Help with Rent Deposite

SimplyTessa

We (myself, Husband and 3 children) are currently living in a HA house with Trent and Dove housing. We need to move asap due to the fact my mum is really ill and she needs a full time carer, she suffers with anxiety and panic attacks so would be better if her carer was not a stranger as she would just panic. She has a pigment of the spinal cord, osteoporosis, chronic arthritis and shes also bipolar. Shes getting worse and with my dad working shes alone most of the time, my dad cant quit work because they wouldnt be able to pay the mortgage otherwise so as you can see I need to move closer to my mum.

We are currently on the housing list and on the homeswapper.co.uk website. We have now been on the list a few months but nothing coming our way.

Because of this we decided to try and save to private rent if push came to shove. We are struggling to save and getting there very slowly.

My husband works full time, im on child benefit and child tax credit. None of us drive hence the move and to be honest we cant afford to drive, expense on a car is a lot at the moment plus cost of lessons etc..., also not important at the moment, my mum is important.

Unfortunately we dont have good credit ratings, especially mine as a couple years ago I was a victim of fraud and effected my credit rating badly. Were not in any major debt and no debts with the house or TnD. We are both with bad credit ratings tho.

Is there any help out there like a grant, loan or bond that we would be entitled to to help with the rent?? Is there any help at all that could help us, anything?? Im so worried incase something bad happens to my mum and im not there

19lottie82

Hello Tessa, try contacting the council for the area that you wish to move to, schemes vary from area to area.

I appreciate the predicament that you are in, but please think VERY carefully before giving up a secure HA tenancy. A private let is only secure for the length of your tenancy. (6 or 12 months, usually)

Also, you may struggle to find somewhere to let with a bad credit rating, and may agencies / LL's will ask for an income of 3 x the annual rent. A guarantor may be required if either of these issues cause a problem.

Good luck!

SimplyTessa

19lottie82 wrote: »

Hello Tessa, try contacting the council for the area that you wish to move to, schemes vary from area to area.

I appreciate the predicament that you are in, but please think VERY carefully before giving up a secure HA tenancy. A private let is only secure for the length of your tenancy. (6 or 12 months, usually)

Also, you may struggle to find somewhere to let with a bad credit rating, and may agencies / LL's will ask for an income of 3 x the annual rent. A guarantor may be required if either of these issues cause a problem.

Good luck!

My dad has already agreed to be a guarantor so thats already sorted, we just have to find the deposit ourselves, We have looked into private rent in the area we want and deposits range from £800 to £1000, thats 1 months rent plus other expenses. Its just finding the money in the first place

[Deleted User]

I gave up a council property for a private let so I could get my children (who have special needs) into better schooling in another borough. It was a successful strategy in terms of their schooling but I now live in a private rental with water leaking in, mould, I had to insulate the roof so my children could sleep in their rooms (they were too cold), the boiler works when it feels like it, the LL is quite threatening and scares me to death. I am also pretty sure the benefit situation will only get worse in the future and where that will leave us I don't know.

If there had been another way, I so wish I could have found it.

I would try to find other ways to meet your mother's needs. She might be nervous of outside help at first, but she would probably get used to the people? Has she had a thorough assessment of her needs and benefits (like should she, does she get DLA etc to enable her to pay for extra help). Could you use the money you would not spend on extra rent and a deposit to visit her more often and stay with her a few days a week? Buying a railcard would help make this a cheaper option too.

SimplyTessa

deannatrois wrote: »

I gave up a council property for a private let so I could get my children (who have special needs) into better schooling in another borough. It was a successful strategy in terms of their schooling but I now live in a private rental with water leaking in, mould, I had to insulate the roof so my children could sleep in their rooms (they were too cold), the boiler works when it feels like it, the LL is quite threatening and scares me to death. I am also pretty sure the benefit situation will only get worse in the future and where that will leave us I don't know.

If there had been another way, I so wish I could have found it.

I would try to find other ways to meet your mother's needs. She might be nervous of outside help at first, but she would probably get used to the people? Has she had a thorough assessment of her needs and benefits (like should she, does she get DLA etc to enable her to pay for extra help). Could you use the money you would not spend on extra rent and a deposit to visit her more often and stay with her a few days a week? Buying a railcard would help make this a cheaper option too.

That sounds awful, im so sorry for you situation :-(
She wont see a stranger, tried before and she ended up in hospital after banging her head cus she panicked and somehow tripped which made her panic more, she was ok tho thankfully, just a bit of bruising, she would be better of with family. Yes she gets DLA, with having 3 young children and my husband working I only get 1 day a week where im able to go visit. If I lived closer I could go every day cus my girls go to school and my son does part time nursery, on the days hes not at nursery he could just come with me but because we dont live close its difficult

[Deleted User]

I do understand I am in a similiar situation with my father and have been unable to resolve it.., but I am in private rental now so have already done the big move from lower rental to private rental.

Have you enquired of the council local to your mother if you have any chance of a property there? I know properties are in short supply but who knows? You lose nothing by asking. You could also get her local councillors and MP involved. A visit from them to show what you are dealing with should make an impression.

If you moved, what would happen to your husbands job?

Voyager2002

As others have posted, if you give up social housing you will regret it for many years to come. Do consider other solutions first: how long until your Dad retires? Is there any scope for him to retire early, or at least reduce his hours each week? Have you explored other childcare options close to where you live now?

SimplyTessa

deannatrois wrote: »

I do understand I am in a similiar situation with my father and have been unable to resolve it.., but I am in private rental now so have already done the big move from lower rental to private rental.

Have you enquired of the council local to your mother if you have any chance of a property there? I know properties are in short supply but who knows? You lose nothing by asking. You could also get her local councillors and MP involved. A visit from them to show what you are dealing with should make an impression.

If you moved, what would happen to your husbands job?

Its the same council because both places are in Burton upon Tent, were just opposite sides which makes mum about 12 miles away, I will however call the council and see what they say, thank you

Oh husbands job is still fine, his job is actually a little closer to my parents than where we are so wouldnt make much difference, he walks 10 miles to work and back every day

SimplyTessa

Voyager2002 wrote: »

As others have posted, if you give up social housing you will regret it for many years to come. Do consider other solutions first: how long until your Dad retires? Is there any scope for him to retire early, or at least reduce his hours each week? Have you explored other childcare options close to where you live now?

Im not sure, my dads a teacher, if anyone here is im sure you no the retirement laws on that, my dads 52 now. Iv looked into child care and firstly its really expensive, we worked out we would pay so much more living here and being my mums carer than we would living closer, because my husband works, were not entitled to free childcare, we only get 15 hours a week for my son to go nursery

Zoology_Dragon

12 miles away isn't very far at all, I was imagining you lived about 200 miles away!

Annie1960

Zoology_Dragon wrote: »

12 miles away isn't very far at all, I was imagining you lived about 200 miles away!

It is if you have to walk. Read the post above about husband walking 10 miles to work every day.