I desperately need some help on how to rent a property

princeofpounds

Speak to Shelter, they are the best bet for guiding you through all your options.

http://www.shelter.org.uk/

As a single man it does look likely that a private rental using your LHA is the most likely course of action (not knowing your exact circumstances). As pointed out above these allowances are becoming less generous, so I can't tell you if lodging or finding a shared house, or a studio or 1-bed is your best bet.

Lodging should be relatively easy and might be a suitable short-term stopgap which will get you out of your mate's hair. Your credit situation matters less because if you stop paying you can be shut out right away, which isn't great security of tenure but it has a role to play.

With regards to proper private tenancies, whether shared or sole occupancy property, you just need to tap into the section of the market that will serve LHA claimants. It is there otherwise the hundreds of thousands of people on LHA would be homeless. Estate agents in areas that are known to be 'council' areas (when many will in fact be LHA occupants of what is ex-council stock) are often less snifffy, as are agents when you can offer 6 months up front (the 6 months being key as it is much harder for LLs to deal with problem tenants until after 6 months). You might wish to look more into private listings in local papers or newsagent windows too. Or one of the Landlord's associations might have a chapter near you that produces their own listings. Or you might find a local housing association that is prepared to do LHA-based lets.

It might be too much to ask, but where are you actually based?

Oh, I forgot to add that you might not officially be considered homeless (which you are) for the system as things stand. You may find you can get more help if you make an official homeless application. That help might not be any more than a temporary room in a grotty B&B, but in theory you do not need to end up on the streets at any point and Shelter can help with that.

HappySaver1968

To the person above, that is a very helpful letter you have wrote there, thank you. I live in Scotland and followed the links on the Shelter website. I will wait and see what my nurse says tommorow as I want to get everything sorted out quickly and not be here for too long. I will try and find at least a room for now and have checked Gumtree. There isn't much in my area, but it's a start. Do you know if I can get housing benefit or Local Housing Allowance if I rent a room, or is it only if you have an actual house? I couldn't afford to pay otherwise and if my mate throws me out then I'm definitely homeless because I'll have nowhere else to go. My parents are very elderly and not in the best of health and they don't have room now anyway because they've long since downsized.

John.

sleepless_saver

If you're in Scotland, then you're best looking at the Shelter Scotland website and using their helpline, as the law is different from rest of UK. Your health problems combined with the fact that your mate wants you to go mean that you probably do have rights under the homelessness legislation and they can advise you on this.

And if you're using Gumtree, check out their advice on renting safely, as there are some crooks out there.

sleepless_saver

HappySaver1968 wrote: »

Do you know if I can get housing benefit or Local Housing Allowance if I rent a room, or is it only if you have an actual house?

It can be a room, a flat or a house. Here are the rates for Scottish council areas. By the way, "1 bedroom shared" in the page linked to doesn't mean you have to share a bedroom, it means a bedroom in shared accommodation.

hotpot1000

I dont wish to pry but in my area if you have mental health issues there are dedicated half way houses- complex of flats with support staff on hand.
If you have suffered from any MH issue you might try and see if you can get a place on that basis? Just a thought,
I do hope you get somewhere to call your own,
I dont believe that all private LL would not be interested in you.