Living temporary in a garage.

Ssylvs

So…I have an odd (possibly very odd) question. I am currently renting a flat, and my landlord decided to sell it (due to a divorce). I was going to buy my first property later on this year, but now that has been moved forward 😂 
I have two and a half months to move and my mortgage advisor has explained to me that it typically can take 3mths for me to get the keys (once I buy anything). I don’t want to rent anything and short term lets are full blown insane. I had this crazy idea to rent a garage and live out of my car while I’m waiting (if I do find a place in the next month or so)…I’m curious to know if that’s a possibility and of any pitfalls?
Thanks for any advice (or tips for an alternative option 😬)

Bookworm105

pitfalls are obvious: it is not allowed. A garage is not habitable accommodation.
Whether anyone would take action against you is the real question.

Lots of people live out of their cars these days, they do so without renting garages.

user1977

Not sure what you mean by "possibility" or non-obvious "pitfalls" really? It's possible to sleep in shop doorways...

Perhaps more useful would be looking at the fact that you don't need to move out on the day your landlord would like you to. They'd need to go to court first before evicting you.

kimwp

You can be in a house within six weeks from offer if it's a very short chain eg empty house or they are moving to rented, though I wouldn't recommend choosing your house on that basis.

Are you a person that likes camping? If not, I wouldn't recommend living out of your car- it's basically camping in a solidly built tent. I camp in my car for a week at a time and love it compared to a tent, but having to get dressed to go to the loo in the night or early morning or go have a shower becomes annoying, particularly as organisation and dressing in a car is quite convoluted, even with the pretty good set up I've created.

In a garage, I'm guessing there would be no running water for hand washing, showering, toileting - you'd have to physically carry your "deposits" until you could dispose of them. Will you have room in the garage to store your clothes and dress? If you have membership to a gym or showers at work, then it would be doable as long as you are willing to carry your deposits around. 

Stubod

Air B&B, any B&B, hotel, caravan rental (Hoseasons seem to have good availability)...???

RHemmings

I have slept one night in a car in my life. I don't want to do it again, unless I have a campervan or similar. And, I like camping. 

Herzlos

Over the summer it's doable but crap.

Probably a lot better to buy a small caravan and see if you can live on a driveway/garden for the few weeks.

Or put your stuff into storage and stay in hotels, make it into a small tour.

Brie

Has LL put the property on the market?  Has he sent you a S21 asking you to vacate?  Is everything 100% up to date on the flat regs (CO2 monitor, deposit info etc)?  If no on this last one you can wait until the day the S21 asks you to leave and then point out what is missing and the LL will need to rectify that bit and reissue the S21 resetting the clock.  And even if you get to the day when you are asked to leave you can say no and he'll have to take you to court which might add another 6 months.

Meanwhile try having a nap in your car and you'll see how uncomfortable it is.  40 years back it might have been possible but now that the seats are more defined there's too many bumps to sleep properly.  

AskAsk

rent a room as a lodger. 

garage idea - not going to work.  where is your mail going while you live in the garage, and you can't live in a garage.

FreeBear

RHemmings said:

I have slept one night in a car in my life. I don't want to do it again, unless I have a campervan or similar. And, I like camping. 

Done it on a couple of occasions myself when there was little alternative. Last time I did it, got disturbed by a police officer.

Any more than once in a blue moon, a van or estate with a long cargo space would be my choice - Something that allows for a decent "bed" where you can stretch out is essential. But stuff like diet and personal hygiene suffers, so it should only be considered as an absolute last resort.

Mgman1965

Buy an old, small touring caravan or campervan and lay-by surf.

Bottle gas for energy and water can be got from petrol stations (many have a tap/hose to fill washer bottles with the airline machine).