So I`m losing my home... :(

locutus12

Due to the downturn, I lost my job two years back. I worked for the start up firm for three years but a combination of the directors spending like drunken sailors and our American client disappearing taking 80% of our monthly turn over with them finished it for me. Since then, I’ve had a couple of months temp work here and there but nothing concrete, this is despite a minimum requirement I put upon myself of ten applications a week. Most of the time firms don’t even bother to reply these days. The trouble is there are a few million just like me.


I recieved a letter today, ten days before Christmas from the local council . In it, they state that the allowance the government pays for my rent will be cut in half from January due to a government policy change. They warn that this “may” mean I have to consider moving into “shared” accommodation. With the cut they are making, If I piled in everything I had a month, I would be left with £30 to pay a months food and bills. For the record, I live in a small, two up two down British terraced house like any one of these:


http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a2/Whittle_terraced_house_8g07.JPG


I chose this house when I was working, because a friend who owned it offered me sixth months rent free on condition that I did it up. (it was derelict, hadn’t been touched much since 1982) I spent more than the rent I saved. Twice as much in fact, but I love the house. And over the years, I bought house stuff, filled the place, made it home.


Then a few months back, my friend decided to sell up. So there’s me struggling like hell to find a buyer who wont kick me out of the home, rip out everything I did, split it up and rent it room by room to students. Amazingly, I found a guy, and he’s been great. He bought it three months back, and since he knows I did the place up, I haven’t seen him since. Rents paid (£425 a month), he’s happy, I’m secure.


But then this letter. A letter I cant fight, I cant complain about, I cant talk to anyone, nothing. After all the stress of saving my home, now im going to lose it because of a politician and some bankers.


What they don’t even bother to think about is HOW am I supposed to move? I have no money for removals, nor deposits on new places. What little I had saved went into this house (at the time I didn’t figure on losing my job). Even if I did go into sharing a home with strangers, I have a house and own everything in it from the floor to the ceiling, and then what about the damned cat?! Ive had her for nine years, she’s like my best friend, but whose also highly annoying and ignorant as only a cat and two thirds of the front benchers can be.


And the most insulting part of the letter, on the rear it states that if I have been convicted of a serious sexual offence or am a convicted murderer and my housing was arranged as part of my release then I would be fine...!


I mean couldn’t they have waited till after Christmas? Couldn’t they have at least done that?! I’m 29 years old and the only assemblance of normality I had left without an occupation was my home and my feline friend. I don’t want to be that lonely guy with no possessions, no job, and no hope, hiding from the world in a room of someone else’s home.

Lady_gaga

if you've been unemployed for such a long time then perhaps a move to a new area with better prospects would be beneficial?
No one can dictate where or how you live if your paying the bills yourself, however if your depending on LHA to pay the rent then they make the rules and as unfair as they may seem to you, what they say goes...

Vejovis

can you look for a house mate to share the cost of the rent?

locutus12

Lady_gaga wrote: »

if you've been unemployed for such a long time then perhaps a move to a new area with better prospects would be beneficial? *snipped*

I havent been "unemployed for such a long time"

As I stated, Ive done my best to get what work I can, avoiding JSA in chunks but it hasnt been easy as there is no stable work. I live in the west midlands, I apply across a 40 mile area as where i live has good transport links, things are particularly bad here, but to leave as you suggest is to leave not only all of the friends and support ive ever known but also to leave my aging mother.

Vejovis wrote: »

can you look for a house mate to share the cost of the rent?

Sliding scale, If I get income from having a house mate, unless he is unemployed too, they take it off the remaining benefit and im back to square one. Ive just applied to walkers on the off chance so cross your fingers...

tomjonesrules

locutus12 wrote: »

Sliding scale, If I get income from having a house mate, unless he is unemployed too, they take it off the remaining benefit and im back to square one. Ive just applied to walkers on the off chance so cross your fingers...

If you both have your own tenancy agreements his rent will not count against you.

Whilst I do not agree with the change, this information has been out there for a long time. You have had time to make plans.

Lady_gaga

locutus12 wrote: »

I havent been "unemployed for such a long time"

As I stated, Ive done my best to get what work I can, avoiding JSA in chunks but it hasnt been easy as there is no stable work. I live in the west midlands, I apply across a 40 mile area as where i live has good transport links, things are particularly bad here, but to leave as you suggest is to leave not only all of the friends and support ive ever known but also to leave my aging mother.



Sliding scale, If I get income from having a house mate, unless he is unemployed too, they take it off the remaining benefit and im back to square one. Ive just applied to walkers on the off chance so cross your fingers...

then if you get a flatmate cant you ask the LL to make it a joint tenancy and you would only be responsible for half the rent? LHA would cover that no?

crossposted TJR!

locutus12

tomjonesrules wrote: »

If you both have your own tenancy agreements his rent will not count against you.

Whilst I do not agree with the change, this information has been out there for a long time. You have had time to make plans.

The information I saw stated an £11 per week reduction, it said nothing about raising the shared rent bracket from aged 25 and under to 35 and under. I`m sorry but ive had no time to make plans.

If your both right about tennancy agreements (and provided the LL will say yes, if its too difficult i can see him dumping me for the student market ) that may be a solution! But how to find/pick someone ? :think:

Barneysmom

Could anyone share your house with you?

I think a lot of people are going to be in your position waith all the changes that are being made. I don't understand how anyone is supposed to get by this way.

Lady_gaga

locutus12 wrote: »

The information I saw stated an £11 per week reduction, it said nothing about raising the shared rent bracket from aged 25 and under to 35 and under. I`m sorry but ive had no time to make plans.

If your both right about tennancy agreements (and provided the LL will say yes, if its too difficult i can see him dumping me for the student market ) that may be a solution! But how to find/pick someone ? :think:

Loads of people are going to be in the same boat as you and looking for somewhere to share, if you advertise I'm sure you'd get someone no bother

tomjonesrules

Barneysmom wrote: »

Could anyone share your house with you?

I think a lot of people are going to be in your position waith all the changes that are being made. I don't understand how anyone is supposed to get by this way.

I think they based it on the situation in the south east, where many people do share houses in their thirties because of the high cost of living.

They just failed to think about the impact on the rest of the country.

Punctual_Monkey

You may be able to apply for DHP - Discretionary Housing Payment from your local council to help with the top up but it is discretionary and if it's awarded, its normally for a temporary period to help you change your lifestyle. I think what others have posted about getting another tenant will be your best way forward long term. If you have a joint tenancy like Lady_gaga suggested you would both be able to claim. Maybe you could highlight this to the Landlord if he is worried, at least its better than him having to advertise, find a letting agent, deal with insurance, rent deposits etc. for students/new tenants.