Need advice on Renting and Possible Help to Rent (Housing Benefit?)

PianoManUK

Hi Everybody

i apologise in advance, i am new to the property market
i am aged 31 and desperately need to move out of my parents house
(yes, sad i know)
my mother and sister are alcoholics and abusive and its making me ill and affecting my health
i have never done anything like this before and don't know where to start, i am registered with HMRC as a self employed Musician, i play 2 gigs most weekend and work part time in the week, i claim working tax credits

i wondered if i can get help financially towards renting a place
i am not and never have been a scrounger but i need to do this
looking at places for £550 a month

who do i talk to about this?

i just cant take anymore of this situation

CKhalvashi

What do you earn? (Roughly, as I work in music, and I know how variable the income is)

What are the market rents in your area.

You may find yourself better off getting to the Old Style board for some recipies etc, thus being able to pay the rent on a room, but again this depends on how much noise you'll make etc (I wouldn't want to live next door to myself occasionally).

Is there any chance of upping your hours, or changing them occasionally to make room for more gigs in the week?

What it seems you need to do, is up your income and/or down your outgoings. Whilst I appreciate I haven't taken a lot of sympathy for your situation, I am giving a common sense view on the financials here.

CK

Dunroamin

As you are under 35, you'd only be eligible for the shared accommodation rate of LHA which may, depending on how much you earn, give you something.

midnight_express

You claim HB from your local council.

Horseunderwater

http://www.shelter.org.uk/ may be able to help.

macarena123

See this thread:
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4701705

The OP actually works part time as a lorry driver but doesn't want to work full time as it will interfere with his gigs.

Piano Man - I know you didn't want to hear what some people on that thread were saying, but you were also given some good advice that you should heed.

If you do want to move out and get your own place, you need to up your income - either by doing more music related jobs or if that isn't feasible right now then you need to make a choice about what's most important: playing with your band or getting some financial independence.

As stated elsewhere, it's your call - but you need to figure out where you are prepared to compromise