In a panic - flat about to be reposessed

Voyager2002

Cool_Chick wrote: »

Ooh, Niftydigits, how do I do that? My lovely neighbour is a developer but he said he is fully booked up for 2 years. Would someone else do so? I don't know how to go about it.

Thank you Barbarawright - I'm feeling much better now! I feel quite embarrassed about my first post!

Your lovely neighbour probably knows someone who isn't booked up. And in any case, his advice could be of great value to you.

Voyager2002

trustedjames wrote: »

Hi @Cool_Chick,

James from Trusted Housesitters here. @Enzed22 thank you for the mention.

First off, I think there's some fantastic advice in this thread from the other members of MSE. I'm just replying because Trusted Housesitters was mentioned and I felt a moral obligation to get involved.

@Enzed22 is right, we do have some people on the site who almost live off the grid, so to speak; they avoid paying rent/a mortgage by house sitting full-time for other people. I should point out two things though:

- This isn't the norm on the site and the people who are doing it have spent a long time building up a profile and references.

- The second thing is, lining up back-to-back housesits is tricky. I'm housesitting in France currently, but every now and then there will be a gap and during that time I'll have to go to a hotel, hostel, self-catering etc. If you don't have an income coming in, this can quickly get expensive - well even if you do it's expensive. I wouldn't want to try it without the backup on another income, or another form of cheap/free accommodation of which there are plenty: couchsurfing, wwoofing etc.

Only pointing this out because I don't want you to pin all of your hopes on the site. If you're interested in becoming a sitter we'd love to have you on board and I think combining it with a lot of the other advice that's been given could give you a bit of space to think and get things back on track.

A very useful post.

Please note that it is a policy of this site that representatives of businesses need to get permission to post here. I fear that your post might get removed for that reason, so I am quoting it in full so that people would still be able to read it.

An even better solution would be if you could find the time to get permission so that you could make even more helpful and valued contributions.

madvixen

Hi Cool_Chick,

I've been following your thread but I didn't want to reply as I couldn't offer any new advice. I have been thinking about you though.
Just wanted to say that I hope it goes well with the estate agents this afternoon.
Hugs to you and cat

Voyager2002

Hi Cool Chick, a couple of suggestions:

You really do need help from Shelter. I am shocked that they are not answering their telephone. I suggest that you go back to the place that said you had to be referred; let them know about all the times you have called and not had a reply; and ask them for another number or even if they could make the contact for you. Obviously you need to let them know that your housing problem is serious. (You might also use the internet to collect a range of different numbers for Shelter, and try them all from the Jobcentre 'phones.)

On the home insulation issue: there used to be a scheme called Warm Front that was heavily over-subscribed, and lots of people (including me) approached them many times and never got a response. At the moment there are different schemes running (using money from the energy companies) that seem to be far more efficient. So don't let your bad experience in the past put you off.

And on cats: there is a gorgeous black cat that regularly visits my house, and the children love her! I have no idea whether cats of other colours are even more popular, but I am sure that black cats can generally inspire affection.

Someone mentioned government help with mortgage interest payments. Am I right in thinking that you received this for a while but then ran into a time-limit? If so, perhaps the time limit does not apply to people claiming a sickness-related benefit, so perhaps that would be an avenue worth exploring?

whitewing

Glad you're still posting. In my experience things remain a bit shaky for a while after you first come on here. So you may feel things don't move quickly even though you have got a plan.

Have you definitely got the right number for Shelter?

Jox

0808 800 4444 - this is the national helpline number for Shelter, option 0.

I just called and spoke to someone within 4 minutes.

Cool_Chick

Hi, quick break between agents. Prices quoted have been crazy! £495k and £465k. I honestly don't believe it.

Amazed about the Shelter number - I've been calling it for around 3 weeks everyday. But my phone does cut off after 3.5 mins. It's Giffgaff. And yesterday it was so busy that it would only give me recorded info. Will pop out to a phone box now.

Bye!

whitewing

Cool_Chick,

Do make sure that you get the time and space to make decent decisions regarding the flat. Hope you get through to Shelter today as well.

Jox

You live in a super cool area Cool-Chick and Made in Chelsea has probably added to the marketability of the area

I listened to a minute and a half of recorded message and then pressed option 0 and a couple of mins later spoke to someone

dancingfairy

Hi CoolChick.
I think the most important thing for you to sort out is the house right now. Everything else, ie health, job, money etc will sort of fall into place behind it.
Here is a link to the repossession page on the Shelter website:
http://england.shelter.org.uk/get_advice/repossession
There is also this bit which explains what options you would have IF the courts decided to evict you:
http://england.shelter.org.uk/get_advice/repossession/ordered_to_leave/finding_a_home_after_repossession

Best of Luck getting hold of Shelter.
df