Giving up secure tenancy to private rent :(

KatieShopstoomuch

Hey everybody hope this post doesn't end up huge apologies in advance! I'm so confused at the moment i have a lovely 3 bed house with council, probably the most secure people to have a house with at the moment. I've qualified for discount and could buy it at a fairly good price in the future. I've lived in this area all my life but will be leaving it soon to private rent.

I'll try to explain why i'm having to give it up.....I feel so annoyed with myself for giving up the tennancy but i really have no choice, the career i want to pursue means i must go to university to complete the degree but it also includes placements with very random shifts including nights and weekends, and this is the reason i need to move as i need reliable childcare in the form of my family who live in England, and i cannot do a transfer to their council so i must private rent.

I've never had to private rent before so i have no idea how it works and was hopeing anybody who has/does can give me some advice. For the first year i will still be on income support and child tax credit will i be able to claim houseing benefit towards the cost of private rent? The following year i will be on a student bursary does anybody know how that works with houseing benefit if i will get any help? My bursary works out about £8430 a year . Some are asking for a deposit over £1000 :eek: Are there any grants or loan i can apply for towards that? Also most of them seem unfurnished and with me currently being in ireland it would just cost too much to take all my stuff with me.........Ohh it's really scarey i know a lot of people say why don't i just get a part time job etc and keep this house but i really want to follow my dream career and with the offer of reliable and close family childcare i feel like i should really take this opportunity...........

So any advice pleaseeeeeeeeee would be greatly appreciated any do's or don'ts with private rentals, anything i should watch out for?

Also please don't think 'ohh girl on benefits wants everything handed to her, the whole reason i'm giving up my home and leaving the area i've lived in all my life is to get a career with (hopefully) good prospects and be able to support myself and my daughter :j

robpw2

good luck ,,, youll be fine

pawpurrs

Good on you, it sounds like the right decision, there is a place you can go to for help with deposits, a google should find it. Have you any family that could help with the deposit, or if you are going to be selling all your furniture etc, could that help towards your deposit?

KatieShopstoomuch

Yeah i'm going to sell what i can, and i've been using all the survey sites etc and just saving it all and tackling my debts so they are gone in time for me moving. I'll literally be leaving with just a suitcase so i will be able to ebay all the small things and my daughters toys (her bedroom is like a toy shop, though she'll hate me! lol) It's just really worrying with the current situation reading horror stories of people being given a week to get out of their private rented house.

lynnexxxo

Have you considered the possibility of doing a swap ? Maybe someone in your target area fancies moving to Ireland?

KatieShopstoomuch

Yeah northern ireland have stopped the homeswap scheme

KatieShopstoomuch

i'm also finding it really impossible finding anybody willing to rent to dhss :(

poppy10_2

These sites may answer some of your questions
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefits/BenefitsTaxCreditsAndOtherSupport/On_a_low_income/DG_10018926
http://england.shelter.org.uk/get_advice/paying_for_a_home/tenancy_deposits/bond_schemes
http://england.shelter.org.uk/get_advice/paying_for_a_home/housing_benefit_and_local_housing_allowance/housing_benefit_for_students

Geenie

Firstly OP, I admire and wish you all the best of luck for taking this step. It must be very scary, but keep in mind what your long term aim is, and you will achieve it.

I would look to rent somewhere at first that would cover your time whilst completing this degree only, ie close to where you need to go, not too big and easy on running costs. Then once you have trained and started work, you can look for something more permanent for you and your daughter, plus you will have a better idea then of where you want to live.

Can you ask a family member to be a guarantor, as LL's will sometimes accept dhss, if they have this security as back up?

anguk

You could get in touch with the local council/housing office for the area you want to move to and ask if they know any private landlords who will accept DSS. I think our local council has a private landlords register.

KatieShopstoomuch

Thanks for those links!!! and thanks for relying, i'm going to ask a family member tonight if they would consider being guarantor for me but i've a feeling they won't simply because i've had debt problems the last year or so, this may put them off doing it

Thanks anguk, i did this with their local housing office and the woman sounded horrified that i actually asked her reply was 'we have no such thing'. I could check the local council though thanks