Will I be able to rent?

IsThisIt

Hello, this is my first post, any advice greatly appreciated!

Currently I am have a joint mortgage with my soon to be ex partner, we have 2 children and I am a stay at home mum. We have been living together but in separate rooms for the past year, we have both decided that this cannot go on (he is involved with someone else) so the best thing is if I move out with the children.

He will give me my share of the house (just under £50k) and I want to go and rent somewhere until I can be offered housing by the council. Can this be done? I will have money behind me but no job right now, so no monthly income or references etc.

Any advice on what I need to be doing, I never expected to be in this position and am finding it all overwhelming,

Thanks

Fire_Fox

Welcome! It's well worth running a search there are many threads on similar issues here and on the families board.

With £50K I doubt you will be offered social housing because you aren't in need, you should be looking to rent privately or buy. Is there any reason you and the children are not staying in the house and he moves out? You don't necessarily have to buy him out, courts are often sympathetic to the children needing a stable roof over their head. Have you taken legal advice yet?

There are all sorts of benefits you could claim as well as child support if you stay in the house. If you have a cash lump sum all means tested benefits will be closed to you so you will have to live on that cash or get a job. With two children to support your £50K may not last long.

As regards renting, you can offer to pay six months up front and/ or find someone to act as guarantor - your ex or a relative.

IsThisIt

Hi,

Thanks for replying . I've spoken briefly to a solicitor who said as we are not married I do not have many rights, and to stay in the house I would need to be able to support myself.

I think that if i take my share and rent somewhere, then I can get on the housing register and start getting back on my feet, I've never been on my own, we got together young and I went straight from home to living with someone, this is why I'm finding it quite a big deal.

He has said he will be a guaranter, and we are on good terms so I don't think that will be a problem, it just the fact that I'm not working that worries me.

theartfullodger

Make sure you get off the mortgage & deeds or you may remain liable for paying mortgage

paddedjohn

Is your soon to be ex able to get a mortgage for the total on his own and still be able to give you £50k? if in any doubt then stay put.
You will probably have to rent private or even buy a place because you will not be a priority case to the council and could be on the list for years and years.

IsThisIt

yes, he has been offered a mortgage, sorry if i'm being thick but why do you say stay put?

paddedjohn

IsThisIt wrote: »

yes, he has been offered a mortgage, sorry if i'm being thick but why do you say stay put?

Because untill you have the £50k in your hand you may still be treated as having it in the event you need to claim any benefits;)


Also id add that even though you were not married you still have rights to stay put in the house due to you having the kids to look after.

Fire_Fox

IsThisIt wrote: »

Hi,

Thanks for replying . I've spoken briefly to a solicitor who said as we are not married I do not have many rights, and to stay in the house I would need to be able to support myself.

I think that if i take my share and rent somewhere, then I can get on the housing register and start getting back on my feet, I've never been on my own, we got together young and I went straight from home to living with someone, this is why I'm finding it quite a big deal.

He has said he will be a guaranter, and we are on good terms so I don't think that will be a problem, it just the fact that I'm not working that worries me.

If you have £50K of assets you will not be able to get social housing, you will be deemed to be able to afford private rent. Please research this properly instead of assuming you can get a council house/ housing association property. Honestly that £50K will be gone in a few years, likely the only income you will have is the child benefit and child support.

Have you checked what benefits and child support you would be eligible for if you remained in the family home? You may be able to support yourself. What exactly did you ask the solicitor and what exactly did they say? The roof is for your children's benefit I did not suggest you would be entitled to any spousal support, your right to remain would be as resident parent.