Landlord is selling property and I can't afford to move.

brianposter

House share ?

Gary_Moore_2

enthusiasticsaver said:

How much is the loan?  You may have to default on that as rent needs to take priority.  That will affect your credit record though so if the rental agency credit score you it will affect that.  You  are right in that rental prices are crazy.  Are you or your sons mum claiming DLA for your autistic son? Is staying with family an option for a month or so while you save up a deposit?  Are you due back a deposit from your current rental? 

A man with a van for moving your stuff can sometimes be hired for an hour at a cheap price.  I would not leave your stuff at your house once your rental has run out as the landlord is within his rights to just get rid of it. 

I think sadly it is tragic that house prices even in Wiltshire are beyond the means of someone on a fairly good salary. On RM there appears to be the odd 1 bed flat and house shares/HMOs for £800 and under so I think you will need to find the additional money. Can the loan be restructured to a longer term? 

The loan is £160pm and was due to be paid off fully on 03/12/26. So there's about £2850(ish) left to go. I am genuinely unsure if my son's mother is claiming DLA but can check. Sadly I can't stay with any family as I am not in contact with most and/or they live far away from my current location. My deposit will only be £675 as that's what the cost was PM when I moved in years ago (oh how the market has changed!).

I will look into a man with a van as last time I moved I used a proper company and that was £450 or something similar, I think anyway.

I will contact my loan provider and seek options there.

I was knocked sideways by the news of this and spiralling but I am amazed how helpful you all are. Taking time to research things and to comment. I am so grateful and it also helps remind me that the world has good people in it (I can get very negative).

Thanks again. I really appreciate it 🙂

Gary_Moore_2

RHemmings said:

Gary_Moore_2 said:

RHemmings said:

What part of the country do you live in, and where is your job located? 

I live in Trowbridge (Wiltshire) and work in the same town. So, thankfully, no commuting. I can walk to work and back 🙂

Hopefully there are people familiar with the local area who can give advice. I don't know Wiltshire at all, myself. 

Looking at previous advice, if I was in your situation I would see what compromises are possible in terms of location. While a 1 bed flat and a sofa bed are possible, personally I would want to maintain a bedroom for my son if at all possible. 

Looking at your local market, I see what you mean by properties saying on the listings that they are full for bookings. There is a new one today, but it looks unappealing and is still above your current budget. https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/162812486#/?channel=RES_LET

I was wondering if transport was consuming a lot of your budget (e.g.  if you were working in London), but with walking to work, that shouldn't be a problem. In which case, the above advice to go on other forums and work out where you are spending what would be useful. I guess you're paying support for your son, which would reduce your income considerably. 

Have you considered widening your search area and cycling to work? It depends on the person, but I would consider 8-10km cycleable. (I currently cycle 3km each way to work and it's just nothing to me). Also, what public transport such as buses could be taken. I am not a medical professional and this is not medical advice, but I have heard that regular physical exercise can benefit people suffering from depression. E.g. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/depression/in-depth/depression-and-exercise/art-20046495  Electric bicycles exist and will expand usable range. But, you can't buy a usable electric bike on gumtree for £30 and you are short of cash. 

I see that Melksham isn't too far away for cycling (for me anyhow), and there are buses that take about 30 minutes to get to Trowbridge. That would allow you to look at something like this: https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/162794543#/?channel=RES_LET  

These are just random ideas. I don't mean to specifically recommend Melksham (where I have never been in my life). I'm just suggesting the idea of looking a bit further afield. 

Yes, I really would like to find a 2 bed. I don't want that to sound greedy/unreasonable in my situation but it would be beneficial for not just my son but my mental health too.

I did feel like I had to remain in the town (In work here, my son lives here) but I do have a bicycle and so can be open to widening my search somewhat. I will do just that.

Thanks for your advice. It's incredible that you have put the effort to respond and to look for properties. I do appreciate that greatly. You're a good person. Thanks 🙂

RHemmings

Thank you. I hope you find something suitable soon. Good luck. 

