Finding a property in SW/SE London

[firsttimemum1404]

Hello, I am having a nightmare trying to find a 1 bed property in SW/SE London. I am on maternity leave with a 6 month old (today) baby boy. Currently I get full housing benefit and as soon as I mention to landlords/estate agents that I am a DSS tenant either their eyes glaze over or they show me a flat that I wouldn't wish on my worse enemy [hconfused]. I am staying with my mum at the moment but really do need to move. Does anyone have any tips (or a flat) for me?

[SolarPrestigeAGammon]

How much is full housing benefit?

[SolarPrestigeAGammon]

whoopdeedooo....let's just go for it and get the taxpayer (ME) to pay for it all.

I mean..when you have a twelve month old baby you are "entitled" to a two bedroomed place.

GIVE ME A BREAK.

The next generation will NEVER be able to afford to buy a roof over their head. Fecking Gordon Brown

[bottlebank]

Oh don't be horrible. I lived on HB for a year and it got me on my feet; I was able to get qualified and have a good, productive career now. I pay my taxes. What do you think would be a better alternative, bringing back the workhouses?

[minipie]

What's your budget? Whereabouts in SW/SE London are you looking? SE is generally cheaper and you'll get more for your money than SW (with a few exceptions like Dulwich, Blackheath, Greenwich which are all pricey).

Do you need to be in London or could you consider looking outside London?

[firsttimemum1404]

Hi
Sorry it has taken me so long to reply. I am looking in the Wandsworth, Clapham, Battersea, Brixton, Peckham and Camberwell area. I would like to live outside of London, but have to stay in London as I have an elderly mother who I need to stay close to and I don't drive yet.

I am not surprised by SolarPrestideAGammon's response, it's the response I expected. Even though I have worked for over 20 years and paid my taxes like everyone else but just need a little help now to escape a situation which is not healthy for me or my son, I do expect people to say I am a sponger. However, it is not my plan to stay on HB forever.

[minipie]

I don't know what your budget is but am assuming it isn't huge. Rents in Wandsworth, Clapham, Battersea are sky high (450/week for a 2 bed flat). Camberwell/Peckham likely to be cheaper, but they are still pretty central so will still be relatively expensive. What about moving further out? eg Raynes Park, Norbury, Forest Hill. Where does your mother live - if she is near a particular train or tube station then you could look at areas which are further out but on that line?

[BleachedWhale]

Streatham should be cheaper than Brixton or Clapham, and has very good transport links, ditto Tulse Hill.

Since you say your are on maternity leave, does that mean you will be going back to work? If so, can you tell landlords that you are on maternigty leave and give a ref from your employers?

Or is it more of a maternity break?

Good luck

[TethHearseEnd]

Ignore the idiocy.

Have you signed up with First steps website?

[bottlebank]

I believe the HB rates/calculations are online somewhere - do find out, as they scale (so moving somewhere cheaper could well mean you'll end up with an equal amount of shortfall).

Do you have someone who will act as guarentor for you? My dad did for me and it made a huge difference in finding people prepared to rent to me.

[firsttimemum1404]

I checked with the HB website and I have an allowance of £250 per week, however, I am looking for less than this so that when I go back to work next year I will still be able to afford the rent on my wages. I will have to find someone who is willing to be a guarantor for me, not sure who I would approach though. I am able to get references from my workplace, so that shouldn't be a problem

[TethHearseEnd]

It really is worth registering with First Steps.

[Iggly]

Solar you're not the only taxpayer in the world and god forbid that you ever need a safety net.

Is there a particular train line you need to be on OP? I'm thinking somewhere like Beckenham/Bromley/Croydon you would be close to decent train/bus links etc and rents should be ok.

It might be worth ringing estate agents and explaining your situation (so only HB for a temporary period etc etc). Do you have any family who can act as guarantor?

[BleachedWhale]

Yes, I would say 'on Maternity leave' and give your work as a ref...and leave the HB for later.

Have a look at what tax breaks etc you will be entitled to once you restart work, though. And childcare allowances - though obviously you will want to keep your expenditure right down.

[SolarPrestigeAGammon]

Wind your necks in girls. I was responding to Bottlebank's NOW DELETED message!

[bottlebank]

My message was deleted because I gave my postcode. I said the OP should avoid mentioning that she was claiming or intended to claim HB and that once her baby was a year old she'd be entitled to rent a two-bed property. Which is true so far as I remember. Your rant was all you, I didn't say anything controversial.

[Iggly]

And, Solar?

[SolarPrestigeAGammon]

You want me to say it again?

"whoopdeedooo....let's just go for it and get the taxpayer (ME) to pay for it all.

I mean..when you have a twelve month old baby you are "entitled" to a two bedroomed place.

GIVE ME A BREAK.

The next generation will NEVER be able to afford to buy a roof over their head. Fecking Gordon Brown."

[Iggly]

My "and" was because I knew what you said first time around and how should your justification in your next post change our reaction to yours?

Not sure why you blame Gordon Brown. He didnt introduce the welfare state, he certainly didnt begin the decimation of social housing and encouragement of people buying houses which lead to people thinking it was somehow wrong to rent, thus mortgaging themselves to the hilt. And you are not The Taxpayer, there are millions of us.