1 Bed Flats To Rent in Askham, Westmorland and Furness

Askham’s rental market sits in a narrow corner of the wider Penrith housing area, with limited stock and plenty of demand from people after rural Cumbrian living. Our listings show just how mixed the local stock can be, from neat stone cottages to sizeable period homes, and that variety reflects the village’s architectural history. The average sold price in Askham is £555,000, so it is no surprise that rents tend to sit at the premium end of the market.

Askham’s Conservation Area status, together with its many Listed Buildings, means rental homes here are usually characterful period properties rather than newer schemes. Expect solid stone walls, original timber windows and slate roofs, all of which add to the village’s appeal while also calling for a bit of thought around insulation and heating. Many of these homes were built over centuries, using local sandstone from the Eden valley and slate sourced from Lakeland.

Over 50 years old is the norm in Askham, not the exception, and a good number of buildings go back to the 17th and 18th centuries. That means most rentals have seen more than one round of alterations and repairs, some carefully done, some less convincing. Anyone looking to rent a period property needs to approach upkeep and heating differently from a modern house, because solid walls do not have the cavity insulation found in newer builds.

New build activity in the CA10 postcode is fairly thin on the ground, although nearby Sockbridge and Tirril do have Georgian-style detached homes. Lowther Holiday Park near Eamont Bridge also has holiday lodges from Abi, Delta and Pinelog, but these are for holiday use rather than permanent rental living. For anyone seeking a modern let close by, Penrith is likely to offer more choice than Askham village itself.

Traditional English village life is very much the tone in Askham, where community, heritage and the surrounding landscape all matter. The village green sits at the centre of things, ringed by stone cottages, manor houses and farmsteads that have been standing for generations, many built from the local sandstone seen across the Eden valley. The small population keeps close ties through village events, the local church and the pubs that act as regular meeting places through the year.

The Lowther family and Askham Hall have shaped the village’s story for a long time, not least because the hall has been a hotel, restaurant and wedding venue for decades. Its Grade I listing, along with the gardens, gives the village both a working landmark and a focal point for local activity. That heritage presence helps explain why Askham is regarded as one of the Eden valley’s most attractive villages, while the Conservation Area designation protects the details that give it such a clear identity.

Peaceful days come easily here, with farmland and open countryside all around, and the River Lowther running through the village with pleasant riverside walks beside it. From there, the Lake District National Park, the Pennines and the Eden valley’s public footpaths and bridleways are all within reach. For renters who like getting outdoors, it is a strong spot, with Ullswater, Haweswater and the Howtown fells close enough for walking, cycling and water sports.

Agriculture, tourism and hospitality drive much of the local economy, and Askham Hall is a significant employer alongside the smaller businesses serving the village and nearby farms. Penrith being so close means supermarkets, healthcare and a broader range of services are only a short trip away. Even so, the village keeps a real sense of community, where neighbours know each other and local events bring people together throughout the year.

Families looking at rental homes in Askham will find most schooling centred on nearby Penrith, around five miles away. The town has a number of primary schools serving the surrounding villages, and several are rated Good or Outstanding by Ofsted in recent inspection reports. Catchment areas and admissions rules need checking carefully, because rural boundaries can shift depending on the exact property location within the parish.

Secondary provision is well covered by the cluster of schools in Penrith, giving pupils a route from Year 7 through to Sixth Form. Academic results are strong, and there is a broad spread of GCSE and A-Level subjects, with some schools specialising in sports, arts or sciences. Penrith College adds vocational and academic courses, while Carlisle and Kendal provide further sixth form and college options across the wider Cumbria area.

Small classes and close links between teachers, pupils and families are often part of early years and primary schooling in villages like Askham, which is one reason parents are drawn to rural education. The village’s closeness to Penrith means families can enjoy countryside living without giving up access to the town’s wider educational network, whether by school transport or the regular bus services into the centre. Yanwath Primary School serves the northern part of the CA10 area, while other village primaries take care of nearby communities.

