Now what? Family trouble threatening me and my son!

tea_lover

Could you get a 6 month rental in Northampton? You'd be near to uni, then free to move elsewhere at the end of your course if you wanted to.

wiggywoo9

I'm having issues now, as I've asked about properties to rent in Northampton, but I'm being asked for employment? Can I not do it with my student finance? I'm really worried as I really cannot stay here any longer, it's getting worse. I need somewhere to stay, I've got university on Monday, dissertation work due and I'm stressed to the max.

Lara44

If you really can't mend fences at home, go and see your student union and see if they can guide you through this process. They should have support staff with detailed knowledge of the processes of claiming an any caveats regarding students.

If you're a full-time student you won't need to pay council tax, if you get and submit a certificate from your university to the council tax office.

Make sure your budget is realistic - look at your bank statements to work out where you spend your money now, and get figures for mobile phone contracts, dentists, haircut, opticians etc. You can get a good estimate for bills such as internet online. Gas and electricity costs can vary wildly depending on the type of property you will live in, so put in a generous figure.

Budget planner tool here.

shegirl

wiggywoo9 wrote: »

LannieDuck- I put in a claim a few months after my son was born, it came back with numbers in the triple-figure region, but was cleared to zero as he claimed he had no income at all. I haven't had any letters from CSA since then and his sister tried to report me for child abuse (dysfunctional family to dysfunctional family!) after I made the claim. Needless to say, there wasn't anything on him!

Phone the CSA and ask them to reassess.

wiggywoo9

Is HB effected by hours? Technically, I'm in uni 8 hours a week, so would I get it?
I've sorted everything and can do it, my only snag is a high deposit (£600) can I negotiate this, as I have three months rent already?

podperson

Are you classed as a 'full time' student? This is what they look at not the number of hours you're actually at the uni. If you are classed as full time then you don't have to pay council tax anyway, your housing benefit will be worked out off your income - so your student finance/child benefit etc if that's all you're living on.
Deposits are rarely negotiable as they like to be covered in the case of someone causing damage. How many months are they asking to be paid though? Would you be able to pay the deposit and say 1 month rent and save up again by the time the next month's rent was due or that would put you in difficulties?

geoffky

Phone shelter...

miss_marsters

wiggywoo9 wrote: »

Is HB effected by hours? Technically, I'm in uni 8 hours a week, so would I get it?
I've sorted everything and can do it, my only snag is a high deposit (£600) can I negotiate this, as I have three months rent already?

It's definitely worth a try but often landlords especially through agents are wary of this. The easiest thing would be to rent privately without the need of an agent, often easier said than done. When your in northampton try the local newsagents windows in the town centre- that's where houses are advertised mainly also in the local paper on Thursdays



Councils can sometimes help with bonds too - it's worth giving them a call.

Regarding removal men - there are often 'man with a van' types who could probably be a lot cheaper - try gum tree or a local FB page

My advice would be to use all the money you have available to you to help with the move - Its sounds like you'll be healthier for it

duchy

Your uni will have a property department and not all will be shared houses. The advantage of a student let is it is academic year based . I agree Shelter is another option you should be looking at. They give really good advice and have good contacts -you will do better calling ahead and making an appointment though.

wiggywoo9

My situation has dramatically changed (the past few days have been fun ). I'm living at my nans in Coventry, as my family forcibly tried to take my son, with physical injury and to his distress. I got him back through the police and I'm temporarily safe and we're living okay.
I've called properties and have viewings. Also found good moving van in the paper at good rate £155-255 for the move (though to be fair, I've got more stuff than I realised and I do need to go 38 miles!). I've got things back that I need, tjough I've been torn as to my options. At one point, I thought my son was better off without me and I'm focused on getting back to uni on Monday. I start work in a school on Fri so thats something to look forward to. And do work! Thanks to everyone who's helped, I'm most worried about having support in a new city. No-one but uni friends live there and without any family whatsoever, what to do if things go wrong? If I'm ill? If I need a babysitter for an job interview or just someone to talk to?

I don't know how to find that kind of person but sometimes I feel full to bursting with pressure and stress, I could do with a hug, a rant and a cuppa!