Stepping into 2014- walking in My Shoes with Mooloo

Errata

Just stop and think about it. Why would any LL in their right mind include bills in the rent when for instance they would have no control whatsover over the amount of energy used? Nothing to stop a tenant running the CH on high 24/7 with the windows open if it gets too warm, which would result in a spend of hundreds of quid every quarter.
Be very suspicious of flats with 'bills included'.
If you very sensibly won't act as a guarantor for the rent and it would appear niether would the girl's parents, what happens if they can't find a flat to rent on his wage only? He doesn't have much of an employment history, the girl is unemployed, they have no savings for deposit and first month's rent, he already has debts. All this will be obvious to a LA when they check bank statements / credit scores.
Even around here (up north) flat rents are £125pw - that's equal to more than half of his wage each month. I doubt Northamptonshire is any cheaper.

trix-a-belle

Mooloo I'd tend towards a room in a shared/private house for them too. At least initially as it will be vastly more flexible than a flat rental contract wise just in case things go wrong & they split up or only 1 is earning or whatever.
Yes its not 'normal' but it will give them a chance to prove that they do want to and can live together & manage their costs before commiting to 6/12 month flat contracts & would hopefully avoid any potential for you being begged to bail them out to the tune of even more later. House shares aren't all undesirables its often a common route for mon-fri contractors & young professionals, there may be a persons private house annex or similar if lucky.
Even if they can do it for 6 months it also gives you that time to get on an even keel and investigate and lay ground rules.

Artytarty

Moo loo, did you ever make any of those handbag organiser things? I'd be quite interested in one of those.

Savvy_sewing

Handbag organisers are on my todo list for next week, after I finish the backlog of orders that I have at the moment. Had a lot of extra work in this week, and was waiting on supplies, which have now arrived. I have all Friday, Tuesday and Wednesday to work at home for a change. I will give a heads up wtc as soon as I have done one, and worked out the times, costs etc. Sorry I am a bit distracted at the moment.

Savvy_Sue

Errata wrote: »

If you very sensibly won't act as a guarantor for the rent and it would appear niether would the girl's parents, what happens if they can't find a flat to rent on his wage only?

Sometimes another hurdle is the initial deposit, but there are key deposit schemes - here's a link to one of our local ones.

*max*

I have never commented here bfore, but I have been following Mooloo's thread and greatly admire her resilience!

If I have one thing to say about DS getting a flat with his girlfriend it is this: disaster waiting to happen.

She is not earning yet, and he is only earning £800 a month, and that hasn't been for very long either. Renting a flat together is simply out of their means at the moment. With his income, they will not get housing benefit. They will have to pay a month in advance at least, plus a deposit (usually one month rent). That's upfront, before even moving in. Then there are the bills, the council tax, groceries, travel to work...etc.

I will honestly eat my hat if this grand scheme works out.

They would be much better off finding a room to rent in a shared house - they do not need their own place at that age, they simply can't afford it. There is nothing wrong with sharing, a lot of people do it! The bills would be much less, as would the council tax, and they wouldn't be tied down to the place as much as if they rented their own. Them having a flat will be a disaster Mooloo, I can see it coming. And who will be asked to pick up the pieces when it all falls apart?

~Chameleon~

Who would furnish a flat for them?

Savvy_sewing

The flat that we were planning to view, is a furnished flat, with bills inclusive. So that is why I am considering it. I am in no doubt that he will !!!! up, if he was to continue in his old ways. I am under no illusions about him in any way shape or form. As I am in no illusion about the relationship with the girl. Although saying that she and her siblings have been friends with DS and Biggest of Mooloos, since primary school.
DS is 21 now. She is 19. At their age I was married with a mortgage. Granted we both worked, and I am sure the girl will get another job. She was made redundant when the salon she worked in closed.
I realise I may be throwing good money after bad, but I have to be as optimistic as I can, or with all that life has thrown at me, I would have gone under a very very long time ago.
To rent a double room here in a private house, Mon-Fri, is £100 a week.
That is the same price as this flat? So to me, it is more sense to try for the flat. It may not be suitable at all. At the moment it's just a photograph on a web advert. We all know that that may not be real. So that's why I said I would view.
I will decide what to do, when I get to see it. I know a deposit and months rent are required, I've done it enough times for Biggest of Mooloo.
I can't write my son off.
He has to be given some hope for his future, and working where he is, he is doing well, be it minimum wage, and he has prospects of a trade, that he knows, he grew up in a pub after all. He knows the hard graft, he knows the hours, and he knows the down sides of it all.
Sorry, but I have to have faith that he will take this opportunity and settle down a bit. Whether or not she stays with him.

Savvy_sewing

PS. My father has agreed to help me, actually I didn't ask, he offered. He wouldn't do that if he didn't think it was the best move at the moment.

Errata

Your life and your choices. A furnished flat with power, heating, water rates and council tax included in the £100pw rent sounds like a fantasy and may be on the net to suck people in who will find when they enquire "sorry, it's gone".