Despite its rural feel, Askham is well connected, sitting near a set of important road routes linking it to Penrith, the M6 motorway and the wider Lake District. The A6 passes through Penrith, giving direct access to the M6 at junction 40, about six miles from the village. That puts Carlisle to the north, Lancaster to the south and the national motorway network within easy reach, with Manchester and Glasgow both reachable in two to three hours by car.

From Penrith station, rail access runs on the West Coast Main Line, with direct trains to London Euston taking around three hours. Edinburgh is reachable in about ninety minutes, so Askham can work for professionals who need regular or occasional city access but prefer countryside living through the working week. There are services throughout the day, and parking at the station makes it easy to mix rail travel with car ownership at a rental property.

Bus links between Askham and Penrith provide an important lifeline for anyone without a car, giving access to the town’s shops, services and railway station. The Stagecoach network covers Eden valley communities, with several daily journeys between Askham, Penrith market place and surrounding villages. Quiet country lanes and routes linking into the Pennine Cycleway and the Lake District’s cycling network also suit cyclists. Anyone depending entirely on public transport should check current bus times, because rural services can be far less frequent than urban ones.

Renting in Askham brings a few local checks that do not always come up in urban markets. Homes close to the River Lowther should be looked at carefully for flood risk, especially if they have ground floor rooms or basement areas. Ask about any previous flooding and check whether the property sits in a flood zone, because insurance costs and the risk of damage can change a lot depending on proximity to watercourses. The village’s position in the Eden valley means low-lying spots near the river deserve close attention before you commit.

Because Askham is a Conservation Area, tenants should know that some changes and decorations may be restricted, even during a tenancy. Listed Buildings in particular may need Listed Building Consent for internal alterations, so anyone wanting to paint walls or add fixtures should first get landlord permission and check which approvals may be needed. These protections keep the village’s character intact, but they do mean tenants need to work with the property’s heritage duties. Always ask what changes are allowed during the tenancy and how consent is handled.

Traditional Askham properties often have solid wall construction rather than the cavity insulation seen in modern homes, and that can affect warmth and energy use during Cumbrian winters. Anyone thinking about renting should ask about the heating system, fuel type and likely energy costs, because older houses can be more expensive to run than newer ones. An Energy Performance Certificate will give a standard view of efficiency, though historic homes often score lower because of the way they were built. Properties with modern condensing boilers and secondary glazing usually cost less to run than those with older heating systems.

Damp from solid wall construction, slipped or damaged slate tiles and timber problems such as woodworm or dry rot are all common in Askham’s period homes. Older electrical systems may no longer meet current standards and should be checked by a qualified electrician if there is any concern. Historic plumbing can also include lead or galvanised steel pipework, which may eventually need replacing. A proper inspection before moving in helps identify what is already there and gives you a clear starting point for the end of the tenancy.

Planning for the upfront cost of renting in Askham means looking beyond the monthly rent. A typical move-in involves the first month’s rent in advance, plus a security deposit capped at five weeks rent under the Tenant Fees Act 2019. For a property let at £1,000 per month, that comes to around £6,000 before anything else is paid, which is why having accessible savings matters before you start the search.

There may also be a holding deposit to secure the home while references are checked and paperwork is prepared, capped at one week's rent and usually set against the final move-in total. Letting agents can no longer add broad administration charges, although consumer protection rules still allow permitted payments such as rent, deposit, holding deposit and default fees for late payment or lost keys. Before you commit to any property, ask for a full cost breakdown, including what the deposit covers and the circumstances in which it might be kept at the end of the tenancy.

Moving into a traditional Askham property is a good time to think about end-of-tenancy cleaning costs, especially if the home is a period place where wear and tear may show more clearly than it would in a modern build. A detailed check-in inventory at the start is well worth doing, with photographs and written notes agreed by both landlord and tenant covering all fixtures, fittings and furnishings. That gives your deposit a proper safeguard, because any deductions at the end can then be compared against a clear starting point. In older homes, the inventory should also note the age and condition of original windows, stone walls and period fireplaces that may already show signs of normal age-related wear.