BTW: There are various schemes to help people out if they are short of money for a deposit. I haven't used them myself and don't know how they work. (Anyone?). But, there is information here: https://england.shelter.org.uk/housing_advice/private_renting/rent_deposit_bond_and_guarantee_schemes

KxMx

Local councils sometimes have a deposit scheme for private rentals, as it keeps people off the social housing list.

Financially we can't always live as we would like to/have been used to and have to make the best of things. With one non resident child living in a one bed property & making use of a sofa bed isn't unreasonable. Especially as you are both the same gender. 

I live in social housing and a NRP neighbor with 3 children lives in a one bed flat (same as me). They are all the same gender. 

Your situation could be better absolutely but it also could be worse. 

silvercar

brianposter said:

House share ?

Not suitable with a visiting child.

Myci85

Look and see if your local council have family early help or similar, which a professional (GP, son's teachers etc) could refer you for. They will be able to support you with your mental health, your son's needs, and may be able to help you access funding pots that may be able to help with, as well as budgeting support etc. 

I've seen some co-parents work it so that rather than the child moving between parents, the parents move to be with the child, e.g. mum would leave the house and either stay at yours or with friends/family whilst you stay in the family home with your son. That obviously wouldn't work for a lot of people, but if it could in your situation, it would massively open up your housing options so you could look at house share, 1 bed flat, or even taking lodgings somewhere. 

As people have alluded to, you likely have more time than you think to find alternative accommodation, as once your landlord officially serves notice (have they yet?) they would then have to apply to court to evict you if you don't leave, and that can take months. And that is if the notice they serve complies with the many requirements to make it valid, if it doesn't, you keep quiet until they realise and they have to start the whole process again. I'm not saying to purposely leave it until a court eviction, as then you're likely on the hook for paying court costs, but just so you know you have more time than the end of the tenancy to sort something. 

Jude57

Gary_Moore_2 said:

Hi all,

Today I have been informed that my landlord has put the property I am renting up for sale. My tenancy ends in August and I have been assured that I can see the full duration of that out. The rent is £800pm.

However, the rental market is crazy and I simply can't afford to rent anywhere else (raise the deposit, move home and pay an extra few hundred pounds a month).

My 9yr old son lives predominantly with his Mother but stays at mine every other weekend and during school holidays etc. For this reason, I currently live in a 2 bedroom house and was looking to live in a similar dwelling. However, the average rent of such a property is £1000+, there are barely any such properties on the market and they immediately say "viewings fully booked" and so forth.

I earn £33k a year, don't drive and yet I still won't be able to afford to pay such a high rental cost or save enough, in time to raise a deposit and hire a removal van etc.

Basically, what are my options. I suffer with chronic depression and this may be the end of me. I'm struggling to go on. Any help will be appreciated

Thanks in advice

Have you looked at Social Housing in your area? That's Council housing or Housing Association properties. Even though waiting times can be very long, I'd recommend getting yourself registered with the Council and as many HA's as possible to give you the best possible chance of eventually getting somewhere. Social Housing rents tend to be lower than the local average and after a probationary period (sometimes called an introductory tenancy) you have security, as long as pay your rent and stick to the terms of your tenancy agreement, pretty much for life. I'm thinking that if you can get into such a property, it would give you and your son some stability. You might not qualify for a two bedroomed place but the fact that you have your son overnight should mean you're not restricted to a shared property or a bedsit. And if you get a one bedroomed place, the sofa bed plan would work, I'm sure.

Have a look at these links and I'd suggest you try to speak to a Homelessness Officer at the Council, too, because they can signpost you to local support:

https://www.wiltshire.gov.uk/housing-associations

https://www.wiltshire.gov.uk/housing-find-a-property

lincroft1710

£800 pcm for a 2 bed house is a very low amount in the current market. As others have suggested a 1 bed with sofa bed will be all you can afford.

Tracet74

Aster is a local housing association so may be worthwhile registering with them:

https://www.aster.co.uk/rent/i-want-to-rent/applying-to-rent