A bit of a rant..

Alcofrolic

We currently rent a 5 bedroom 3 storey house. My gas bill for less than 6 months was £819 so my monthly DD has gone upto £97. We have decided that we would like to move and downsize to try and reduce the bills. We have 5 children, 2 girls aged 7 and 5 and 3 boys aged 4, 2 and 8 months. We only use 3 bedrooms in our current house so have been looking at 3 bedroomed houses.

However each one we pick as soon as we say we have 5 children the house has either gone or someone else was interested and the Landlord didnt pick us. Its just getting so frustratiing, I can understand that landlords would be worried about their property having 5 children in there and they may be worried that 3 bedrooms are not big enough for us. But what can we do, we are really struggling with our monthly bills, council tax is £133, Rent £595, Water £66, Gas £97, Electric £57.

My friends suggested leaving 2 of the childrens names off the application, but its not something I would feel comfortable with.
I just dont know what to do.

pmlindyloo

I really don't know what to suggest re: being refused by LLs - the only thing I can think of is to keep trying - not very helpful I know.

So will try to look at it from a different aspect.

Have you recently looked at your utility providers to see if you are on the cheapest rate?

If you look at Martin's articles on Utilities (at the very top of this page on the coloured banners - Utilities) there is all the information you need.

Also, there are various forums and threads about reducing your usage. Perhaps a look at these might help.

Just one more suggestion - are you claiming all the benefits you are entitled to? Do a quick check on www.turn2us.org.uk

Finally, you may want to post on the Debtfree wannabe forum. The folks there are amazing at helping you to reduce expenditure and upping your income. (You don't need to have debts)

Not a total solution I know but hope it will be of some use.

propertyman

Chase child support from the estranged parent to help with bills?

Look at ways of cutting gas consumption in the house by telling everyone that there are such things as jumpers?65 to 70 degrees is more than adequate if properly attired.

Landlords are concerned that with a large family if your job situation were to change, god forbid, that you might not get sufficient LHA to cover the rent and expenses.

vectistim

What does the EPC say about the property? You may be able to get subsidised insulation, or the landlord could get tax relief on insulation, or a combination of the two.

ruggedtoast

I would go on the council list in all honesty.

Alcofrolic

The reason the gas bill is so large is because while I was on maternity leave I was constantly cold and the heating was on from morning till bedtime everyday. All the radiators on the 3rd floor have been turned off as we dont use that floor and we wont be just putting the heating on willy nilly. Electric bill was quite high because again I was home all day on maternity leave, now im back at work and the kids are at school the tv isnt going to be on all day. Water is a set price for a 5 bed house and its in a high council tax area.

We have joined the council list but are right at the very bottom, and to be honest I think there are more needy people out there then us.

We dont get child support form their mother as she has just had a new baby and is on benefits.

Guess we need to look at other ways of saving money and cutting bills.

Strapped

Alcofrolic wrote: »

The reason the gas bill is so large is because while I was on maternity leave I was constantly cold and the heating was on from morning till bedtime everyday. All the radiators on the 3rd floor have been turned off as we dont use that floor and we wont be just putting the heating on willy nilly. Electric bill was quite high because again I was home all day on maternity leave, now im back at work and the kids are at school the tv isnt going to be on all day. Water is a set price for a 5 bed house and its in a high council tax area.

We have joined the council list but are right at the very bottom, and to be honest I think there are more needy people out there then us.

We dont get child support form their mother as she has just had a new baby and is on benefits.

Guess we need to look at other ways of saving money and cutting bills.

Renting somewhere 3 bed would also serve the purpose of pushing you up the council list as over-crowded, ince the 8 month old turns 2 :whistle:

SuzieSue

I personally would just say you have 3 children and then once you have moved in say that you have to temporarily look after you step children while the mother is ill if anyone asks.

But before you do this, see what other posters have to say in case it will cause difficulties in the future.