kitchen.

It continues: "This property is conveniently located on Carholme Road, just a short walk from the City Centre and close to the bars and restaurants on the Brayford. Rent excludes the tenancy deposit and any other permitted payments. A Holding Deposit of £121.15, based on the advertised rent, is required to reserve this property."

Making its way onto Reddit, the property incited mixed emotions from viewers and the online community could not help themselves but to share their opinions of the flat. Boleyn01 was almost angry at the listing and wrote: "This isn't a studio, it's a bedsit. I'll never fathom how someone looks at that space and decides it's not only ok to house a person in there but to charge them for the privilege."

The kitchen with a sink and a hob

Creoda commented: "Reminds me of the old episode of Are You Being Served? when Mrs Slocombe temporarily lived on an empty floor of the store and they made a house for her with walls like that separating the spaces." Some even equated the place to prison, suggested that prison actually be better. Necessary-Donut7614 wrote: "To be fair, I've seen prison cells nicer than this in some countries." Marion_Ravenwood agreed, commenting: "This is possibly the most depressing thing I've seen on this sub. You'd probably have a nicer room if you went to prison."

Whether that is the case or not, this studio actually exists and is available to rent.